How do Christians feel about war?

Question

I am asking Christians who support the Iraq war to help me understand their position. The Bible, and Jesus were clear on the subject of how to treat our enemies:

Luke 6:29
Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

This pretty much sums it up for me, as well as provides a theme for Christianity. It is very much in line with the Golden Rule. Of course it makes us choose between the fear of death and the love of God. But what is more important?

Life is not a longevity contest. It's about quality, not quantity.

Thanks all

Answer 1

i dont have a position on war other than if its clearly justfied to protect ur family and country ... imo the "war" in the middle east is presented to the public in a daily package of disinformation and lies ...

Answer 2

You can't only read and follow the NT. The OT is God's word and the first part of the Bible. God had His people fight the enemy several times. Jesus only ministered for 3 years. We know He was born. At 12 He was teaching the religious leaders. Then we don't hear about Him until He is 30. Wars were still happening during His lifetime. We should understand our friends and foes. But if someone is killing you, you have the right to defend yourself.

WWI and WWII were okay in my eye because Hitler and stalin were killing innocent people for revenge and to try to gain world power. Sadly millions were killed before he killed himself. As far as the Iraq war goes. I agree that Saddam needed to be stopped along with his top men. And I think we need to stop bin Laden also. I think what our troops are doing in the Middle East is justifiable. But I think that lies were made at the beginning to start it. That's not okay. But now that we are there, we have to finish what we started. If other countries helped more, we coud get it done faster. I can't make a judgment as to whether this war is a sin or not because I (we) don't have ALL the facts.

Answer 3

You are talking theory, not reality. If the Christians were to band to together, and if they were focused, and if they prayed and fasted together, then nothing could stop us. This is the theory side of the equation.

The reality side is simple. Christians can't agree on music in the church, how to baptize or if it's necessary, meeting on Saturday or Sunday. A tool of Satan's is to create havoc. He has done this with having multiple divisions in the Christian sect. Hence, we do not have the faith of the mustard seed and we do not move mountains.

Faith and keeping God's commandments brought the walls of Jericho down. It was a group effort. We no longer have group efforts, but personal agendas.

I don't believe God meant for people to walk over us. WW II was a good example. If we had not taken action, where would the USA be now? I believe God used the United States to stop the power of evil. Yes, He could have brought down disasters, but what would we have learned? If the Christian sect had fasted and prayed together, then we could have defeated the evils without lifting a gun.

We are not united, hence our efforts (prayers, offerings, tithing, missionary work, and welfare programs) are spent fighting each other. The glory of God is lost because of our in house fighting.

Answer 4

This is a very good question and the way I see it, our God is a God of love yet he is also a God of war. Christ came to earth the first time to save us by shedding his blood on the cross but when the Son of Man returns, he returns to make war with satan and all of his saints. Remember this, he sent David to kill Goliath so God is a loving God but he is also a just God. I do not support the war in Iraq but I did support going after Osamba Bin Laden. The war in Iraq is unjustified.

Answer 5

i am a christian and i hate the war.
i do, however, support the war in iraq.
i do pray for our president, that he is close to God and goes to God for support and grace when he doesn't find it from his people.
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 6

My husband is in the Army and is in Iraq right now. From a Christian point of view, I believe that God gave us the freedom to choose how we want to believe and worship. The ppl of Iraq don't have that freedom and I believe that with the troops help they can build up their government enough to make their country free so they can choose weather they want to be Muslim, Mormon, Atheist, Buddhist, Methodist, baptist, Lutheran, Catholic, or whatever. I also believe that the Declaration of Independence was a divinely inspired document that was written by God fearing men who really and truly had the best interests of our young country in mind.

But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security

Those who have the power to help have the responsibility to help.

Answer 7

Morally wicked how? I rather have Christian acquaintances who shop telling me i could make a miles better Christian than a number of the alleged Christians they pass to church with because of the fact I behave greater Christian than some Christians (related to being a good guy or woman who facilitates those much less fortunate, a guy or woman who loves others and promotes peace, and who accepts others for who they are and so on...). i'm pagan. BTW - you're no longer from now on "persecuted" than everybody else and the conflict is on your guy or woman strategies. :) Sorry, although that's actual.

Answer 8

honestly i don't know enough of the details of the war but it weems to be helping the iraqis set up a better government and the Bible gives many accounts of war in the old testament that must have had God's blessing since He helped the Isrealites conquer cities like Jericho (that was a long sentence)

Answer 9

That is only one verse in the Bible....... We are also told to obey our government leaders, UNLESS it goes against the laws of God....... and yes, *thy shalt not kill * is one of them........ There are times for war, peace, etc...... everything has its season...... and I agree, we are WAY beyond the point in Iraq, we should have done what we went to do, and got out, and let the people of that nation do what they need to do........ We, as a nation have stepped over the line in some cases........ but in others, we stopped before it was time...... I do not like war, but at times it is a must...... God bless

Answer 10

It certainly makes you wonder when the leader of a country says that God told him to attack Iraq--when Iraq posed no threat to America--where has Christianity gone???