America is now engaged in a “War on Terrorism”. In reality, it is a struggle between the advance of Western values and Islam. Many restrict their description of the Moslem combatants to “radical Moslems” but all of Islam stands behind the so-called “militants”. This is powerfully evident from the failure of Moslem leaders and clerics to condemn the 9/11 attack and the continued effort of “militants” to utterly destroy Israel. For America to prevail in this war, it will require that the moral backbone of the nation stands strong through the awful experience of tactical defeats like that of 9/11.

The awesome price paid in every war is the lives of the young men and women who die in the struggle. Of course, added to this are the multitudes who are severely injured and maimed for the rest of their lives. I believe that it is immoral to ask young people to die unless you are willing to stand in the position of the highest possible moral ground. In WWII, the U.S. stood in such a position. As a result, virtually the entire society wholeheartedly joined the struggle against tyranny and aggression until the nation clearly prevailed. The cost was enormous but the nation prevailed and freedom and righteousness were affirmed and ensured.

Later, the same moral clarity was absent in the struggle in Vietnam. As a result, the nation was divided and the mightiest nation in the world was defeated. The defeat was not suffered so much on the battlefield as it was in the hearts of Americans across this vast country.

The largest community in America that has the moral strength to sustain the nation in the “War on Terror” is comprised of Biblebelieving Christians. This is the community that is responsible for the re-election of President Bush and caused the conservative majorities in both the Senate and the House to increase in the recent election cycle. This community was boldly heard on election day and was vividly portrayed in the media by the red states. The blue states more nearly embrace the European model of compromise with Islam. If the nation is to prevail in the current struggle then this core group of Evangelical Christians must wholeheartedly support the war effort until complete victory is attained. This is only possible if the nation maintains the high moral ground – the ground defined by the Bible.

The focus of the Islamic struggle has two primary targets: the U.S. and Israel. The U.S. is a target because it is projecting western values, lifestyle and influence into the area of Moslem domination, i.e., “Dar al Islam”, and by doing so is confronting the quest of Islam for global domination (Jihad). Israel is a target because it has been established as a sovereign Jewish state in the center of “Dar al Islam”. This boldly confronts the doctrine that Islam must be demonstrated as superior, especially within “Dar al Islam”. It would seem elementary that these two nations who have been targeted and are under attack would declare their unity in this struggle and stand together. Their common system of values, economy, culture, government and for the most part religion, would seem to ensure such a position. Unfortunately, this is not the case.

The Bush administration has repeatedly declared its commitment to divide Israel and establish a Palestinian state in the very heart of Israel (Judea and Samaria). Totally aside from the Biblical or spiritual significance of this area, such a state in Judea and Samaria could prove to be fatal for the State of Israel. Everyone knows that should a Palestinian state come into existence it would become a haven for Islamic militants. This is especially true since areas such as Afghanistan and Iraq, which formerly served this purpose, have now been neutralized. So the strategy of the Bush administration is to defeat or at least limit “militant” Islam while creating a divide between “militant” and “moderate” Islam with the idea of incorporating “moderate” Islam into the expanding global order led by the U.S. If such a strategy could work, it would have one outstanding cost - Israel. The simple truth of the matter is that it cannot and will not work.

The vitality of Evangelical Christianity is strongly dependent upon Israel. Indeed, the advance of this group can be correlated directly to the advance of the modern state of Israel. In the years following the establishment of the state in 1948 came great evangelical revivals. In the years following the “Six-Day War” in 1967 came the great charismatic revival. With the development of communities in Judea and Samaria and the increasing Israeli focus on the significance of Jerusalem, Evangelical Christianity has continued to prosper and grow in power. The reason that this is true is quite simple. Bible-believing Christians can see the picture set forth by the ancient Hebrew prophets being fulfilled in Israel on a daily basis. This sparks hope, belief and faith. We only have to remember that one prevailing Christian theological position prior to 1948 was “God is Dead”. Since 1948 this picture has changed and this theological position is now “dead”.

The willingness to forfeit Israel in this struggle will prove to be the demise of America as we know it. The willingness of the Bush administration to undermine the viability of the State of Israel for the hope of appeasing what is believed to be “moderate” Moslems places the U.S. on the same moral level as Islam. This follows the European model of compromise even though it might be at a somewhat slower pace than liberal politicians would pursue. Without doubt, it undermines the moral high-ground of the nation, the only ground from which victory is possible.

Every believer knows the promise of Genesis 12:3, “...I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse”. This is a very general principle applicable to those interacting with God’s people. The prophet Joel spoke in much more specific terms that are directly applicable to today’s situation. Joel declared,

For behold, in those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat. Then I will enter into judgment with them there on behalf of My people and My inheritance, Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and they have divided up My land (Joel 3:1-2, NASB).

The Bush administration is attempting to divide up God’s land with the formation of a Palestinian state in the heartland of Israel. Surely, we don’t think that this will somehow escape God’s attention and response.

Evangelical Christians can not stand by and allow the Bush administration to pursue this disastrous course without entering the struggle. Pressure must be exerted through the Congress to altar the strategy that the administration has announced concerning a Palestinian state in Judea, Samaria and Gaza. Even though Evangelical Christians may support many of the positions of this administration and may personally identify with the “down home” qualities of Mr. Bush, something greater than the Bush administration is at stake. The nation that we love which has stood for Biblical principles of righteousness and Godliness in the past is being led on path of destruction. With God’s help, Israel will survive. We have no such promise for the U.S.