I needed these readings to help my understanding of a Christian's role during wartimes, thank you. Our constitution states that our military is for the defense of our nation. Yet we are involved in all 102 conflicts on earth and helped instigate most of them, including poking the Bear in the recently cobbled together state of Ukraine (mostly Russian speakers) which only serves to endanger our nation (think 9/11). Where was our (LCMS's) voice when our country ousted the democratically elected President of Ukraine, in the 2014 coup, with 14,000 Russian Ukrainians killed cruelly by NAZIS? Also, when the USSR folded, our Secretary of State James Baker promised Russia that the Satellite states would not become part of NATO (there was no longer need for NATO), we lied, our military/spy complex would not stand for this (lest they lose their jobs) and soon NATO was in all those countries, giving rise to Putin. Sorry, but it could be argued that both sides are on the defense. Our coins state "In God we Trust" and not all of them have images of rulers, indeed 'liberty' is a big part of them. Perhaps our last just war was started in 1775. Christ made me/us free from sin and free to serve him. The Spirit lead prayers at Faith Lutheran, through Pastor Josh seem to strike the right balance, there are no winners in war and we pray for the suffering. Another LCMS Pastor during a an old testament bible study (when all wars were spiritual wars) brought up the World War One story about the Germans in a Winter stalemate holding up the banner stating 'GOTT MIT UNS', the Brits replied with 'GOT MITTENS TOO'! Our constitution implies that we would not be an invasive power abroad. I feel bad for those of us that have been sent abroad (many relatives) as cannon fodder to satiate the elite's greed, and there is plenty to lust after in The Ukraine and Russia. We can serve our country patriotically by staying home.