Should a Christian Participate In War? A Christian Ethics Discussion
What war really is?
Today we are living in the end days and with the incidence of war rising day by day, the Christian increasingly finds himself in a dilemma regarding the moral and spiritual stance to be taken in a war situation. The Christian, End days and War attempts to present a rational view of the whole matter regarding what should be the Christians’ attitude towards war. Is it right to take the life of another person even under the command of one’s Government? Is there a biblical base to engaging in war?
Primarily, the views regarding taking the life of another person fall in three categories. Firstly, activism holds that the Christians ought to participate in any war engaged by his Government because authorities are the ordained of God. Secondly, pacifism states that a Christian should never participate in war and consequently killing others, because God has commanded man not to murder. Thirdly, selectivism argues that a Christian should only participate in those wars which are “just wars”.
Old Testament View of War
In the Old Testament, all of the Israelites’ activities were under the direction of God. Jehovah was known by the war titles like “Man of War” (Ex. 15:3; Isa. 42:13) and “Lord of Hosts” (Isa 1:11; 1Kings 19:10; Psa. 24:10). Numbers mentions a book of “the wars of the Lord”. The Lord Jehovah headed his army as its captain (1Chro. 13:12); even the battle cry of Gideon was in the name of the Lord – the sword of the Lord and of Gideon (Judges 7:18). War was used as a temporary measure and employed by God through dealings with David. God was beginning to show Israel that he was not a God of War (1 Chro.22:8; 28:3) Jehovah is God of Peace (Isa 19:18-25; Jer. 16:19-21)
Israel did not always succeed in war, their sin and unfaithfulness resulted in defeat. God is the God of holiness, righteousness and justice. God can only lead those to victory who are obedient and faithful in following him. God punishes the cruel and evil nations that commit sin, evil, injustice and oppression (Isa 10:1-4). In the end Jehovah will redeem his people. Many people from all the nations will share in this redemption (Isa. 42:6, 7). It is God and not humans that will establish universal peace (Isa. 11:1-9).
New Testament View of War
Although Jesus was the promised Messiah – the King of the Jews, he dissociated himself completely from the activities of any political group. Jesus did not encourage war and he was opposed to violence in any form. He taught that those who take the sword would perish by it (Matt. 26:52)
What should be a Christian’s approach?
Christian faith is against any kind of killing. So, is it right for Christians to fight wars by serving in the armed forces? Ethics do not have a comprehensive answer to this difficult question. It is the duty of the every citizen to fight for his country and if necessary to lay down his / her life. We are taught and expected to be patriotic.
Mankind has to rid itself of sin, selfishness and greed – therein lies the solution to conflict and war. That is why Jesus came to this world. It should be noted that military terms and analogies are used by the New Testament writers to illustrate spiritual truths. Christians are constantly in spiritual warfare (Eph 6:12) and they are soldiers (2Tim. 2:3) they are expected to fight a good fight. (1Tim 1:18)
Thus a “just war” must be for a worthy cause, righteous in intention and it must be defensive, not aggressive. Its motive must be to secure justice or remedy injustice or to protect the innocent and champion human rights. It must be used as a last resort after all attempts of negotiation and reconciliation have been exhausted and only after a formal declaration is made by a legitimate authority. Just causes are not served by unjust motives and there must be no hatred, no animosity and no thirst for revenge. And this is the view that we advocate through this article, “The Christian: End days and War”
Popularity: 60%
