Hawks and Doves, Vultures and Chickens? (Preaching Helps)‪.‬

The war in Iraq is five days old as I write these lines. My e-mail inbox and daily newspaper are full of messages about the stance adopted by various churches or church leaders to this conflict. Jesus is quoted as authority by some who oppose the war ("Blessed are the peacemakers," Matthew 5:9) and also by some who support the war ("Do not think I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword," Matthew 10:34). Same Jesus, same Gospel, different results. It is common to speak of hawks and doves. Of course, some doves despise the hawks as vultures, while some hawks regard doves as chickens. Whatever labels get used, the implication is that we must choose between these two. But are matters so simple? The San Francisco Chronicle (March 21, '03) reported the following story. Lt. Col. Dan Williams, commander of a helicopter unit, was flying in an Apache helicopter with his pilot David Keshel on the opening day of hostilities. The Apache ran into mechanical trouble during a blinding sandstorm and dropped to the earth from a height of 80 feet. Both men survived without any broken bones. Williams commented, "It's a hell of a way to start a war." I imagine that it was both harrowing and embarrassing to him. But most intriguing was this note. The colonel said that before his flight he had led 30 of his men in a prayer: "Lord, forgive us for what we do--and keep us safe and bring us back."