It is so powerful that we can convince ourselves that even the wrong we are about to do is right. Thus, if we want to defend the small, weak space of justice in this world, on this side of the full arrival of the Kingdom of Grace that Jesus the King will eventually bring, we must be willing to use force. Yet while war is terrible, and under the judgment of God, there are some things even more terrible than war. So, Augustine says, there is only one purpose in war. There is only one thing that can excuse it.
Every wise leader knows it and aims at it.
The only goal of war must be a better peace. We need to pray. Last week, Pastor McCrossen confessed his trouble in finding a way to pray. I do as well. I do not have profound enough a faith for that.