THE SOLUTION IN BOSNIA

Our most educated and experienced diplomats and military experts, throughout the range of the political spectrum, are totally perplexed as to what our country should do in the area of the world once called Yugoslavia (now Bosnia, Croatia and Serbia). Generally they have come to agreement that we can do little to stop the atrocities which continue as the various racial and religious factions attempt to consolidate their gains and continue the practice of "ethnic cleansing," which is their politically correct term for wholesale thievery and genocide. The imposition of air power might kill as many innocents as perpetrators of these heinous acts, and it is clear that neither the European nations nor this country has the will to sacrifice the many ground troops which would be required to bring some semblance of order to this part of the world.

We can learn much from simple observation of the situation. Here is a population which consists of a mixture of Moslem and supposedly "Christian" peoples who have been predominantly under Soviet domination and indoctrination since the end of World War II. One of the major axioms of Soviet mind control was to instill total loyalty to the state by a destruction of any respect for God. This was largely accomplished by the formal teaching of atheism, which has now gone to seed. While not eliminating religion completely, the gospel of Christ has virtually no influence with any of the factions at this point. A generation devoid of any semblance of morality as delivered to us by Jesus (Heb. 1: 2) can hardly be expected to practice anything other than institutionalized rape and the murder of innocent women and children. Clearly, the principles of Romans 1: 18-32 apply, and it is clear that "God gave them up" to these ungodly practices. "Without natural affection" is a mild term to apply to men who have no more regard for their own offspring than to intentionally rape for the purpose of destroying racial identity.

It should be noted that there are at least 30 major (and probably hundreds of minor) areas of the world in which war and atrocities exist similar to or worse than those of Bosnia. The interposition of force by the "new world order" cannot hope to solve all of these problems. And, lest you imagine that we are immune, think back to when you watched the olympic games at Sarajevo: could you imagine any more of a peaceful and civilized situation? At that time they could not imagine the current disaster either. The same cause produces the same effect, and it is clear that the seeds of hatred and bigotry are alive and growing in this country as well!

There is only one solution, and that is the gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus taught the cessation of vengeance (Rom. 12: 17-21), and the reconciliation of all nations through love for all of our fellow humans (Gal. 3: 27-18). As long as mankind in general does not accept this solution, we can be sure that the conditions in Bosnia (possibly even worse) will predominate generally throughout the world. The trumpets sounded, and the bowls of wrath were poured out, but even still ... "they repented not of their murders, nor their sorceries, nor their fornication, nor their thefts" (Rev. 9: 21). A world which will not grasp the clear solution which God has given out of His love, mercy and grace (Rom. 5: 8) can hardly expect much more than to be consumed by its own hatred.

This fact generates a greater recognition of our responsibility as Christians. For, the gospel will not be spread by the nations or by the armies of this world. It will only be spread by the actions of individual Christians. Let us cheerfully assume this responsibility, recognizing that if we refuse to do what God has commanded (Mat. 28: 19-20), we will surely become part of the problem.