SPRR RICHARD ROBERTS Hallelujah. Give him a good hand clap. And Larry, God bless you as you head toward that chapel service.
SPKM LARRY LEA God bless you, Richard. (APPLAUSE)
SPRR RICHARD ROBERTS And speaking of welcomes. I want you to help me to welcome two very special people to our television program, friends of this ministry, friends of our family — James and Betty Robinson. (APPLAUSE) James, God bless you. Betty, so glad you could come with James and be with us. (APPLAUSE) James. I have something that I want to talk to you about. But I want to follow up on this letter that I received from this Vietnam veteran. Because there are many servicemen who feel because of what they had to do in wars, such as the Vietnam War, and especially in a war that received much criticism. Now let’s just be honest about it. It received a lot of criticism, although the newspapers painted it in ways in which it was not — and the newspapers are famous for that, as you well know. But I wanted to know your response. Have you had to deal with this kind of thing in your own ministry? And how would you respond to a man or a woman who has had to do something in a war and it’s been eating them up on the inside.
SPKM JAMES ROBINSON Richard, I think you handled it beautifully. I think what you said is perfectly appropriate. I also would like to add to it just simply the thought from the New Testament, because you did refer to the Old Testament illustration of how God did use David to destroy the enemies of God who were in fact out to destroy the innocent ones. And whether we realize it or not, Jesus Christ actually came and gave his own life in behalf of those who are innocent through Christ and through his redemptive plan — but he also delivered a death blow to the kingdom of darkness. And which ultimately will be the total elimination of all the powers of the enemy and the enemy himself. So Jesus came and gave his life for us. There was combat there. It was mortal as far as he was concerned. Because it cost him his life.
SPRR RICHARD ROBERTS That’s right.
SPKM JAMES ROBISON SU01 But in the 13th chapter of Romans we find a very definite reference to the authorities and to the rulers. And I would like to just share that. First of all, there is the exhortation from the Lord to be in subjection to the governing authority except that which is established by God. Therefore, if you resist authority, and you are opposing the ordinance of God, and those who do oppose will receive condemnation in themselves, for rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good, and you will have the praise of authority. For it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid, for the authority, the ruling power does not bear the sword for nothing. It is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath upon the one who practices evil. And that is precisely what these individuals were doing as subjects of the ruling authorities. They were instruments of death to those who were in opposition to the right or to good. And so they were actually serving the country. I do not feel there is any reason for them to have any sort of a feeling of guilt. Of course they have hurt in their heart that the war ever took place in the first place. We are always sorry when wars come. But they do come. And when we serve our country that is a noble thing, and it’s not something to be in any kind of a guilt trip over. And we just pray for God to give total healing and restoration in the mind and memories to anyone who did serve the country.