Looking At War From A Biblical Perspective
Pastor David L. Brown, Ph.D.
Sermon Delivered 11/20/05
The Definition of War
My dictionary says, war is open armed conflict between countries or
between factions within the same country.
The Three Common Views of War
A pacifist believes that war is never right.
Their reasoning is that there is nothing important enough to go to
war over. All national and international disputes should be settled by
peaceful means rather than by force. They are opposed to all military
ideals, preparedness, war, etc. Further, many believe it is never right to
kill anyone and they would not believe in capital punishment for that
reason. There are those who label themselves as Christian pacifists, such
as Quakers, Amish, and Mennonites. However, they vary in the application
of the principle. In general they believe Christ’s teaching, such as that
in Matthew 5:38-48, forbids believers from becoming involved in any form
of violence, killing or warfare, even for the protection of their own
property and country. One of the verses they use to support this position
is Exodus 20:13 - "Thou shalt not kill." This is a clear
misunderstanding of the commandment. The Hebrew word translated "kill" in
Exodus 20:13, ratsach, which is translated "murder"
14 times (Nu. 35:16, 17,18,19,21,30,31; 1 Ki. 6:32; Job 24:14; Ps. 94:6;
Is. 1:21; Je. 7:9; Ho. 6:9) and "slayer" 17 times (Nu. 35:11,25,26, 27,28;
De. 4:42; 19:3,4,6; Jos. 20:3,5,6; 21:13,21, 27,32,38). As Clark says,
this "commandment, which is general, prohibits murder of every kind."
However, as Gill says, "killing of men in lawful war, or in defense of a
man’s self, when his own life is in danger, or the execution of
malefactors by the hands or order of the civil magistrate (capital
punishment) , and killing a man at unawares (by accident), without any
design, are not to be reckoned breaches of this law." This commandment has
in view the taking away the life of another through private malice and
revenge; cold blooded murder. There are at least four cases in the Bible
when killing is not murder.
Accidental Death -- It is not murder to
kill someone accidentally (Numbers 35:20-23).
Self Defense -- It is not murder to
defend oneself or your loved ones and property (Exodus 22:2-3). In
fact, our Lord instructed his disciples to buy a sword, no doubt for
defensive purposes (Luke 22:36).
Capital punishment -- It is not murder to
put criminals to death for heinous crimes. The Bible plainly says that the
man who takes a life is to forfeit his own life (Genesis 9:6). The Law of
Moses called for capital punishment in the case of murder (Leviticus
24:17; Deuteronomy 19:11-13), idolatry (Leviticus 20:2; Deuteronomy
17:2-7), witchcraft (Le. 20:27), adultery (Le. 20:10; Deuteronomy
22:21,22), homosexuality (Leviticus 20:13), bestiality (Leviticus
20:15,16), rape (Deuteronomy 22:25-27), incest (Leviticus 20:17), and
blasphemy (Leviticus 24:11-16,23). The avenger of death in Old Testament
times was a relative or friend who put the murderer to death (Deuteronomy
19:11-13). God allowed for this, and made provision for cities of refuge
for those who had killed someone accidentally. In this dispensation, God
has given civil government the authority to put offenders to death. In
Romans 13 we see that God has given nations the authority to "bear the
sword" against evil. This obviously refers to capital punishment.
Military service and Law enforcement --
It is not murder to kill a person in the line of duty in law enforcement
and in the military (Romans 13:1-4). It is clear. God is not a pacifist.
Turn to Exodus 15:3 which says, "The LORD is a man of war…"
Let’s move on the second view of war…
An activist, in this case, believes war is always
right. Their reasoning is that war is a fact of life! It is always right
to participate in a war that is called for by the government, because man
owes absolute obedience to government because the government knows what is
best for the people. However, there is a MAJOR problem with this view. The
problem with this view is that total submission to the government would
be a form of idolatry, because our first allegiance it to God. My
German-American friend Dr. Manfred Kober put it this way: "Activism
ignores the fact that while the government is divinely ordained, its
commandments may not be divinely sanctioned." To illustrate his position
he pointed to Adolf Hitler. Unlimited submission led to mind boggling
atrocities against humanity. Millions of Jews were exterminated under
Hitler’s plan.
Our first line of obedience is to the Lord. The
words of Acts 5:29 should ring in out ears – "Then Peter and the
other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than
men."
Pacifism is a flawed position. Activism is a flawed position.
Let’s consider a third position on war…
Those who hold the position of selectivism believe
that war is sometimes right. Selectivism repudiates some wars as
UNJUST and yet holds that some wars are JUST. Unjust wars would be
genocidal wars (like killing all the Jews), predatory wars, or wars for
the purpose of expansion. But, wars would be for self-defense, war on
behalf of the helpless, war to inflict punishment for evil, and to secure
reparations are among those wars that are deemed just.
There are two verses that are considered key in
this view of war. The first is Romans 13:4 "For he (governmental
leaders) is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that
which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is
the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that
doeth evil."
Government is charged with the responsibility…
Protecting Her Citizens
Punishing Evil and
Promoting Order (1 Timothy 2:2).
Tertullian (155-230 A.D.) one of the early Christian
theologians wrote, "We pray for all the emperors, that God may grant them
long life, a secure government, a prosperous family, vigorous troops, a
faithful senate, an obedient people; that the whole world may be in peace;
and that God may grant, both to Caesar and to every man, the
accomplishment of their just desires."
The second passage that comes into play here is
John 15:13 "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down
his life for his friends." To be sure this passage is not in war context,
the principle is clear. Laying down you life for the benefit of others is
an act of love.
I hold to the selectivism position relating to war. I
would concur with Martin Luther who said, "War for the sake of war is sin,
but war for the sake of defense is duty. The power of temporal rulers is
to be turned only against the wicked, to hold them in check and keep them
at peace, and to protect and save the righteous."
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