While I was watching a famous war movie, I began to ponder the question: Is war evil? There are different approaches in the attempt to pin this perplexing question down and come up with a satisfying answer to this age-old question -- or dilemma, if you will.

After watching the movie (in which the "good guys" won), the question stayed with me, and I tried to approach it from different angles and aspects. I've finally come to the conclusion that war, in itself, isn't evil. People are evil! Well ¦ more precisely, people are inclined toward committing evil acts. War is to people like getting burnt is to fire. It's just a consequence of something more elemental. Mind you, I'm not saying that all people are evil per se, just that we all have the propensity to do evil.

So, inevitably, the question arises: What is evil? The Dictionary says: "Evil is a broad term used to indicate a negative moral or ethical judgment, often used to describe intentional acts that are cruel, unjust, or selfish. Evil is usually contrasted with good, which describes intentional acts that are kind, just, or unselfish."

But the problem here is that those acts which are considered cruel, unjust, or selfish to one person, or group of persons, may not be to another. We all can plainly see that there are countries and people groups, right now in this time in which we are living, that think it's just fine to kill innocent men, women and children to achieve their own desires and ends. As a matter of fact, they think it's a great honor to perpetrate such murderous acts! Their code of conduct isn't the same as ours.

According to the "moral" code of the Nazis, murdering millions of Jews, Russians and other peoples was good and acceptable since they were (in their opinion) creating a new and wonderful world, and those who didn't fit their description of "good" people were eliminated.

So just what is the code of conduct upon which America was founded, and that we should be trying to abide by? It's Judeo-Christian principles found in the Bible, first given as the Ten Commandments.

This code of conduct given to Moses, the great leader of the Hebrews over 3,000 years ago, was expounded upon and clarified by the priests, prophets and rabbis for the following thousand years until the Giver of that code appeared and made the final simplification and clarification with this astounding statement:

"You have heard that the law of Moses says, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy,' but I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in Heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and on the unjust, too. If you love only those who love you, what good is that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your father in Heaven is perfect." Then He pretty much encapsulated the whole Christian concept in one sentence: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

So, should we just lovingly fold our hands when someone such as Hitler and his Nazis attempt to destroy us and all that we believe in? No! According to our moral code, allowing evil to prevail transgresses that code given by God, and is evil.

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." So said Edmund Burke, British parliamentarian. To my way of thinking, If we believe in the God of the Bible, then we must follow His code of conduct.

T&D Columnist Rush Button can be reached by e-mail at buttonrl@aol.com or by phone at 803-534-3724. His column appears every Tuesday. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

You must be logged in to comment.