U.S. president Donald Trump is facing a major international battle with North Korea early in his presidency – one that will likely continue throughout the rest of his term unless something drastic happens.
There are similarities to the “Cold War” two generations ago when the U.S. and the Soviet Union held onto their weapons to see if the other side would flinch. The unique aspect is North Korea is unstable and unpredictable led by Kim Jong Un.
North Korea’s leader has made his country an international force because of the sheer threat of war or long-range missile capability.
The communist regime is not an economic or political threat, like the Soviet Union was. Instead, Kim Jong Un poses a different danger as a leader who claims to have access to weapons and no hesitation to use them.
In a recent interview with Fox News, President Trump said “nobody is safe” because of uncertainty about N. Korea’s capabilities. And, this extends to the U.S. military presence stationed in East Asia.
“Who’s safe? The guy’s got nuclear weapons,” the president said. “These are great, brave soldiers. These are great troops and they know the situation. We have 28,000 troops on the line. And they’re right there. So, nobody is safe. We’re probably not safe over here. If he gets the long-range missiles, we’re not safe, either.”
That sounds frightening. But, it is also a reminder of where to find hope and security in difficult times.
Your Response to North Korea Scare Tactics
Whenever war seems to be on the horizon, we should turn to Jesus’ words found in the Gospels to find comfort.
Just before the Last Supper, Jesus reassured his Disciples that discussion about war is part of living on earth. It’s simply a fact of life from generation to generation.
In Mark Ch. 13, Jesus is recorded saying: “When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.”
Our response to news reports about a potential war with North Korea or any other country is very clear: do not panic. God is still in control and Jesus is still looking out for us.
Does that mean we should bury our head in the sand and live our lives as if everything is great? No. Jesus later says that “you must be on your guard.”
Our response should reflect inward and outward balance.
How Do We Form the Proper Response?
We should not feel anxiety or fear about the North Korea situation because Jesus gave us hope through his comforting words.
Rather, we should be actively engaged in helping the situation. What does that look like? It means talking to neighbors, friends, and fellow churchgoers about the situation. But, not with fear or concern when engaging with our community.
We should not fall into the traps of non-Christians bemoaning the situation or stirring up fear. For God did not give us a spirit of fear but of sound mind. You are called to a higher level of thinking and response!
We need to remember to “be on guard,” standing firm with our country’s leaders and supporting the key decision-makers who have to make very difficult decisions about how to act during a period of uncertainty and turmoil.
This is essentially a second chance at the right response. During the Cold War, there was a period of panic, as U.S. citizens feared what might happen with Russia and its Soviet proxy states around the world.
There were rumors of war that spread across the U.S., sending people into a fearful state. Americans abandoned the very words of Jesus: “Do not be alarmed.”
Two generations later, we are faced with a similar threat from North Korea. This time, the unknown is greater because the threat is more unstable and potentially more dangerous thanks to advances in military capabilities.
So, will we panic again? Or, remember to have inward peace with outward readiness?
It is important to share the words of Jesus with others so that you can be a source of comfort during a potential wartime period.
We also need to remember to support President Trump and other U.S. leaders as they determine the best course of action engaging with Kim Jong Un and North Korea to aim for a peaceful resolution.
~ 1776 Christian
