Should Christians partake in war? War is a challenging topic for most Christians, and there are many Christians on both sides of the matter. War is not justifiable when it is either avoidable or unjust. When war is the last result and just, Christians should always fight and support it because it is often the lesser evil, it is unavoidable, and the Bible supports just war.
“War is evil, but it is often the lesser evil (George Orwell).” This paper is not trying to argue that war is not evil. However, in some cases, war is justifiable and needed. For example, in the Civil War, if America continued to allow slavery, it would be an act of sin. If America said it was ok, when would slavery ever end? Shouldn’t the North have stepped in to stop slavery? The only reason this war happened was because the South would not compromise. The South wanted war; they did not want to be a part of the United States anymore.
They wanted to branch off and become their own country and continue to allow
slavery. The North couldn’t allow this; they had to stop slavery even though the only way was war. Another example is in World War 2. Hitler killed millions of innocent people, including Gods chosen people, the Jews. What is the greater evil—to stand there and watch, or to stand up for what is right, even when that means war? Loving parents must punish their children when necessary; judges must give the just punishment to criminals; Christians must stand against what is evil—for most of the time it is the lesser evil.
For what is more evil—to let Hitler continue to kill, or to kill him? If a police officer watched a terrorist attack unfold and did nothing to stop it, he would be put in prison. James 4:17 says “so whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” It is a sin if humans know what is right and yet let it continue; if they sit there and do not punish Hitler for all the crimes he has committed, they are sinning against God.
Critics of this matter might bring up Romans 12:21 which states “do not be overcome by the evil of the world but overcome evil with good.” Is it good to bring justice? Micah 6:8a states “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you to do justice.” Christians are then using good (justice) to overcome evil (war). Revelation 3:19 states “Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.” We must love by disciplining if needed. Jesus also says “there is no greater love than this than one who lays down his life for a friend.” When we lay down our life in war, we are laying it down for our country, friends, family, and God. Everything we stand for is a just cause when we are laying it down for God.
“The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing (Edmund Burke).” War is often unavoidable like this paper stated before World War 2 and the Civil War and many other wars were unavoidable, most wars that are not over land are unavoidable for the righteous side. Even when wars are over land, it is our duty to help the side not wanting conflict. If America lets Hamas take over Israel, how would we be showing the love of Jesus? Jesus commands us to love our neighbor as ourselves. If America lets Hamas destroy Israel, how would America be showing them love? Christians must stop crime and evil. Romans 12:18 states, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
Christians on the other side of the matter might use this to say Christians must live at peace with one another, but they are forgetting “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you.” They might then bring up the next verse Romans 12:19 which says, “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’” This verse does not work when arguing against war because it is quoted from the Old Testament which supports just war (Deuteronomy 32:35). And they will also bring up Matthew 7:1, which states “Judge not, that you might not be judged.” First off they are taking this verse completely out of context. Jesus goes on to say in this sermon that we must be hypocritical when we judge we must take the log out of our own eye before we take the speck out of our brothers.
Also, when fighting a war for justice, it is not for vengeance but for punishment; they are not judging but punishing. Judging is an opinion whereas punishment is a consequence for doing evil. We are bringing them the punishment they deserve and stopping them from committing more evil when it is preventable. If someone is rightly accused of murder, we must punish him for his crimes. If we let him go because; “we need to leave the vengeance for God, and it is not our duty to punish him.” Wouldn’t that be going against Gods commands?
Genesis 9:6 says, “Whoever sheds the blood of a man, by man his blood will be shed, for God made man in his own image.” God makes earthly punishments all throughout the Torah for sins that result in death. We must put these people to death; we must judge righteously and shed blood on those who have already shed blood, meaning we must stop and bring justice to those who murder—especially to those who want war and start war.
The Bible supports just war. This paper has already used many Bible verses to explain why Christians must participate in just war. In the Old Testament, God commands the Israelites to fight in war against many different people groups, and they were all for just reasons. In Judges 5:23, it says, “Curse Meroz, said the Angel of the Lord. Curse its people bitterly, for they did not come to help the LORD, to help the LORD against the mighty.” Here God curses Meroz for not helping in war. We are cursed if we do not fight in war for God.
In First Kings 18:39-40, “And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The Lord, he is the God; the Lord, he is the God. And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.” Even though the prophets of Baal repent and acknowledge God, they are killed by the hands of Elijah. Even if someone repents, they must pay the just penalty. Even if Hitler confessed that he should not have started World War 2 and he wouldn’t do it again, he still had to pay the just penalty.
The Bible does not condemn warriors. In Matthew 8:10, for instance, Jesus refers to the Roman Centurion who requests healing for his son by stating, "Truly I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found so much faith." Again, Acts 10:1-2 states, “At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly.”
Nowhere in the Bible do Roman Centurions or soldiers get rebuked, even though Jesus has a few encounters with them and all the disciples have many. A Roman Centurion was a professional officer who had authority over 80-100 soldiers. In Acts 20, Luke tells us we must help the weak. When war breaks out and there are people who are defenseless, we must help them and fight against the strong who are fighting for the evil one.
“Silence in the face of evil is itself evil. God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act (Dietrich Bonhoffer).” In conclusion, we must fight for justice and stand up for the weak. If we do not act, we are acting in our own way. If we do not speak, we are speaking in our own way. We must stand up against evil and fight. Which is more evil—to let injustice prevail and innocent lives to be taken, or to act against injustice? Christians must partake in war when it is just because it is unavoidable, the lesser evil, and the Bible supports it.