TUESDAY, December 1 (Nicholas Ferrar)

I could not agree more. While there are times when we are called to defend the innocent, we Americans do seem to resort and cheer violence too frequently, too easily.

All I can add is AMEN.

Tonight Obama is expected to send more troops to Afghanistan; more bombing, killing, and devastation is sure to follow. Our claim to be a Christian nation becomes more visibly absurd with each passing day. America's empire will soon go the way of Rome's, but the words of Christ, which know no national boundaries, will not pass away. Pray for peace, work for justice.

Yes, it's horrifying that such a large group of Christian pastors could be so unanimous – with one exception – about a military invasion being a legitimate expression of gospel proclamation and Christian mission. Christendom is over in most practical senses, but the mentality of Christendom persists among many Christians and their leaders. The anecdote should spur us to be alert for other and more subtle ways in which we either support or consent to the use of state power to promote certain kinds of religious profession. Mennonites and those of other anabaptist traditions have always been quite clear in their rejection of any alliance with state power. The issues tend to be more complex for Anglicans. With a tradition of a state-established church in England, Anglicans worldwide have been more interested in what state power, properly directed, can accomplish for good in national societies. The Global Anglicanism Project, for instance, found such interest consistently in Tanzania, Brazil, India and Aotearea/New Zealand. Such interest and encouragement is good as it prompts the church to encourage fruitful state policies and participate in national debates. Such influence can be seductive, however. The church must always beware of colluding with the state for the sake of preserving its connections and influence. Its first obligation to the state is, as the saying goes these days, to speak truth to power.

So true! Not just in wars that send our children to kill and be killed, but right here at home in our own living rooms. I just don't understand how any parent would allow their child to play or watch horribly violent vidieo "games"!!! Then we wonder, how did we come to this? Pretty easily, just give in rather than proctecting our kids and teaching them non violence!! Or better yet, taking some time teach your kids the Peace of the Lord!!

Thank you for your thoughtful comments on today's meditation. We try not to inject politics into Day by Day meditations just to be topical, but neither do we want our authors to sidestep political issues when the scriptures for the day pertain to them. I am myself the author of today's meditation, so I am especially appreciative of your comments on it.

I am equally troubled by the rejoicing of the "other twelve" as by the self righteous comment of the author. Surely the author can see both sides of the discussion.

I, for one, find it hard for those of us who are "chosen by God is to be held to the highest standard" to be so free with condemnation and so reluctant to action.

For an exercise in action all thirteen of the pastors, as well as the rest of us, might consider a calling to share our enormous wealth with the poor, the hungry, sick, and needy. I know of a place nearer to my home in Florida than your offices in Cincinnati where children are dying every day from lack of food; dads can't get a job to support their families; moms don't have shelter or clothes for their children. Yet, we pass by them just like the “good priest” and the “temple worker” who left the beaten and robbed Jewish man to the "Good Samaritan"!

I don't agree whole heartedly with the governments ideals, however, Jesus teaches us that we have to follow man's laws and keep them as well as obey our Father.

I do not endorse military action as a way to bring people to Christ. However, I find nearly all the comments on this page almost equally disappointing. Instead of trying to understand the other twelve you have decided it is much better to criticize. How is this a better way to help people understand Jesus? And, you extend these comments to the entire "evil empire" of the United States which will only result in continued argument rather than peaceful resolution.

Considering that our armed forces are made up of men and women of a variety of religious beliefs, it is wrong to think of our troops as doing God's work. Whose God would that be then? Rather, the troops are supposed to defend and protect us in the name of our country and in keeping with the Constitutional concept of separate church and state. When we go beyond this, we do too much. When we forget this, we do too little.