Who would Jesus Bomb?
Several years ago in college I read a newspaper article highlighting a protest. The protesters tried disrupting an activity sponsored by the military. They were protesting the war in Iraq. Listed among their posters was “Who Would Jesus Bomb?” The idea behind this question implies that Jesus would not bomb anyone; He is full of mercy, advocates peace, and loves all of God’s children. It is true that Jesus loves all of us and that He is full of mercy, but this question, in the context of a protest for peace, attempts to teach something that is not true.
So, who would Jesus bomb? I’ll tell you who Jesus would bomb: He would bomb cities that reject and kill His holy prophets1. He would bomb Sodom and Gomorrah which were well known for their wicked practices2; and there are many other examples in the scriptures of who He would bomb. Out of those examples, the most well known example is when He bombed a country because the leader was oppressing the children of God3. Now, Jesus obviously did not use man made explosives but, regardless of whether it was hail or fire and brimstone, He will carry out His purposes through bombing, floods, or other means.
Now, I do not advocate war and I admit that there is a big difference between when God bombs people and when man does - man will be held accountable before God for starting wars; but if Jesus’ name is going to be used in such a disrespectful manner for some protest, (especially against our country's decisions) regardless of what is being protested, those using His name ought to know Him a lot better.
Now, if I stopped there, I would not have painted a complete picture of God. I would like to complete the partial picture that I have presented so far: God is a just and merciful God and He does what He does out of love for us, His children; His purpose is to bring about our immortality and eternal life and He will do whatever it takes to get us to that point. Admittedly, destruction is His last resort; He will spend a long time trying to prevent that.
The question that comes is: How can God destroy a city or a people and still call himself a God of love? Well, if this life were the limit of our existence, He would be a partial God showing preference towards those who He did not destroy; but, knowing that death does not destroy our spirits and that physical birth was not the beginning of our existence shows us a broader picture.
Destroying the wicked shows love and mercy towards our brothers and sisters who have not yet come to earth, who would be born to the wicked and would grow up with extremely little chance to get out of the chains of hell in this life. Also, by destroying them, God is blessing them by preventing them from delving deeper into evil practices. It also gives them time to suffer the wrath of God before judgment when they "shall bow the knee, and ... confess to him who sits upon the throne forever and ever; For they shall be judged according to their works." Some Christians will not agree that this time exists, but from modern revelation we learn that this time does exist allowing those who were wicked in this life to repent. Not everyone will make that choice; but God, being a just and loving God, wants to give them that chance. And, since everything that was taken from them in their physical destruction will be restored, having a resurected, immortal body, even they will glory in what God did for them.
References
- 1) 3 Nephi 9:11 2) Genesis 19:24 3) Exodus 9:23-24
Leviticus 10:2, Numbers 11:1, Numbers 16:30-35, Joshua 10:11, 2 Kings 1:10-12, Job 1:16, Amos 4:11
Comments