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Afghanistan, combat experiences, forgiveness, grace, healing, Iraq, Jesus Christ, killing, Marines, mercy, morality of war, Murder, sin, spirit, Timothy Kudo, War
Marine Captain Timothy Kudo published and article in the Washington Post entitled “I killed people in Afghanistan. Was I right or wrong?” The article was based on his experiences during deployments to Iraq in 2009 and Afghanistan from 2010 to 2011 and his struggle to reconcile the killing of people during his combat experiences with his belief that killing is wrong. He calls attention to “the ethical damage of war” and challenges in treating such damage. He concludes with stating his duty in explaining what he did in Iraq & Afghanistan to educate people on the morality of war.
I can sympathize with Timothy Kudo’s struggles as was deployed in Iraq from 2004 to 2005. I understand first hand the difficulties in transitioning back to civilian life after living in what I can only describe as Hell on Earth. Where I differ from Timothy is in how I view my experiences and adjusted to them.
Timothy Kudo’s first argument is that killing is wrong and states “Many veterans are unable to to reconcile such actions in war with the biblical commandment Thou shalt not kill.” The word used in Exodus 20:13 is ratsach. The word in Strong’s Concordance means “to dash to pieces, i.e. kill especially to murder.” Some translations use the word murder rather than kill, but the definition seems to imply manslaughter and justified killing also (Num 35:27, Deut 4:42). By my count there are 8 different ancient Hebrew words for kill. I looked up instances where “kill” was used in context of war (Joshua 8:21 & Judges 3:31 for example) and the scriptures indicate that these killings were justified. In 1 Sam 15:3, the Lord gives Saul a command to destroy Amalek and uses 3 of the words for kill in the command. So based on the Bible there are instances were killing is justified, but how are we to know what those instances are? I think we have to look to how Jesus addressed the issue in Matt 5:21-22. Jesus says that not committing murder is not enough, but if you are angry, enraged you are guilty and “liable to judgement.” Jesus is more concerned with what is in our heart not just what we do. To kill to prevent protect others and to defeat evil is not wrong, but to kill with anger and hatred in our heart is wrong whether during war or not.
That said, being justified in the act of killing does not make it any easier to deal with realization that you are responsible for another person’s death. It is even worst when faced with a situation like the one Timothy Kudo tells about where innocent people are killed. As he states in his article you cannot cure these scars with ” rest, physical therapy, and pain medication.” While the recover may be hard it is not impossible – “with God all things are possible” Matt 19:26. Your soul is wounded in war and it requires a healing of the spirit. Jesus healed the sick, blind, and lame and even raise the dead. He can heal us too. The healing starts by recognizing that we were not “good” to begin with. Romans 3:23 states “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” While we may become killers in war, we were bad before we got there, but luckily the Word does not end with Romans 3:23. In verse 24 it states, “and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” No matter what we did in war, even if we killed with murder in our hearts, God is merciful and forgave us at the cross of Jesus Christ. His blood on the cross washes away the blood on our hands!
I am grateful for Timothy Kudo’s article, even if I have a different belief on the issue. It brings to light an issue most people cannot understand and rarely gets talked about. My purpose with this posting is to offer witness to God’s greatness and mercy for those that are struggling to come to terms to what took place in war. If you are reading this and are burdened with guilt and confusion because of your service to your nation, I hope this this post helped in some way and that you will come to lay that burden at the foot of the cross as I have. Know that you have our prayers and that there is one out there who can heal you.