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We have troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. Thousands of American men and women have been sent to these countries to fight for peace and security in those regions.
Recent political talk indicates that our country will be sending even more troops overseas within the next couple of years.
In light of this, more debate has been sparked within the Christian Community over one timeless question; is war Biblical?
Before we get to that question though, we have to ask a much more simpler question, which is the main thing that people associate with war; what does the Bible say about killing?
People often make the mistake of pointing out Exodus 20:13, which says, “You must not kill,” and using that commandment to justify their belief that war involves killing other people and we have been forbidden from killing and thus should not participate in any wars.
However, the Hebrew word used for “kill” literally means “the intentional, premeditated killing of another person with malice.” In war, killing another person is an act of self defense and defense of one’s country. It is not premeditated by the individual soldier, nor is it done with malice.
Also, Exodus 21:12 says, “Anyone who assaults or kills another person must be put to death.” God was the one to institute capital punishment.
So, according to the Bible, God is not against killing in all circumstances, but just murder.
Well, now that we’ve answered what the Bible says about killing, what does the Bible say about war?
Ecclesiastes 3:1, 8 says, “For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. A time to love and a time to hate. A time for war and a time for peace.”
This shows that under certain circumstances, war is acceptable and not something that is forbidden.
There’s in instance in Luke where a Roman soldier asks Jesus to heal his servant. Jesus does not rebuke the man for being a soldier.
Jesus was not a pacifist. Matthew 10:34 says, “Do not suppose I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.”
Jesus’ Second Coming is portrayed in Revelation described in great detail, the war with Christ, describing Him as making war “with justice.”
Revelations 19:11-21 says,
“Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war. His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself. He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God. The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses. From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress. On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords.
Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, shouting to the vultures flying high in the sky: “Come! Gather together for the great banquet God has prepared. Come and eat the flesh of kings, generals, and strong warriors; of horses and their riders; and of all humanity, both free and slave, small and great.”
Then I saw the beast and the kings of the world and their armies gathered together to fight against the one sitting on the horse and his army. And the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who did mighty miracles on behalf of the beast—miracles that deceived all who had accepted the mark of the beast and who worshiped his statue. Both the beast and his false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. Their entire army was killed by the sharp sword that came from the mouth of the one riding the white horse. And the vultures all gorged themselves on the dead bodies.”
War is a result of sin.
War, although ugly, is necessary.
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further we would like to quote the Southern Baptist Conventions report on war and peace, stating that, “It is the duty of Christians to seek peace with all men on principles of righteousness. In accordance with the spirit and teachings of Christ they should do all in their power to put an end to war. The true remedy for the war spirit is the gospel of our Lord. The supreme need of the world is the acceptance of His teachings in all the affairs of men and nations, and the practical application of His law of love. Christian people throughout the world should pray for the reign of the Prince of Peace. ”
One cannot definitely say that Jesus was a pacifist, but that is an irrelevant argument. Many people claim that as Jesus in the book of Luke did not rebuke a particular soldier for his occupation that war is ok. This is hardly a justifiable reason, for Jesus also did not that rebuke many people’s specific sins when he talked with them. Therefore, this is not a claim for the justification of war. Jesus also did not claim he was here to bring about war and destruction as seen in Matthew 10:34. This is rather saying that because of him, this would take place, not that he was supporting it, and can be said so in contrast with Matt. 20:21, Micah 7:6. Jesus is the prince of peace, Isa 9:6; Isa 11:6; Luk 2:14. Finally, Ecclesiastes 3:1,8 says, “For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. A time to love and a time to hate. time for war and a time for peace.” Albert Barnes explains in his commentary that, “[This is] More particularly, the actions of people (e. g. his own, Ecc 2:1-8) and events which happen to people, the world of Providence rather than the world of creation. It would seem that most of his own works described in Ecc 2:1-8 were present to his mind. The rare word translated “season” means emphatically “fitting time” (compare Neh 2:6; Est 9:27, Est 9:31).” We therefore do not believe that Solomon was in fact telling us that war was ok.