How do most Christians justify believing in war and capital punishment?

Answer 1

They justify believing in war because they do not see their religion has its foundations in the early Church Fathers, who were ultimately interested in creating a religion compatible with the needs and demands of the Roman Empire. It is commonly assumed the Christian faith is based on the Scriptures, but taken seriously, there never has been and never could be a "Christian nation" - meaning one which obeyed Christ - since He commanded His disciples to lay down the sword, give up all their possessions (which necessitated them living in communities like you see in Acts, chapters 2 and 4), and radically turn away from all the world has to offer them, and even the demands of their selfish nature.
H.G. Wells got this one right when he wrote of the amazing life the Son of God called men to, which so many, even his own followers within a few generations, shrank back from. (See the quote from Wells "A History of the World" at http://www.bartleby.com/86/37.html)
The so-called just war theory, if you bother to read Augustine who first formulated it in the early 400's, doesn't forbid Christian participation in any war, however unjust, because every Christian soldier is commanded to obey even his pagan ruler or commander. (For some of Augustine's teaching on this, see Against Faustaus, the Manichaean, Book XXII, Paragraphs 75-76. See the article at http://www.theblackboxspeaks.org/augustine-wars.html about Augustine's legacy in this regard, which affects the historically harsh treatment given conscientious objectors, too.)
The just war theory only soothes and appeases the conscience of Christians blatantly contradicting the example and commands of the King they claim, but do not obey. Christian participation in the affairs of this world may well be history's greatest tragedy, and certainly its greatest blasphemy.

Answer 2

I'm a practicing Christian. I do not believe in capital punishment or the killing of the unborn.
As far as war?? Some wars are justified. The American Civil War was a justified war. We were justified to participate in WW II
I assume you would have no argument with the Revolutionary war.
If you read the scriptures closely enough, you will discover there is war in heaven also. Micheal the Archangel is a battling angel.
Having said all this, I am not, for the most part, in favor of war. I am only commenting on some I thought can be justified.

Answer 3

Christians have different interpretations of scripture. Some believe certain kinds of war are justified. Some believe the Bible allows for capital punishment.

I am a Christian and I am a pacifist. Although I personally do not believe in capital punishment, I can understand why governments have that ultimate punishment for certain crimes.

However, I am not angry about my beliefs and don't think there's a lot of value arguing with folks about these issues. People have strong opinions and often these sorts of discussions deteriorate into shouting matches and name calling because few are willing to dispassionately discuss these issues.

Hope that helps and you're able to figure it all out.

Answer 4

Most people are misreading your question, which is about JUSTIFICATION, not whether it is right or wrong.

I personally believe we live in a corrupted world because of sin and therefore the military is a justified and necessary method of protecting the peace. Though I do not condone all military actions, wars, etc. I do feel that a miltitary can be an effective instrument in defending the peace, equality, and freedoms of not only Americans but of other oppressed nations (i.e. Iraq).

As to capital punishment i feel much the same on the issue. Though I believe it is wrong to kill and that no man should be sentenced to death, there is rarely an effective alternative. If there is an effective way to rehabilitate all those who commit crimes worthy of execution (rapists and murderers mostly) I'm all for it, but as far as I can see there is not. I would rather they were sentenced to life in prison, but i also feel that death would be a relief to some in that situation than to be forced to live on with one's sinful desires and evil temptations in a miserable cell.

If it was at all possible I would wish we could do away with murder of any form altogether.

James 2:8
If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right.

Answer 5

Jesus commanded individuals to forgive those who have offended them. (not those who have harmed another - those who have harmed me personally.) One of the purposes of these commands is to prevent taking personal revenge. The whole idea that no one is condemned unless there are multiple witnesses is for the same purpose - to ensure that no one person can extract punishment. In contrast, if the masses agree that an offense has genuinely occurred, then the judgement is probably right.

There is no command that the government or ruling authority lay down its arms and allow all enemies to overrun the countries. Indeed, doing so would be against God's will. Government authorities are established by God, and have different charges/roles to play than the rules that are given to individuals. You are applying personal commands to the nations of the world.

We are to pray for peace. Peace is a gift from God. But in the absence of peace, the nations are charged with protecting their people. And if I am called to serve in the military and handed a rifle, I do my part to defend and protect the people of my nation.

The same goes for capital punishment: If the governmenment sees it as a means to protect its people, I will support it if placed on a jury.

How can Christians embrace war and capital punishment? There is no conflict. My conscience is clear. You need to read the Bible for yourself and get the whole story, not just watch the "God is love" preachers on TV who pick-and-choose what they talk about.

Answer 6

I do not believe either are generally justifiable, according to Christianity. St. Augustine's "Just War theory" does permit a state to wage a defensive war against an imminent invader, but little else - certainly Iraq never met the Just War test, since it had no WMD and was an imminent threat to nobody.

http://www.americancatholic.org/News/JustWar/Iraq/

As to capital punishment, one has to keep in mind the merciful attitude Jesus always exhibited to prisoners (the good thief of Luke, and his exhortation to visit prisoners in Matthew 25.) Since a life sentence has the same result as the death penalty (death in prison), why not, all things being equal, do the more humane thing? Only the merciful option prevents certainly the execution of the innocent....

The quoting of Solomon's dialogue in Ecclesiastes is a monstrous use of scripture so often used to justify the unjustifiable; what Solomon sadly said in fatalist resignation, he never, ever intended others to use for happy warmongering.

Answer 7

I am a Christian and a veteran of the Viet Nam era. War just plain ****ing sucks but it is a necessary evil. This nation was born from a war. Had we not fought the Civil War Slavery in America would still be the norm. Had we not fought the 1st or 2nd World War, we would be speaking German or Japanese right now, and if there were someplace you wanted to go or something you wanted to do, and the authorities didn't want you to do it that would just be to bad you just cant do it. You get to do what the **** you're told to do if you don't like it, it could cost you your life. Rights? Hah! Forget about it.
Our rights were not given to us by a journalist or a politician, but by millions of Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines.
As far as capital punishment goes. If someone took out your family just for something to do why shouldn't we take them out too.
Give me one good reason why I or anyone else should spend good money to house and feed them for the rest of their natural lives?

Answer 8

I think if you study the scriptures and the history of the teachings of Jesus, you will not find anything about wars. War was not part of the original creation. It came with Lucifer and his off target approach to "having a better way". God is not the author of sin, sickness or death. He is the God of creation and Life. Wars were not in the New testament faith until the governments, the Romans and the Greeks managed to influence the church to get into the politics business as a way to control those out of control Children of God.
Any sin can be justified and killing is a sin, no matter how it happens. The word does NOT say Thou shat not kill except in war and capitol punishment, it says "Thou Shall Not Kill."
the Word does not say to support the beliefs of a leader, it say to support and pray for them. I would suspect that would include praying they would rule with TRUTH.

Answer 9

They take what they like from the bible. So many of the narrow-minded christians, in the south of the USA especially strongly oppose abortion but equally strongly support killing people when they're adults. Texas is one of the worst. Ask them if they read Leviticus where it allows slavery, stoning to death for sex during mentruation, a ban on wearing clothes made from different materials, ban on eating shellfish, allows selling daughters as slaves but not sons.

The bible is a mishmash of old Hebrew law and fairy stories and poetry. It should on no account be taken literally. Those that do so often miss the whole point of Jesus' teaching, which was to get along with other people, turn the other cheek, love your brother etc. That pivotal message gets lost amongst all the rest.

Answer 10

Have you any idea how many Christians have died so you could have the right to get on yahoo and ask silly questions. If you don't believe in war or capital punishment-then you go out in the streets and fight crime and go to Viet Nam or Korea or Iraq and fight to keep those hate mongering Muslims form killing your family and friends. No American soldier ever wants to go and kill people, and no executioner has his day made when he executes someone in a prison. It is a have to situation-it must be done. You should be ashamed of yourself.

Answer 11

I am a Christian, I do not believe in the death penalty. If you notice I said for one answer on this topic, the death sentence is just an escape for the killers..an easy way out. War is a different story. There were wars in Gods time and there will be wars and rumors of war throughout.