Reagan’s Use of Scripture

For the last four years I have been very concerned about the massive arms buildup undertaken by President Reagan. I have criticized his military buildup as inefficient, irresponsible and wasteful. And as for our full-speed-ahead charge into a new arms race, I have argued that this was not in the best interests of world peace. I fought that defense buildup as hard as I could and I was all ready to gear up for battle again.

Imagine my surprise upon hearing the President’s assertion, backed up by Scripture, that our arms spending is sanctioned by God. I was willing to take on the President, but I sure didn’t want to tangle with the Lord.

I had to see the evidence with my own eyes. The integrity of my entire political philosophy was at stake, after all. I looked up the passage, Luke 14:31, that the President had cited. I read: “Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first and consulteth whether he be able with 10,000 to meet him that cometh against him with 20,000? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.”

As I read, my heart sank. This passage, by itself, seemed to prove that the President had been right all along--God was on his side. But my spirits lifted as I read that passage’s conclusion: “So likewise, whosoever be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” The President had taken his quote out of context! The passage had really been talking about the importance of true devotion and commitment in disciples of the Lord, and the kings and armies were merely examples used to illustrate the point.

With this realization, I began to recall other Bible passages:

“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God” (Matthew 5:9).

“As much as lieth in you, live peaceable with all men” (Romans 12:18).

“Let us, therefore, hold fast to those who religiously follow peace, and not to such as only pretend to desire” (Apocrypha, New Testament, Clement 7:13).

“Thou shalt open thine hand . . . to thy poor, and to thy needy” (Deuteronomy, 15:11).

“Defend the poor and fatherless, do justice to the afflicted and needy” (Psalms 82:3).

“Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you . . .” (Matthew 5:43-46).

President Reagan does not like to be quoted out of context. Neither, I am sure, does the Lord. God’s views on the subjects of war and peace, charity and justice are clear. In the future it would be wise for the President and his advisers to consider the entire body of work on a subject before claiming a Divine Manifesto for their actions.

EDWARD R. ROYBAL

Member of Congress

25th District

Los Angeles

President Reagan has cited the Bible in support of his defense budget. Quoting Jesus (Luke 14:31) he said, “Or what king when he sets out to meet another king in battle, will not first sit down and take counsel whether he is strong enough with 10,000 men to encounter one coming against him with 20,000? Or else, while the other is still far away, sends a delegation and asks the terms of peace.”

What Reagan overlooks is the fact that we now have not 10,000 men, but more than 10,000 nuclear weapons--enough to destroy the civilized world, friend and foe alike. So when we negotiate for peace, we are talking not about win or lose against a real or imagined enemy, but about the survival of the Earth.

Reagan also appears to overlook the fact that he was not elected king, only President.

SANDERSON SMITH

Portola Valley

Reagan’s reckless quotation from sacred Scripture to justify his horrendous buildup of U.S. defenses really turns my stomach! Selective quoting of the Bible has historically been used by many as a last resort to justify a cause that is becoming unpopular with the people. The implication of Reagan’s remarks is that Jesus condones violence!

It is quite amazing that Reagan, a man who rarely attends church, has now proclaimed “Divine Guidance” in pursuit of the excessive buildup of the military. Perhaps if Reagan would attend church on a regular basis he would hear the rest of the Bible, and, in particular, the rest of that passage of Luke he quoted out of context. Luke 14:33 goes on to state, “So in the same way, none of you can be my disciple unless he gives up all his possessions.” Can we truly follow Christ while clinging to possessions (i.e., weapons) that may destroy other followers of Christ?

My Bible speaks of a Jesus of peace and love. Reagan’s Bible speaks of a Jesus of war and hate! I think my Bible is complete in its translation, or perhaps Reagan has an abridged version.

DONALD A. BENTLEY

Dublin, Calif.

His biblical scholarship notwithstanding, Reagan seems to have a skewed view of the love of God. As a professed agent of God, it is incongruous that Reagan would so blatantly eschew that love by his headlong pursuit of military, economic and social superiority, to the detriment of those who don’t share his exclusive, patriarchal views, which Reagan espouses in the guise of patriotism.

SUSAN L. WILBER

Los Angeles

Just when I thought that Reagan had lost the ability to infuriate me, he does it again. He has distorted the word of Christ for his own gain.

Luke 14:31-32 is a parable, an example of earthly reality used to help explain a spiritual truth. I can find in it no advocacy of arms buildup.

If one were to insist on taking the passage literally, Reagan’s meaning is still not found. The first line says “what king going to make war against another king . . .” Is Reagan planning on leading us into war? The passage goes on to say that if the king is not strong enough to win he should negotiate for peace, not send for more men and arms.

If, heaven forbid, Reagan were to read the entire chapter, he would find that the principal theme was that one should be humble and should care for the needy. Where are these things in Reagan’s budget?

MARTHA ZETTERBAUM

Bishop

I note our President is now quoting Scripture to justify the intolerable hikes in his proposed defense budget.

Isn’t it a shame he didn’t blow the dust off his Bible a few pages sooner?

If so, he would have come across such revolutionary ideas as:

--Feeding the hungry.

--Healing the sick.

--Establishing justice.

In fact, he might have run into some forthright notions about ethics (Ed Meese?) and about what really constitutes peace.

I hope Reagan’s advisers suggest that henceforth he stay away from the Bible. Wouldn’t it be embarrassing for them to discover that the Bible is diametrically opposed to everything this Administration stands for?

ROBERT W. HOLMES

Pastor, Good Shepard

Presbyterian Church

Monterey Park

Where’s the shame? Is there no limit to the arms-buildup hysteria? Shakespeare has said it best: “The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose . . . O, what a goodly outside falsehood hath:” (Merchant of Venice, Act I).

LARRY FERGUSON

San Diego

Before claiming again that “the Scriptures are on our side” in support of the defense budget, Reagan might ponder that in both world wars German soldiers marched to death and defeat with their belt buckles reading “Gott mit uns” (God with us). Or he should listen to Bob Dylan’s “With God on Our Side,” which ends with “If God was on our side, he’d stop the next war.”

G. BORDING MATHIEU

Laguna Beach