Civil War

The Civil War has the distinction of being the deadliest conflict in U.S. history.  Due to the lack of detailed records, it is difficult to pinpoint the exact death toll but historians have commonly claimed that around 620,000 lost their lives.  Recent studies suggest that the number could range significantly higher.  But regardless of the number one uses, the loss of human life was staggering.  To put it in perspective, the combined U.S. casualties from World War 1, World War 2, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War total just short of 620,000.  U.S. military deaths for the entire Vietnam War are listed at 58,209.  The deaths attributed to just one battle in the Civil War (Gettysburg) are estimated to be 51,000.  The purpose of these comparisons is not to discount the human cost of the later conflicts, but to help us wrap our minds around the terrible consequences of the Civil War.

Civil wars tend to be bloodier than other kinds of conflict.  One would think that brothers would be kinder to brothers and sisters would be more tolerant with sisters, but such is not always the case.  When we reach the point where we can shoot at each other, it seems that restrain disappears.  Family squabbles are often the most volatile and dangerous.  Perhaps that is why the Scriptures are so adamant about maintaining peace, unity, and tolerance within the family of God.  Jesus calls upon us to love one another, not fight with each other (John 15:12; cf. also v. 17).  We we fail to love each other, it becomes easier to attack and destroy each other (Galatians 5:14–15).
Civil war is always deadly.  That is why we must always work hard at preserving peaceful unity (Ephesians 4:3).  Let’s drop the weapons that we use against each other and join forces to fight our common enemy (1 Peter 5:8).  Satan is the only winner when we fight among ourselves.

God loves you!

Mike