Posted on 11/23/2001 4:03:53 AM PST by Ada Coddington
Defense and War: A Biblical Perspective
by Ron McKenzie
A key responsibility of the civil government is to protect its citizens from attack by wrongdoers. This involves punishing those who break the law. It also involves defending the nation from every external attacker, including nations, other groups of people or dangerous pests and diseases. All these responsibilities are encompassed in the power of the sword (Romans 13:1-8). Therefore, pacifism is not a Christian option.
The Bible gives a nation the right of self-defence. However there are a number of principles which should control the civil government’s exercise of this authority in the fulfilment of its responsibilities.
1.War is only justified for defence (Romans 13:1-8). It should not be used to expand a nation's boundaries, or to take control of another nation, or to extract trade advantages. This is a fundamental principle. A nation should never need to establish military domination in another region or nation.
2.The idea of a Christian Holy War has no basis in Scriptures. The nation of Israel conquered and destroyed the Canaanite nations. This was only done after a specific and direct command from God (Deut 7:1,2). This was a special case where God had a specific purpose in terms of the salvation he planned for Israel. It is not an example that can be followed by Christians or a Christian nation. We should not use war to win people for the gospel. (We should be honest and admit that the crusades were a mistake, however well-intentioned the crusaders may have been).
3.A Christian nation must not have a large "standing army"(Deut 17:16; 1 Kings 10:26-29). An army that is constantly training for war is dangerous, because it will be tempted to find a situation where it can use its skills. The military should not be given too much political power, as they will have a tendency to use war to solve all problems.
4.The defence force should take the form of a part-time local militia. The central command structure may be full-time professional so that the defence of the nation can be well organised (Deut 20:5). However, most of the soldiers will be trained civilians who can be called up when a defence force is needed. As they have other interests there will be no danger of them becoming over militant and fighting unnecessary wars. However, because they will be defending their families and friends they will be highly motivated if they are needed. They will be well prepared, but they will be only rarely called upon to fight.
5.The militia should be up made of volunteers. Anyone who is faint-hearted or afraid should not be forced to fight (Deut 20:5-9). People who are at a critical stage in their lives should not be forced into military service. For example, men who have recently married, started building a house or started a business should be freed from service, because they would not be focused on the battle.
6.The army of a Christian nation will not have offensive weapons (Deut 17:16). God forbade the king from acquiring great numbers of horses for himself. The reason for this was that horses and chariots, at that time, were offensive weapons used for attacking other nations. The defence of the nation would not need large numbers of them. A modern defence force should choose weapons that are best for defensive purposes.
7.Only the civil government has authority to declare war. Individuals or companies do not have the authority to commit a nation to war. Any declaration of war must be in accordance with correct legal processes (Deut 20:10).
8.War should always be the last resort. Before declaring war, the civil government should try every means possible to obtain peace (Deut 20:10). We should never forget the horror of war. It is always costly in terms of human suffering. Christians should never glorify war. While it is an honour for a man to give his life to defend his family and community, war is never an ideal solution. A Christian government should be prepared for war, if it is attacked, but it should also hope that it would never have to fight.
9.A Christian nation should always seek God’s will before declaring war. A nation going to war, because it thinks it is right, is being presumptuous (Deut 1:41-44). Presumption is a terrible sin. If the war has God’s blessing, the army is more likely to have success.
10.A Christian government should only declare war if it thinks it has a reasonable chance of success. Jesus said that before a king goes to war, he should sit down and consider whether he can match the army that is coming against him. If not he will send a delegation to ask for terms of peace (Luke 14:31-32), even if this involves a loss of freedom. For Christians freedom is not an absolute value. It may be better to lose freedom to govern, than to lose a large number of lives in an unsuccessful defence. In fact, because Jesus has set us free, we cannot lose our freedom.
Two things should always be remembered,
a.Christianity can survive under extremely hostile environments. It was born in the hostile world of the Roman Empire. In our own time, Christianity has blossomed under the hostility of both the Soviet Union and Communist China. Therefore, Christianity will never be dependent on winning a war for its survival. If a Christian government has no hope of defending against attack, it should surrender, knowing that Christianity will survive. b.It is God who determines the appointed times of the nations and the boundaries of there habitations. (Acts 17:26, cf Job 12:23, Deut 32:8) If a nation is invaded by another and this is not God’s will, he will not allow the situation to last long. For example, after the Second World War, the Russian Empire took control of most of Eastern Europe. However, because this was contrary to God’s will, that empire had collapsed within fifty years. If a nation is unable to defend itself, all is not lost; God will have his way in the end.
Counting the cost of war, is not just a matter of estimating how many soldiers will be lost. The full cost of the war should be counted. There are generally very few winners in war. The cost for the families of those who die is enormous. For the soldiers who survive the cost can also be high. Many will have injuries that blight their lives. Worse still, war has a desensitising effect on its participants, and good men can be drawn into doing great evil. They will have to live with there consciences. War is also an enormous waste of economic resources. There are actually very few situations serious enough to justify the enormous costs of war.
11.Deut 20:1-5 declares that a small army with God on its side can beat a large well-armed one. A good example of this is Gideon, who defeated a large Midianite army with 300 unarmed men (Judges 7). However, this promise should not be used as a justification for foolish wars.
12.Total war, as it has been practised in this last century, is prohibited by the Bible. Those engaged in war are prohibited from attacking and damaging the land (Deut 20). The same protection would apply to women and children. Non-combatants should also be protected.
13.This prohibition makes nuclear war unacceptable. Nuclear weapons would harm the land and non-combatants. The same principle would rule out many modern weapons. Only weapons which can be targeted at combatants or other weapons can be used by a Christian nation. On the other hand, anti-ballistic missile defence systems may be justified, because they are defensive.
14.Military alliances are common in the modern world. However these are forbidden over and over again in the Bible. A Christian nation has a covenant with God. It cannot be totally committed to God, and place its faith in another nation for defence (Is 31:1-3). Therefore, defence alliances are not an option for a Christian nation.
15.God determines the appointed times of the nations and the timing of their rule. (Acts 17:26). No nation has the authority to invade another nation to change its government (even if it is evil). A nation cannot even be invaded to establish democracy. (Democracy must come from the hearts of the people, it cannot be enforced from the outside.) Most attempts by great powers to establish "better" government by force in other nations have failed, because the spiritual forces that control the nation have not been defeated (Dan 10:13).
The principles outlined here allow a nation to defend itself, but there are very severe restrictions on which methods may be used. Likewise there are very strict conditions which must be fulfilled before war may be justified. Almost all modern conflicts would fail to meet these conditions. The Bible recognises the horror of war. There are probably very few situations that would justify the cost of war. It should be an extremely rare event.
The current war in Afghanistan does fit with these principles. The people who organised the attack on the World Trade Centre, committed a dreadful crime and should be punished as criminals. However, the nation of Afghanistan did not attack the United States. The Taliban did not attack the United States. Afghanistan may be harbouring the criminals who organised the attack, but that is not a justification for war. We may dislike the Taliban intensely, but that does not justify war against them. The United States does not have the right to determine who should govern Afghanistan. (The Taliban gained power through victory in a civil war. This is the same way that the current federal system in the United States was established). The United States is not defending itself against an attack by Afghanistan, so it is not justified in attacking Afghanistan.
The methods of warfare being used in Afghanistan cannot be justified either. Bombs that destroy the land and can kill and maim civilians are forbidden by Deuteronomy 20. The alliance with the ungodly men of the Northern Alliance is also contrary to the Scriptures.
November 23, 2001
Ron McKenzie is an economist in Christchurch, New Zealand. He is also a Presbyterian minister.
That is true. However, the question is directed only to Christians who, presumably, place God before nation.
Methinks Jesus might have a beef with us if we let the Taliban keep oppressing, raping, and murdering its people, including its women.
Which government is without sin in oppressing its people? Jesus followed the law as written and the Hebrews generally had no problem in obeying the laws of other countries when they were guests there.
Second, although I don't pretend to hear from God on this issue, one CANNOT dismiss the fact that Christian leaders (including the Pope) can receive instructions similar to those given the Children of Israel. I don't think Pope Urban DID, but prophecy and Word of Knowledge/Wisdom are ongoing, and cannot be either dismissed or discounted as a possibility.
Third, the author uses Romans correctly, then INCORRECTLY strips it of its meaning with Old Testament references. The fact is that the "state does not bear the sword for naught," and part of bearing that sword may INDEED be foreign intervention that secures one's borders. Jesus did NOT chastize Peter for slicing off the attacker's ear as a "pre-emptive strike." He corrected him for the TIMING.
Fourth, if protecting the unborn, because they are "innocent" is a commandment, it is just as necessary to protect the adult innocent from foreign attacks. Therefore, if you know through INTEL an enemy is going to strike, you are perfectly justified in striking first to prevent deaths.
Fifth, the Old Testament principles the author DOES cite justify killing ALL of one's enemies in order to prevent revenge attacks. Do you, Ada, support this?
This is just another attempt by the communist left, masquerading as "Libertarians," to hate America. And, as usual, it fails.
Oh come on. Of course all governments have their problems. But there comes a point when you have to draw the line.I don't think it would be Christian-like to tell the women of Afghanistan to 'be good guests'.
I apologize for the lengthly post, it was an e-mail I received yesterday, and I did not feel there was any justice done by editing it.
My point of my post above is this: It is DANGEROUS to apply specific commands given to the NATION of Israel to OUR nation. WE have NO such promise; Israel STILL DOES.
Revelation 19:11: And I saw heaven opened; and behold, a white horse, and He [Christ] who sat upon it is called Faithful and True; and in righteousness He judges and wages war."
Romans 13:1-7: (1) "Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. (2) Therefore he who resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. . . . (4) . . . But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath upon the one who practices evil. . . ."
Psalm 89:14: "Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Thy throne."
Proverbs 28:5: "Evil men do not understand justice."
Micah 6:8: "He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"
Decuteronomy 17:2-13: "If there is found in your midst, in any of your towns, which the Lord your God is giving you, a man or a woman who does what is evil in the sight of the lord your God . . .(7) you shall purge the evil from your midst. . . . (11) According to the terms of the law which they teach you, and according to the verdict which they tell you, you shall do; you shall not turn aside from the word which they delcare to you, to the right or the left. . . . (12) . . . you shall purge the evil. . . ."
The God of the Jews and Christians is a just God, not a pacifist. He requires justice be done, brought by Himself or through humans. We are engaged in a "just-war" against the terrorists. Not only does God expect those who have done wrong be brought to justice, but those who harbor the wrongdoers share in the terrorists' guilt. The Taliban, in Afghan, have not purged the evil from their midst. Rather, they have given aid, shelter, protection. Therefore, they have condemned themselves. They are just as guilty as having committed the evil acts. God says we cannot serve two masters. Either we are followers of God or we are not. If we follow Him, we obey him. If we obey him, then we, within our bodies and minds, are to purge evil from within our own selves. Carrying this over from self to country, in God's eyes, if a country harbors evil, it is to purge that evil from its midst or it shares in the guilt, and the just punishment, of the evil doers it protects.
Afghanistan has been ruled by the Taliban which has given aid and protection to evil, rather than purging the evil. It now suffers the consequences of comforting evil doers.
The Taliban didn't change much re the status of women in Afghanistan. I was there in 1973 and respectable women were never seen on the streets. (However, we did see nomadic women outside the cities who, incidentally, did not wear veils although the men did.) In any event the author claims that war should be absolutely the last thing to be used, perhaps because the war killed more women than the Taliban ever did.
If a Christian government has no hope of defending against attack, it should surrender, knowing that Christianity will survive. 11.Deut 20:1-5 declares that a small army with God on its side can beat a large well-armed one.
Am I the only one that sees a contradiction here?
The Taliban gained power through victory in a civil war. This is the same way that the current federal system in the United States was established.
God determines the appointed times of the nations and the timing of their rule.
Does this mean the Taliibabies had the same backing from God as the USA?
Okay, Atheist appeaser, justify these inconsistencies. And also stop beating around the bush, and state uncategorically that we should do absolutely nothing to retaliate for the attacks perpetrated against us, and simply hope the terrorists will stop trying to kill as many Christians and Jews as they possibly can.
The author is a Presbyterian minister who presumably believes that the nation of Israel is now the spiritual decendants of Abraham.
The Roman Catholics have thought long and hard over what constitutes a "just war". Their conclusions aren't much different from the Presbyterian minister's.
Romans 9:6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: 7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. 8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.
"If a Christian government has no hope of defending against attack, it should surrender, knowing that Christianity will survive. 11.Deut 20:1-5 declares that a small army with God on its side can beat a large well-armed one.
Am I the only one that sees a contradiction here?
We'll see if others see a contradiction. I do not. The first verse refers is about declaring war and the second about defensive war. You should not do either lightly. The last verse is a caution against pessimism. For instance, quite often a defensive war is winnable even though the defender has less resources.
The Taliban gained power through victory in a civil war. This is the same way that the current federal system in the United States was established.
Civil wars rarely are successful without the help of outside foreign powers. We had the French and the Taliban had us.
God determines the appointed times of the nations and the timing of their rule. Does this mean the Taliibabies had the same backing from God as the USA?
I am not that much of a fatalist to believe that length of rule is predetermined.
Okay, Atheist appeaser, justify these inconsistencies. And also stop beating around the bush, and state uncategorically that we should do absolutely nothing to retaliate for the attacks perpetrated against us, and simply hope the terrorists will stop trying to kill as many Christians and Jews as they possibly can.
Its the state's job to punish criminal acts. That is not license to kill the innocent. The events of 911 should be considered criminal acts and, if there are others involved in the attacks that were not killed, the state should prosecute them. If these people are not residing in the United States, then we should issue letters of marque and reprisal against them.
Romans 9:6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: 7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. 8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.
You might wish to read further in Romans 9. Starting in verse 24, Paul notes:
"Even us, whom he hath call, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?
As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.
And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.
The U.S. War In Afghanistan and Just War Theory
The article isn't terribly long and may be worth a read. From this and another article I read there, I sensed that they reluctantly came to the conclusion that this is not a just war, but would prefer to have reached a different conclusion, but I may be reading too much into what they say.
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