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Delivered said:
Kyle,
Was'nt Pual addressing Believers in the Book of Romans and in Chapter 13 particularly the believers observance of giving what is due to Leaders (respect, honour, etc.). Also warning believers to be good and that they will be treated good and if they are evil then they will receive evil. I dont see how this gives a leader the right to invade another country and kill members of another country.

The principle is not as limited as you make it seem. Sometimes one country will commit an injustice against another country, and the offended country has the legitimate right to go to war both to defend itself and to rectify the injustice done against it. This is the right of government.

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"The church is not to take up arms in expansion of the kingdom of God"
I agree. Some time ago it was suggested in a forceful way through the time of the great crusades that the Church had the sanctioning of God to do such a thing. Also the bible was used to help to perpetuate the advancement of the slave trade in a simialar way, and in our times I sometimes get the sense that many christians try to justify war against those from another culture in this way. Are we not living in a time when Grace is accessible to all and God may choose to call His elect from whichever race or culture He chooses. So should'nt we be more prepared to receive a new brother or sister rather than eager to see the death of someone different?
Roy.

Again, you are confusing the church and the government. The government is not a minister of mercy between God and man, it is a minister of wrath. We as Christians should not be desirous of war in itself, but we must recognize that it is sometimes legitimate and necessary for a government to engage in warfare, and even for Christians to participate in such warfare granted that it is just and necessary.

Kyle

I tell you, this man went down to his house justified.