In his book, Painting The Map Red, Hugh Hewitt identified five key messages for the GOP for the ‘06 election season. Here begins a series of posts in which Lowell and I will give our comments/thoughts/impressions on each message from our perspectives and an evangelical Christian (me) and a Mormon (Lowell). The idea is to show how, on the things that really matter when it comes to choosing for whom to vote, for there is little or no difference between evangelicals and Mormons.  (Lowell’s post on this subject is just above.)

Hugh’s first message is

The Democratic Left and the MSM have declared war on the military. Again.

In the chapter devoted to the message Hugh makes his point on the basis of media coverage of the war and its interviews of key adminsitration officials, then Dick Durbin’s torture accusations on the floor of the Senate.

There is not much I can say, since Hugh and I are both evangelicals and see eye-to-eye on a lot of things. A quality and active military is necessary for the nation. As much as my faith makes my preference to convert ‘em rather than kill ‘em, there are simply too many people in the world too willing to kill without provocation, and beyond reason for me to think that will always work.

There is a significant pacificist streak in Christianity, but most would not identify as evangelicals and most would not identify as Republicans. There is nothing that I have been able to find in Christianity that identifies pacificism as doctrinally mandated. I understand where my pacificist brethren come from, but I am forced to comment that they enjoy the freedom to live safely as such because there are many of us that feel differently. Absent evangelical willingness to participate in and support the military, the only genuine option open to pacificist Christians would be martyrdom.

Christian martyrdom has proven to be useful at points in history. There are situations and enemies wherein the willingness to die for one’s beliefs would prove itself a catalyst for resolution of conflict, but it is not a universal. There are also many other situations where such willingness to die would be viewed as invitation to invasion, and genocide.

The United States military itself is well populated with Christians, these Christians work hard and fight valiantly to defend our nation. I am proud to be under thier protection - I thank them for their service - and it brings me joy to know they are my brothers and sisters in Christ.

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