Why do ye make war?

Question

Hath ye not been instructed to turn thee other cheek? Did I not makest it clear that I meant until death?

Answer 1

Many people make the mistake of believing the Bible says, “You shall not kill,” and seek to apply this command to war. However, the Bible actually says, “You shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13). The Hebrew word literally means “the intentional, premeditated killing of another person.” God often ordered the Israelites to go to war with other nations (1 Samuel 15:3; Joshua 4:13). God ordered the death penalty for numerous crimes (Exodus 21:12; 21:15; 22:19; Leviticus 20:11). So, God is not against killing in all circumstances, but rather only murder. War is never a good thing, but sometimes it is a necessary thing. In a world filled with sinful people (Romans 3:10-18), war is inevitable. Sometimes the only way to keep sinful people from doing great harm is by going to war with them.

War is a terrible thing! War is always the result of sin (Romans 3:10-18). In the Old Testament, God ordered the Israelites to: “Take vengeance on the Midianites for the Israelites” (Numbers 31:2). See also Deuteronomy 20:16-17, “However, in the cities of the nations the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, do not leave alive anything that breathes. Completely destroy them--the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites--as the LORD your God has commanded you.” Exodus 17:16 proclaims, “He said, "For hands were lifted up to the throne of the LORD. The LORD will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation." Also, 1 Samuel 15:18, “Go and completely destroy those wicked people, the Amalekites; make war on them until you have wiped them out.” So, obviously God is not against all war. Jesus is always in perfect agreement with the Father (John 10:30), so we cannot argue that war was only God’s will in the Old Testament. God does not change (Malachi 3:6; James 1:17).

Jesus’ Second Coming also is exceedingly violent. Revelation 19:11-21 proclaims, “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, "Come, gather together for the great supper of God, so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and mighty men, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, small and great." Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the rider on the horse and his army. But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. The rest of them were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.”

It is an error to say that God never supports a war. In a world filled with evil people, sometimes a war is necessary to prevent even greater evil. If Hitler had not been defeated by World War II, how many more millions of Jews would have been killed? If the Civil War had not been fought, how much longer would African Americans have had to suffer as slaves? We must all remember to base our beliefs of the Bible, not on our emotions (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Ecclesiastes 3:8 declares, “there is…a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. In a world filled with sin, hatred, and evil (Romans 3:10-18), war is inevitable. Some wars are more “just” than others, but all wars are ultimately the result of sin. Christians should not desire war, but neither are Christians to oppose the government God has placed in authority over them (Romans 13:1-4; 1 Peter 2:17). The most important thing we can be doing in a time of war is to be praying for godly wisdom for our leaders, praying for the safety of our military, praying for quick resolution to the conflict, and praying for minimum casualties – on both sides of the conflict (Philippians 4:6-7).

Answer 2

There is no real answer to this question, but this might help.

War is about power, ideas, beliefs, emotions and wants. The heads of countries are some of the most powerful people on the planet. All have different ideas, beliefs, emotions and wants, and there will always be some one that has a different idea, belief, emotion or want than they do.

It always gets to the point of, just because one person, group, country, religion, or sect doesn't like what the others stand for they feel they have the right to wipe out the other side of the coin.

In turn that is where the military or militants come in to play. They are the instruments of the Powers That Be (I.E. Presidents, Chancellors, Prime Ministers, war lords, clerics, business man, and even the wacko). The military or militants will do what ever it takes to ensure the complete destruction of the other side. This is there lot in life.

“War is a continuation of politics thru / by other means.” Carl von Clausewitz

Answer 3

no...turning the other cheek or give the shirt off your back applies to humilitty and inconveniences

it doesnt say if someone sticks you with a knife in your side, let him stick you in th eother. Doesnt apply to life threatening cases as said. It applies to inconveniences and humiliations.

Turning the other cheek most directly applies to yourself doesnt address if a helpless innocent peron or child who may be threatened by someone in need of your help and there is every reason that if you stood idly by and not done something to somehow help it might be wrong

Turning the other cheek does not mean a policeman cant shoot the tires out of a car in a getaway chase even if the driver might be endangered since the driver is endangering the lives of others
Sometimes you have to consider the lesser of two evils.

There is a possibility of a just war and God commanded a few of em himself The problem is men are not God and often go to war not justly but for narrow special interests loosing sight of what right

Iraq and Aphghanistan in my very is more a defensive war and I would consider a just war but I understand people can differon this in good concience

people were originally designed to be good, but are now fallen and in a fallen world make bad choices and need to defend themselves sometimes

Answer 4

Then you should not have designed a species of predators called human beings. War is the mother of necessity, most of the everyday technology that we use has come from war, right down to cable TV. Coax cable, the stuff that the cable TV companies use was originally designed for bomber planes, even the dialysis machine was designed buy the military. War last for a short time, but the inventions that spring from war last for a very long time and better the lives of everyone, even save lives. Maybe the survival of the human race depends on strife and war, it is how we grow. How will we know what is wrong if we are never exposed to it. I pretty much think it is a necessary evil. One day will come when we have no need for war, but our species is still in this growing stage.

Answer 5

Well,I agree with you in theory...but are we supposed to let those who attack us go unchallenged? I know, there's the whole weapons of mass destruction problem, but should we just let terrorists continue what they're doing? I don't think turning the other cheek applies in every situation, does it? I can't see how it could. It's one thing when an individual walks all over another individual. Then that person is making a choice to turn the other cheek or not. But when someone starts attacking your loved ones, should you just stand by, and encourage them to turn the other cheek?

Answer 6

Wars are not necessarily wrong. In the past wars were fought to gain or protect territory and people. Today the same is true. People have a right to defend themselves. This thing about turning the other cheeks refers to our attitude toward worldly matters. We are not to be warmongers, but we do have a duty to defend ourselves and those whom we love from harm. Predators only understand and respect power and violence. That's why we have jails.
Mr. M on making war.

Answer 7

We are to also fight to keep our God given freedoms too. The problem today, is that our government is nuts, and lies to the people who put them in office. They start these wars for no good reason. We have to pray that our governement leaders seek guidance from the Lord, instead of trying to do things on their own that way they have been doing for years.

I like your avitar pic. It's beautiful!!

Answer 8

Little wars are good for business.

BIG WARS are Bigger business.

I wonder why do so many phonies try an emulate a Shakespearean English vernacular when they really don't know how.

Answer 9

In this case it's the Jews who have practiced what Christians have been preaching for the last 2000 years, but they won't go quietly this time.

Answer 10

First of all, get psychiatric help because you are neither G-- of the Son of G-- (if in fact He had one). Second there is probably no book as violent as the Bible so get jiggy with it.

Answer 11

Yes we have. To turn the other cheek...and bend over.