If a Christian goes to fight in war...?

Question

Jesus said his followers were to love even their enemies. How do Christians justify going to war?

Answer 1

The same way many Christian Churches can "bless the troops" in the name of God, and many of the Churches were on both sides of the conflicts... it is a bit different in the war on terrorism since it is almost "The Christian World against the Muslim World" but there are still Muslims fighting amidst Coalition troops, so once again it is shocking that "Churches" rally any nationalistic spirit for any nation other than the Kingdom of God, but them some Churches are nations unto themselves (The Catholic Church is a "nation" in the European union, with its own monetary system, and standing army). Beyond that there is a compleat disconnection from God, the God many "say" they are following.

War is defined as a state of hostility accompanied by actions designed to subjugate or to destroy those viewed as the enemy.

Now some could say that God has told his servants to commit acts of war in the past, but it is funny how ALWAYS when God sent his servants out to commit an act of righteous war upon those who stood in opposition to God he made sure the odds were overwhelmingly against the "his" people so there was no doubt that it was God, and not men who wrought victory for the Ancient Israelites. The first example was when Abraham went to rescue his Brother Lot from Captivity (Genesis 14:1-24). He brought with him 318 slaves from his household, not military men, not battle hardened men, but they defeated, and disbursed the forces of Chedorlaomer, and the Kings with him, the military forces of five nations. So 318 slaves and some men with age upon them defeated the military strength of five nations worth of battle hardened veterans... sounds like God backed the winning side there.

Other similar things occured Jericho was known to be a City with Walls so thick as to be impenitrable. Yet how did the Nation of Israel bring the walls down... marching around the city blowing horns, and the walls crumbled, all except the household that helped the Jewish spies earlier, her house, and the portion of wall it was adjoining was preserved (Joshua 2:1-24, 6:1-25)

One time when Joshua knew that some of God's enemies needed to be defeated, but they would escape in the night were the sun allowed to set. He asked God to halt the sun in the sky to give "his" (God's) servants time enough to complete the task assigned them (Joshua 10:6-15, 12:7-24, 14:1-5; Judges 2:8-13).

Gideon fought against 135,000 soldiers bringing only 300 men, and the victory was had without even a swordblow (Judges chapters 6 to 8). Now that is the definition of outnumbered.

A story known to most even if not believed by many is that of David, and Goliath, we know how that turned out even though David was only a Boy, and Goliath a battle hardened soldier of amazing size, and strength (1 Samuel 17:1-54)

King Hezekiah when getting letters from the Assyrian King after he had destroyed the northern 10 tribe Kingdom of Israel told Hezekiah that his only hope was to surrender. Without a single swordblow, or arrow shot one night 185,000 Assyrian troops are slaughtered by one of God's angels (2 Kings 18:1-36, 19:1-37, 21:1-25).

Somewhere along the line of associating with neighboring nations, the Jews added to God's laws here and there, one was about Loving thy neighbor, the Ancient Israelites added, and hate your enemy. Christ's example when speaking to the Pharasie cleared up that teaching when he used the illustration, about the Good Samaritan... (Luke 10:25-37). What some might not consider oil, and wine in those times here not cheap commodities, and just the two denarii he gave to the innkeeper would work out to be the approximate equivalent of between 150 and 200 dollars U.S., but then made a commitment to even a greater sum if such was needed, so in that light how many people would drop 200 to 250 dollars (including the cost of the wine, oil, and binding of his wounds) on some guy they found beat up on the streets with nothing to show for it, and no likelyhood of repayment (then be willing to commit themselves financially for the extra care that may be required for his recovery).

Given that God is not backing both sides of any war, why do any Christians become supportive of the war effort? Because they do not hold God in their minds according to accurate knowledge.

Part of accurate knowledge is knowing God has a name. God is only a title, as are Most High, and Lord, so what is God's name you would most often have to look in the preface about the notes on translation of something called the tetragrammaton, now based on differences in pronunciation (such as ToMAYto or ToMAto) it can be translated as YHWH or JHVH (Yahweh or Jehovah). The name has meaning and power it means "He Causes to Become" which can be from the point of he caused the whole Earth, and the entire universe to be brought into being, as well as he can become anything he needs to be for "his people."

As such wolves (Acts 20: 28-30) have come into the singular Christian congregation, those who faithfully followed all of Christ's teachings, and they started blending in a lot of "feel good" human philosophy, and "pagan" traditions this was truly the corrupting influence of Satan, just as in the Garden of Eden, but only we didn't have perfection on our side. As such we must consider what were the base root teachings of Christ, and what is consistant with God since "In the Begining?" One tool that can help us is a free book called "What Does the Bible Really Teach?" you can get this book at http://www.watchtower.org/

Answer 2

In Ecclesiastes's it says there is a time for peace and a time for war. There is a time for every thing under heaven. Although Jesus says to love your enemies. One is justified to go to war. Just like our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan they are not just fighting for themselves but for the whole nation as well. They don't fight out of hatred. A Christian will pray before going into battle for not only his live but for the live of his enemy as well.

Answer 3

You can't. Jesus was clear about that. There was a time when God's people fought wars but those were under God's direction and were just. Wars today are fought for only two reasons: greed and a quest for power.

Towliebanbarbie: I guess you didn't get to Acts 5:28,29 that said you must obey God as ruler rather than men. The command to obey the superior authorities in Romans 13:I is relative.

Answer 4

We can be confident that when God metes out wages his justice will be tempered with mercy. God takes no delight in killing anyone, but, in fact, pleads with evildoers: “Turn back, turn back from your bad ways, for why is it that you should die?” It is because of this patience and kindness of our God that many persons have wrongly concluded that he does not notice unrighteousness, and will never execute justice against evildoers.

Many soldiers felt that killing the enemy was a part of their duty. They were rewarded for doing it well, so they carried no overwhelming guilt for this after the war.
“When you’re in combat all you can think about is staying alive,” reported Johnny. “Your reasoning powers are replaced by animal-like instincts. You’ll do anything to stay alive and come home.”

Then he added: “Killing from a distance was no big problem. But we would attack at night, and once you made the eye-to-eye contact with enemy soldiers that you then killed, it worked on your mind.” Such personal encounters or the engaging in needless or unjust killing often left deep emotional scars on the men, and this produced guilt and depression.

Answer 5

Normally, I prefer NOT quoting at length. However, I think that C. S. Lewis did a better job than I EVER could, so:

"...Does loving your enemy mean not punishing him? No, for loving myself does not mean that I ought not to subject myself to punishment — even to death. If one had committed a murder, the right Christian thing to do would be to give yourself up to the police and be hanged. It is, therefore, in my opinion, perfectly right for a Christian judge to sentence a man to death or a Christian soldier to kill an enemy...It is no good quoting 'Thou shall not kill.' There are two Greek words: the ordinary word to -kill- and the word to --murder--. And when Christ quotes that commandment He uses the --murder-- one in all three accounts, Matthew, Mark, and Luke. And I am told there is the same distinction in Hebrew. All killing is not murder any more than all sexual intercourse is adultery..."

"...We may kill if necessary, but we must not hate and enjoy hating. We may punish if necessary, but we must not enjoy it."

- C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity ("Forgiveness")

One final -- personal -- point: as you see, Christians WILL disagree on many points. This does NOT make them hypocritical, but individual. As we who follow Jesus "walk the walk," there will be differences...but we (should!) make a point to respect any differences that do NOT Directly conflict with the Gospel. My hope and prayer is that ** I ** will always do so...ALWAYS.

Answer 6

War is a function of the government that we live under. Christ was very clear that we are to obey the authorities that He and His Father appointed to rule over us. That would mean that if called upon by wither God or the Government we are to fight and fight as unto the Lord.

The reference to loving enemies first refers to personal enemies and then enemies of the state. We are to love them and be willing to love them to Christ, however, we cannot be rebellious to the state unless the state asks us to do something that is unbiblical. Killing our enemies in war is provided for in scripture. Does God love His enemies? To the point where they can know the truth of Christ, but His true enemies He is willing to destroy. He has before and He will in the future! God is certainly willing to send all of us who reject Him and His Son to Hell.

There is no biblical or ethical breach in serving in the military and killing he enemy for any christian. So says the bible!

Answer 7

Christians are just as good at justifying their "dutiful obedience" as any other soldier who finds themselves in that position. Engaging in military conflict (aside from a purely defensive position during an invasion) is about as un-christian an activity as you can get. You'll see all kinds of "moral" reasons for christians to do so posted here, but Jesus himself would not pick up a gun for ANY reason, so why would a christian?

Answer 8

If you read the Bible you will see that God is also a God of war and justice. And, regardless of some faiths that teach you should not fight under any circumstances, defending yourself is Christian. As SmellsLikePot indicated here once, even civilians support a war even if just giving tacit assent to it.


Sending you a smile to help pick up your day.

Answer 9

In Luke 22:36 Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. We find the Justification for Defensive War. I do not believe however that the War in Iraq is defensive, I believe that a Defensive War would ahve been to go to war against Afghanistan since they are harboring Bin Laden. Instead of going after Bin Laden Bush chose to be a bully and attack a country that had not attacked us, nor was harboring the one that had ordered the attacks. In that Bush acted in a Non_Chritian manner in my opinion.
However I do believe Christians are justified to fight in War if ti is defensive.

Answer 10

During time of war, that phrase "love your enemies" means something different than when you are not at war.

I was a Christian and I was involved in three of my countries wars:

1. Cold

2. Korea

3. Vietnam

If you'd like to talk about it, let me know.

Pastor Art

Answer 11

A true Christian will not go to war, for God is not just over the USA or any other country, but he is the creator of the WHOLE earth. Satan is the author of confusion & wants people to fight against other people. God does not. His "wars" in the bible were for a reason & now passed away.If you truly serve God & Jesus then you'll be neautral.
We donot need to be in a flesh war, but we're spiritually battling daily.