Introduction
Should Christians support torture? The is the first in a series of articles discussing the controversy surrounding the Bush administration’s harsh interrogation techniques, President Obama’s decision to ban their use, and how the Christian Church should respond.
Since the 2008 election, partisanship has dominated the political landscape. Complex issues are reduced to meaningless talking points in an effort to cultivate partisan loyalty. Rumors and misinformation pepper much of our conversation. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the issue of torture and interrogation techniques. For the average American, giving thoughtful consideration to the issue is not easy when being bombarded by rhetoric and commentary from the media.
The evangelical wing of the Christian Church stands in a unique position when it comes to moral issues, straddling line between politics and faith. With the establishment of the Christian Right in the 1970′s, Church leaders such as James Dobson, Pat Robertson, and Francis Schaeffer succeeded in tying traditional interpretations of the Bible to the policies of the Republican party. For many evangelical Christians today, to be a believer is to vote Republican. This has been augmented in recent months with a growing partisan sentiment that leaves no room for any grey areas: “You are for me or you are against me.”
However, one cannot serve two masters. Despite its political ties, the Church is commanded to have a greater loyalty to the teaching of the Bible. Sometimes, Christians have t make a choice between their doctrine or their politics.
So when it comes to torture (or advanced interrogation techniques) what does the Christian find when he or she turns to the Bible? On the surface, it appears that the issue should be rather cut and dry. Didn’t Jesus say that Christians are to love their enemies and turn the other cheek (Matthew 5:38-48)? But then again, Paul wrote in Romans that God has appointed world leaders and that they do not “bear the sword in vain” (13:1-7). Maybe that means that a govern has a God-given right to “bear the sword” in its use of harsh interrogation techniques. When we add partisan politics, the political lobbying of Church leaders, and touch questions about ethics and morality to the mix, the issue gets even more complicated.
Ultimately, one’s opinion on the issue is a matter of personal faith. At the end of the day, Christians have to sit down and decide for themselves how their faith applies to the situation. They have to decide what they believe is right.
The goal is to help Christians do just that. In the articles that follow, you’ll find quotations from memos released by the government, testimony from Congressional hearings, arguments from both sides of the issue, and a variety of discussion questions. As you read each article, share your thoughts in the comments, discuss the issues, and let let iron sharpen iron. For now, consider the following questions:
- How would you define torture?
- Is it ever appropriate to use interrogation techniques that could be considered torture? If so, when?
- What should the Church’s position be on the issue?