Who Are The RIGHTEOUS Proverbs 10 14 The

Who Are The RIGHTEOUS Proverbs ? 10 & 14

The date was June 14, 1942 The world was plunged into a war that spanned the nations and

Into that muck and mire, Franklin D. Roosevelt spoke these words. . .

“The belief in the four freedoms of common humanity —the belief in man, created free, in the image of God-is the crucial…

…difference between ourselves and the enemies we face today. In it lies the absolute unity of our alliance, opposed to the oneness…

…of the evil we hate. Here is our strength, the source and promise of victory. We ask the German people, still dominated by their Nazi…

…whipmasters, whether they would rather have the mechanized hell of Hitler's ‘New’ Order or—in place of that, freedom…

…of speech and religion, freedom from want and from fear. We ask the Japanese people, trampled…

…by their savage lords of slaughter, whether they would rather continue slavery and blood or—in place of them, freedom…

… of speech and religion, freedom from want and from fear. We ask the brave, unconquered people of the…

…nations the Axis invaders have dishonored and despoiled whether they would rather yield to conquerors or— have freedom of speech and…

…religion, freedom from want and from fear. We know the answer. They know the answer. We know that man…

…born to freedom in the image of God, will not forever suffer the oppressors’ sword. Then FDR offered this prayer!

On this Memorial Day weekend, as we remember those who have perished fighting for the virtues and nobility of freedom and truth…

…let us pause to remember the source of such freedom and truth.

Proverbs 14: 33 -34 “Wisdom rests in the heart of him who has understanding, but what is in the heart of fools…

…is made known. Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. ”

Our effort is not to celebrate war, but to understand its purpose when absolutely needed.

To be clear, war is the ultimate failure of mankind and, perhaps, the highest example of our fallen nature.

We Must Be a Righteous People Accountable to God

Romans 13: 4 “For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain…

…for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. ”

St Augustine asserted, peacefulness in the face of a grave wrong that could only be stopped by violence would

Defense of one’s self or others could be a necessity, especially when authorized by a legitimate authority

“They who have waged war in obedience to the divine command, or in conformity with His laws, have represented in their persons…

…the public justice or the wisdom of government, and in this capacity have put to death wicked men; such persons

…no means violated the commandment, ‘Thou shalt not kill. ’” Augustine in the ‘City of God’

We Must Be a Forgiving People Humility Before God

Thomas Aquinas used the authority of Augustine’s arguments as he laid out three conditions under which a war could be considered ‘just’.

‘Just’ War Must be waged by a Properly Instituted Authority

‘Just’ War Must occur for a Good and Just Purpose rather than for Self. Gain

‘Just’ War Peace must be a Central Motive even in the Midst of Violence

England, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Canada are but a few of our former enemies that we now count as our greatest allies!

God establishes the deep moral order whereby righteous is defined!

“The memory of the righteous is blessed. . . ” Proverbs 10: 7 a