'I can recall no utterance of Jesus in favor of war or any acts of aggression,' Paul says. Rand Paul: Jesus was anti-war

Making the case against excessive American engagement overseas, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) reminded social conservatives Thursday that Jesus was anti-war.

“I can recall no utterance of Jesus in favor of war or any acts of aggression,” Paul said at a kickoff luncheon for the Faith and Freedom Coalition conference. “In fact, his message to his disciples was one of non-resistance.”


The likely 2016 presidential contender quoted Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount: “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”

( PHOTOS: Rand Paul’s career)

Paul stressed that America needs a strong military but that it should be used sparingly.

“I believe individuals and countries can and should defend themselves, but I simply can’t imagine Jesus at the head of any army of soldiers and I think as Christians we need to be wary of the doctrine of preemptive war,” he said. “We must and should stand with our fellow Christians in the Middle East and around the world, but that does not necessarily mean war and it certainly does not mean arming sides in every conflict.”

Paul emphasized his opposition to foreign aid in a 15-mintue speech that drew a standing ovation at the Ronald Reagan building adjacent to the White House.

“There is a war on Christianity, not just from liberal elites here at home, but worldwide,” he said. “And your government, or more correctly, you, the taxpayer, are funding it.”

He complained that 90 percent of Congress voted against a bill he authored to put restrictions on aid.

The libertarian also warned that the John McCain-led push to send aid to Syrian rebels is “misguided” and will probably do more harm than good. [He did not mention the Arizona senator by name.]

“Before the Arab Spring, Christianity flourished in small outposts, like the Coptic Christians in Egypt,” he said. “I had hoped that the Arab Spring would bring freedom to long-oppressed people throughout the Middle East, but I fear the Arab Spring is becoming an Arab winter.

The speech is the latest effort by Paul to package his leeriness of U.S. intervention overseas in a way that can appeal to as many conservatives as possible.

Some of the loudest applause for Paul came when he said Egypt should get no money from the United States until the new government recognizes Israel’s right to exist.

“You are being taxed to send money to countries that are not only intolerant of Christians but openly hostile,” he said.

The senator also highlighted his anti-abortion bona fides, noting that he authored a bill saying that life begins at conception and urged his church to get more active on this issue as a child.

“As Christians, we know we must always stand with the most defenseless,” he said. “I believe that no civilization can long endure that does not respect life from those not yet born to life’s last breath.”

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