"Hundreds of thousands of civilians, women and children, have been murdered as a result."

Following that premise, are we not guilty of murder if we stand by and allow a dictator to kill his people when we have the means to help?

"The capitalist system is driven by coveting..."

Capitalism is just an economic system whereby wealth production and control (and the success/failure thereof) is the responsibility of the individual as opposed to the state. Greed and the coveting of wealth is inherent in any economic system since economies are driven by sinful people (as you have pointed out). However that does not mean that there are not thousands or millions of people within our capitalist system who recognise how they have been blessed and have no interest in their neighbor's wealth.

I would point out that socialism and liberalism fits your description far better given that wealth is often translated to power, and the distibution of wealth as being "fair". Those that desire power through wealth usually are found within those who support big government and related institutions.

"And then there are Christian men who walk down the street staring at (coveting) other men’s wives; yet because they criticize homosexuality as against God’s law, they consider themselves the moral bulwark of a Christian country."

If the town watchman is a known thief, should we not still prepare for battle when we he cries "To arms!" and we can see the enemy on the horizon with our own eyes? It is eternally fatal if we conclude that our brother's sinful self-righteousness can invalidate God's Word, in this case as it is written in Romans 1 and 1 Corinthians 6.

"And when we come to be judged in the end, Jesus will meet each of us (since “none come to the Father except through him”), and judge us, not according to our religious affiliation, or our adherence to that religion’s laws, but according to the greatest commandment — the love we gave, in our lives, to God and one another."

As written, this is fundamentally flawed. God commands love, which makes it a part of his Law. Given our sinful nature we cannot hope to love as God commands us, even though we may strive for this and may even think we have attained it (1 John 4:20-21). Since we cannot love as God commands us we are left with only one means of salvation before God's judgment seat: faith in the saving death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

"Following that premise, are we not guilty of murder if we stand by and allow a dictator to kill his people when we have the means to help?"

Your right, we did need to stop him. However, the second we killed anyone who is innocent of his crime, which we have, we become no better than the one we deposed. There is no grey here. There are no exceptions for killing innocents, period. Arguing that killing them prevented the dictator from killing others will not wash innocent blood from guilty hands, and according to God's laws, we will pay the price for our arrogance.

My question followed the Pastor's premise. Indeed, I wholly reject his premise that innocents have been murdered for oil or bad intel. Civilians have certainly been killed in the war, but to accuse our Armed Forces of murdering them is ignorant liberal conjecture based on blind anti-Bush, anti-American, and/or anti-war sentiments. Our military makes every noble effort to prevent civilian casualties, yet terrorists are known to use women and children as shields. Where is the outrage at them? Why are they not guilty of the murder? Do we let the terrorists live so that they can kill our civilians and our servicemen and women? How often has our military NOT taken a shot at the enemy, choosing to gamble their own futures for a more clear shot when innocents are not in harm's way?

It is easy to make moral platitudes when one is not on the battlefield needing to make these ethical decisions within thirty seconds. Further, whether it is on the wrong side of a mortar or by disease or simply by the expiring of our last breath in sleep, death comes for us all one way or another. Should this be used as an excuse to "kill them all, for God will know his own"? Certainly not. But I suspect that what our limited comprehension deems a tragedy, God perhaps deems otherwise. And that is why it is our responsibility to keep our souls prepared for what are those unknown last five minutes of our journey on this earth.

In commenting on love, it's important to see what the Bible has to say about it. Many people- including myself- have their own opinions and convictions about it, but if we stand upon and promote our own opinions instead of the Word of God, we enter into a world of unclear subjectivity (as opposed to the unchanging, authoritative Word of God, 2 Tim 3:16&17). Biblically, love is undeniably a sacrificial, unselfish, others-oriented action (i.e. John 3:16, God so loved that he GAVE...). To love someone in spite of their sin is, truly, a Christ-like response, for He loved all people. He loved the Pharisees and lawyers who vehemently opposed Him and His ministry (Mark 3:5). He loved the rich young ruler who came to Him seeking eternal life, but then walked away (Mark 10:17-22). He loved the tax collectors, cheats, cons, prostitutes, and lowlifes who clearly were less than acceptable (Luke 7:36-50; Matthew 9:10&11; Luke 23:39-43). Other examples could be listed, and obviously no one in their right mind would object that Jesus was and is a loving Man.

In harmony with that, notice His interaction with every person that He extends mercy (not getting what we rightfully deserve), grace (getting what we don't deserve) and justice (getting exactly what we deserve) to: in order for Jesus to freely forgive, the forgiven must first see themselves as sinners. Jesus won't (and, really, can't) forgive someone that will not first willingly admit their complete sinfulness before Him. "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." (James 4:6) Until I see myself as truly lost, I will not see the need to be found, and thus I won't care at all when I'm told that Someone Who loves me with a perfect and infinite love that no human being on Earth could ever truly equal has been seeking me (Luke 19:10).

Imagine a person coming up to you and saying, "Hey, I just want you to know, I've got here in this little vial a cure for Q disease. I've sold my house to get the money to be able to purchase this cure. All of my possessions, my assets, my family, and even my own self have been sold into bondage to be able to get enough money to purchase this cure. I want to give it to you as a free gift. Here you are!" A good majority of people are going to look at the outstretched hand and vial and say, "Gee, thanks, I appreciate it, but no thanks." Maybe a few would genuinely accept it, and maybe others would sneer outright and walk away shaking their head. However, if that same person were to approach you and say, "Whoa, hey! Did you know you've got Q disease? The coloring of your eyes, the coloring of your skin, the posture of your back and limbs, the sound of your voice. I can see 10 clear symptoms of Q disease on your person. You're going to be dead within 2 weeks! However, I just want you to know, I've got here in this little vial a cure for Q disease. I've sold my house to get the money to be able to purchase this cure. All of my possessions, my assets, my family, and even my own self have been sold into bondage to be able to get enough money to purchase this cure. I want to give it to you as a free gift. Here you are!" Having received this new information, the responses would probably be different. Some would snatch the vial up quicker than the blink of an eye; others might get a second opinion, and others still might disagree and walk away shaking their heads. Although this is a rough illustration and can't be taken as completely applicable, the general truth stays the same: when I realize that I'm deathly sick, and that someone else has the cure for me, I'll take it! However, before that, I've first got to be told that I have a need.

The same thing is true when it comes to the love of Jesus Christ. His loving forgiveness is given freely to the people who see themselves as sinners in need of forgiveness, those who are broken over their sin, and who realize that they are spiritually/morally bankrupt before a holy and perfect God. This whole premise is what Jesus begins His famous "Sermon on the Mount Beatitudes" with in Matthew 5: "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for their's is the kingdom of heaven." When I am poor in spirit- humble, broken, spiritually bankrupt, and realizing that I have nothing with which to appease God or earn His favor- then I am a prime candidate for experiencing the love of Jesus Christ firsthand through His forgiveness (Luke 18:13&14). Further, "Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted." In light of my plight, I mourn over my sin. I see it as God sees it, and I recognize that I have offended a holy and righteous God Who will one day judge me according to His absolute, unchanging truth (Revelation 20:11-15). Then, I am pounded into meekness (Matt. 5:5), realizing how far greater God is, and how I have been brought into a renewed relationship and fellowship with Him solely through His own goodness (2 Corinthians 5:21; Titus 3:4-7).

Perhaps the finest example of Jesus' love was revealed to the rich young ruler who sought eternal life, but who was unwilling to acknowledge his own sin and humble himself to surrender to Jesus' lordship over his life (Matthew 19:16-22; Mark 10:17-27; Luke 18:18-27). Mark alone records an interesting comment on this conversation between Jesus and the young man: "Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, 'One thing you lack: go your way, sell whatever you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.'" Today such a close-minded, intolerant, exclusive and black-and-white statement from one person to another would incite outrage and cries of bigotry. However, when we talk about "the love of Christ," we see that to truly love someone is to tell them what they need to hear! I may be stepping on someone's toes when I tell them that they're driving incorrectly, or they're walking in the wrong direction, or they're living in direct violation of God's Word, but if that person is driving towards the edge of a cliff, or they're walking into a burning building, or they're living as an unsaved person, how much more unloving is it to let them carry on in the way that they're going? In reality, when I fail to take someone to God's Word and show them the black-and-white nature of things, I show that I am in love with myself because I'd rather have the other person like me. This is why Paul reminds the church of Ephesus about "Speaking the truth in love" (Ephesians 5:15).

I agree with Pastor Witting when he says that a Christian guy who lusts after women is no better than a homosexual. Pastor Witting is echoing Jesus' words in Matthew 5:27&28. I cannot see myself as better off than a practicing adulterer, or a serial killer, or a rapist, or a thief, or an idol-worshipper, or anything else because, at some point in my life, I have committed these sins, whether outright, or within the secret confines of my own heart and mind. However, as one person above commented, just because I am indeed a hell-deserving sinner who is wicked and unrighteous apart from Jesus Christ does not mean that I am unfounded to show others their sin as revealed in God's Word. If that were the case, where would any of us be? How could any person be told by another the objective, absolute, and unchanging truth of God's Word, for by doing so, they would automatically be a hypocrite. We teach and preach the Word of God while all the time remembering that we are not above or beyond its specific, concrete, black-and-white truth. I need it just as much as the drug-dealer on the street, and the prostitute working the corner. Just because I have gone to church all my life and tithe my income doesn't make me a smidgen better than these people. The difference in my life is Jesus Christ, for He is my Lord and Savior, and the only good and righteous thing in my life is Him (Romans 7:18a). I have acknowledged my sin before Him and seen my plight. Because He has made known to me my wickedness, I have now seen my need. Upon His loving confrontation through His Word, I have now received that for myself and thus live accordingly. Since this IS the truth beyond the shadow of a doubt, how UNloving would I be to then take all that I have received from Christ and then, under the present-day dictates of love, tolerance, and respect, not tell someone that they are a heartbeat away from hell because they do not have the righteousness of Christ imputed to their account? It seems like such a contradiction, but in reality it is the most loving thing.

THAT is the love of Jesus, praise His name. If you are searching for the Truth, please email me: nbbistudent7@yahoo.com God Bless.

Blah Blah Blah. There's no god, and everybody at least suspects this, including the writer of this article. Keep your grey or black-and-white faith-based interpretations to yourself. All your conclusions concerning the hypochracy of war ... are correct, but this had nothing to do with any made-up god.

Until we have proof of god's existence we cannot possibly make any conclusions concerning his nature. For example, we have no proof that aliens exist, so we cannot possibly conclude that they have green skin, or in the case of god, that he has a black-and-white viewpoint on these issues. Is the writer of this article claiming to know god's nature? -Of course not, he's simply creating god in his own image, and as an atheist I agree with this image, but to add weight to them by speaking on behalf of a made-up god is far too oportunistic.