Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

God never directed biblical Israel into war for anything less than total victory. The Bible records instance after instance in which God commanded not only the total eradication of entire peoples, but the destruction of all their livestock and other possessions as well, as a righteous judgment of their wickedness. He used Israel's military power as His instrument.

Even in the New Testament, John the Baptist did not condemn soldiers who came to him for counsel, but told them only not to extort money by threats or violence, or accuse anyone wrongfully, and to be content with their pay (Luke 3:14). Similarly, Jesus (rather than criticizing the Roman centurion who came to him for help) said that the centurion had greater faith than anyone He had met in Israel (Matthew 8:5-13). Also, it was through another Roman soldier that God opened the Christian faith to Gentiles (Acts 10). 

All these instances indicate to me that God does not disapprove of soldiers or their mission.

As I recall, President Truman himself indicated that he had experienced no uncertainty (either militarily or morally) with respect to authorizing the use of the atomic bomb. He was the leader of a nation that had been at peace until attacked; and that had entered the war not for its own selfish interests, for territorial gain, or to subjugate other nations, but to combat the demonstrated territorial ambitions and barbarity of both the Germans and the Japanese, and to relieve the suffering of innocent people on whom they had inflicted unimaginable atrocities.

It was clear from the progress of the Pacific war that, in the absence of the atomic bomb, it would have been necessary to invade Japan in order to defeat it. Given the "fight to the death" determination that had repeatedly been demonstrated by the Japanese military in the Pacific, such a course of action would unquestionably have caused even more casualties (numbering in the millions, according to estimates that I have seen) among both the Allies and the Japanese (including Japanese civilians) than resulted from the use of the two atomic bombs.

I would therefore say that it would have been indefensible (not only militarily and politically, but also morally) for Truman NOT to have used the atomic bomb -- knowing that he had a means of likely ending the war more quickly and with fewer overall casualties (again, for both the Allies and the Japanese), but then deciding not to use it. (Not only that, but the Allies had even warned the Japanese (both the leadership and civilians) prior to the bombings that they would face prompt and utter destruction if they did not surrender, but that warning had no effect.)

May 28 2017 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

Emo Tenorio Shomer

In my humble opinion it was both Morally and Biblically correct to use our new atomic weapon. Brother Tim Mass has put forth the Biblical points. 
I submit for your consideration some historical points to widen our view of this somewhat misunderstood and emotional time in world history. (Proverbs 24:10)

These are points that are sometimes not addressed or overlooked today by ideologically driven history revisionists from the comforts of their nice carpeted, air conditioned rooms:

>> War crimes committed by the empire of Japan during a decades long Japanese imperialists policy against China and during the second Sino-Japanese war 7 July 1937 to 9 September 1945 resulted in the death of between 10 million and 25 million Chinese civilians and 4 million military personnel.

>> This Asian Holocaust included human experimentation, chemical and biological weapon use that was banned by the Hague conventions of 1899 and 1907 signed by Japan. Later this sector merged into what became known as the China Burma India Theater after the morning of 7 December 1941 and America's declaration of war the next day. 

>> During late 1941 and early 1942 advances by the military forces of Imperial Japan with their barbaric treatment of any poor soul that had the misfortune to fall into their hands alive was well known to polite civil societies world wide. (Jeremiah 23:20)

>> American B-29 super fortresses flying from the Mariana Islands began raining bombs on Japanese cities on 17 November 1944 and continued until 15 August 1945. Operation Meeting House saw 334 B-29s over Tokyo on the night of 9-10 March 1945 this firebombing killed 88,000-97,000 and cut Tokyo war production by 50%.

>> The Japanese began training old men, women and children to defend the mainland against the the coming invasion with anything they had including pointed sticks and their defense was to the death.

Little Boy and Fat Man: 

>> The Allies called for the unconditional surrender of the Japanese armed forces in the Potsdam Declaration on 26 July 1945 the alternative being "prompt and utter destruction". The Japanese response to this ultimatum was to ignore it.

>> On 6 August the U.S. dropped (Little Boy) a uranium gun type bomb on Hiroshima, and American President Harry S. Truman called for Japan's surrender, warning it to "expect a rain of ruin from the air, the like of which has never been seen on this earth." 

>> Three days later, on 9 August (Fat Man) a plutonium implosion type bomb was dropped on Nagasaki.

>> Japan announced its surrender to the Allies on 15 August, six days after the bombing of Nagasaki and the Soviet Union's declaration of war.

Bottom line:
Hideki Tojo and the top military leaders argued that Truman was buffing and ignored the Potsdam Declaration. After Little Boy, they argued that we didn’t have another one and even if we did, Tojo argued Truman would not have the stomach to use it again.

Unfortunately Tojo misread the character of an American Baptist from Missouri a veteran of the Great War, and thus would do anything to save innocent lives. And even after the second bomb Tojo argued to continue the war, starting a rebellion of sorts. For the first time in Japan’s history the Emperor a living god, addressed his people commanding them to surrender, and many killed themselves. (John 7:24)

Countless Americans and their allies breathed a sigh of relief and began returning to their still living loved ones. Many struggling to put the imposed horrors of their experiences behind them, many were successful, some were not. (Jeremiah 1:19)

The freedom warriors who have gone on to their reward and no longer walk among us on the lands they loved so; it is proper that I speak correctly of their time and exploits.

In The Lord's Freedom always...warrior on

May 31 2017 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

John Matthews Retired Professional Singer, Conductor and Seeker

Since this is not God's Kingdom (John 18:36), governments don't need or require a "Biblical" precedent to do anything connected with their country's preservation; be it righteous or otherwise. Whether or not an act is deemed "Christian" must be based on Scripture.

Truman was acting as President of the United States and not as a follower of Jesus Christ. He did what he had to do to end the war on behalf of America and most of Asia. 

Jesus never supported the killing of innocents; or for that matter, anyone. I cannot find one reference in Jesus' words that would condone such an act. 

And as I stated, Jesus' Kingdom is not of the world.

June 02 2017 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

John Smith

The question is: "Was it bibically wrong for Harry S. Truman to drop the atomic bomb on Japan"? The result was over 200,000 old men, women and children were killed. Many more would die later as a result of radiation. Japan was already on the brink of collapse. No allies, military almost destroyed. Island under a naval blockade. Russia just declared war on Japan and was getting close. 

What did Jesus say?

Matthew 5:38-44 "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 

2 Timothy 1:7 " God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 

Luke 6:27 "Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you" (29) "And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other;" (36) "Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful."

(Romans 12:19-21) Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, VENGEANCE is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."

(1 Peter 3:9) "Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; called, that we should inherit a blessing". 

We are all human and caught between Jesus and Satan. We were afraid, terrified of Japan that many more of us would die. (1 Peter 3:13-14") (14) "But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;" Many of us, all sinners, think killing and avenging in war is authorized in the name of defense. We make mistakes due to fear. Let us pray to Jesus for His forgiveness and guidance from the Holy Spirit.

June 06 2017 • 3 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report