THE WAY OF PEACE
(Rom. 3:15-17)
-A. Ralph Johnson
Should Christians
participate in military service? This
has been a problem since early centuries of the church. History tells us that early Christians
refused and this became one of the things that increased pressure for
persecution. However, that was under a
pagan power. As beneficiaries of a
Christian influenced government, in many respects serving to protect us from
our enemies, are we not obligated to obey the government and share in the
responsibilities of maintaining it, just as we are to pay taxes? These are tough questions that need to be
considered.
I.
THE MATTER OF OUR PERSONAL
SECURITY RESTS WITH GOD
A key issue is whether we
have faith in God’s power to care for us.
A.
Scriptures concerning God’s
protection
Jer. 17:5-7. Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm.
Prov. 29:25. The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the
Lord shall be safe.
Compare Mark 6:33-34. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his
righteousness; and all of these things shall be added unto you…be not
anxious for the morrow.
Ps 27:1-3. My heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me
Compare Ps. 118:6. The
LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? …
8 It is better to trust in
the LORD than to put confidence in man.
Rom. 8:28. All things work together
for good to them that love the Lord.
Prov. 16:7. When a man’s ways please
God he maketh even his enemies to be at peace.
2 Peter 2:9. The Lord knoweth how to deliver
the godly out of temptations.
Compare 1Cor. 10:13. There hath no temptation
taken you but such as man can bear: but god is faithful, who will not suffer
you to be tempted above what you are able: but will with the temptation taken
you but such as man can bear: but god is faithful, who will not suffer you
to be tempted above what you are able: but will with the temptation also
make a way of escape…
Rom. 8:31 What shall we then say to
these things? if god be for us, who can be against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but
delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all
things? 33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that
justifieth. 34Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather,
that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh
intercession for us. 35 Who shall
separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution,
or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written,
For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the
slaughter. 37Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him
that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels,
nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor
height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from
the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
B.
The importance of accepting
suffering if God wills.
1 Peter 3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love
as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: 9 Not
rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing;
knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
10 For he that will love life, and see
good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak
no guile: 11 Let him eschew evil, and
do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. 12
For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open
unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. 13 and who is he that will harm you, if ye be
followers of that which is good? 14 but
and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of
their terror, neither be troubled;
1 Peter 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for
us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in
his mouth: 23 Who, when he was
reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed
himself to him that judgeth righteously:
Rev. 12:11.
And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb, and because of
the word of their testimony: and they loved not their lives unto death.
1 Cor. 4:10-13. …being reviled
we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it
1 Thes. 3:3 That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know
that we were appointed thereunto…4 that we should suffer persecutions.
Heb. 11:25. …choosing to suffer with
the people of God than to suffer the pleasures of sin for a season.
1 Peter 5:10
…the God of all grace…after that ye have suffered a while, make you
perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you.
Luke 12:4-7.
Fear not them that kill the body and after that can do no more…fear him
that after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell
II.
THE MATTER OF NATIONAL
SECURITY RESTS WITH GOD
Prov. 21:1. The heart of the king is in
the Lord’s hand, he turneth it whithersoever he wills.
Acts 17:26.
26 And hath made of one blood
all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined
the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
Jer. 27:5-6.
5 I have made the earth, the
man and the beast that are upon the ground, by my great power and by my
outstretched arm, and have given it unto whom it seemed meet unto me.
Daniel 4:25, 32; 5:21.
the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever
he will.
Rom. 13:1.
1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no
power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
(Note: “ordained” is
translated “appointed” in Matt 28:16; Ac. 22:10; 28:23)
CONSEQUENCES SUGGESTED BY THE TEACHINGS OF THESE TEXTS:
1.
Since
the fate of a nation rests in the hands of God, then in the absence of divine
authorization, the person who resorts to violence to raise up, bring down, or
preserve a nation, can be intruding upon the province of God. He will be taking into his own hands that
which properly belongs to God.
-Matt 22:21. Give
unto God the things that are God’s
-Rom. 12:19. Vengeance
belongeth unto ME, I will repay saith the Lord.
2.
Without
direct revelation we cannot be sure which side God intends to support.
Participation may place us
in a position of fighting against God.
In the Old Testament, when God established a physical nation and was
demonstrating to the heathen nations the superior power of Jehovah over the
ability of the pagan gods to support them, he provided prophets to guide his
people as to what wars they should fight.
They were not at liberty to choose or even the extent of devastation
they were to produce. God directed so
they would not be in opposition to His objectives.
-Isa. 30:1-2. God condemed them for trusting the
protection of Egypt and not asking him.
-1 Sam. 28:3-19. Saul received no revelation from the Lord
and because he then sought Samuel’s guidance through a witch, he died (cf. 1
Chron. 10:13).
-1 Kings 22:1-40. The prophet Micaiah consulted Ahab. Ahab died for ignoring him.
-1 Sam. 15:1-23. Saul was condemned for not killing ALL of
the Amalekites.
The fact that God provided
special revelation to guide His people when He wanted them to wage war,
suggests that in its absence, participation in war was not intended.
Would God leave His people
to grope blindly amidst the whims and propaganda of greedy men? Since both sides usually share to some
extent in the wrong, and one abuse begets another, how can fallible men
accurately determine the amount of blame and the extent of punishment to be
meted out in national struggles? Do the
wrongs on both sides justify Christians on each side slaughtering each other? Is it a case of, “our nation, right or wrong”? Are we to discover which side God supports
by destroying or being destroyed? Even
if we could determine which nation was the more wicked, what if God (as he did
in the Old Testament) wants to punish His people by using a wicked nation?
3.
Since
ALL governments stand by the will of God (cf. Rom. 13:1-2), if we resist ANY of
them without God’s direction, are we not resisting the ordinance of God?
4.
God
is not limited to our strength in order to accomplish His objectives.
-Is. 40:15-17. The
nations are as a drop of a bucket…all nations before Him are as nothing.
-Ps. 2:1-5. He that sitteth in the
heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.
-Zech. 4:6. Not by
might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord.
cf. Ex. 13:14-16. God saved Israel out of Egypt without fighting.
cf. Isa. 37:33-37. God saved Jerusalem from the Assyrians without fighting.
cf. 2 Chron. 20:17-23 (cf. verses 1-16) Jehosophat saved without fighting.
cf. 1 Sam. 19:1; 20:31; 23:26-28; 24:1-22;
26:7-25. David refused to fight against
Saul. God protected him and ultimately
brought about Saul’s death.
In the absence of a
directive from God, responsibility for the death and devastation that we cause
in such struggles will rest squarely upon us.
5.
Since
the outcome of such struggles is not dependent upon our strength, the increased
slaughter and devastation produced by our participation without authorization
of God becomes a senseless waste.
What about responsibility for the widows, orphans and possible deaths of
other Christians? What about the
suffering and the maimed? What about
the matter of sending lost souls into eternity by our trigger finger?
6.
Since,
in the absence of divine revelation, only God knows whether a nation is to rise
or fall, it is presumptious for us to decide what God should do. Our responsibility is to ourselves to the
will of the Lord.
7.
Since
the rise or fall of a nation rests in the will of God, then its security can
only be assured by its citizens sustaining the kind of relationship with what
makes Him pleased to favor them.
It has been said, “America
is great because she is good. When she
ceases to be good, she will cease to be great.” Arbitrarily taking things into our own hands is an abdication of
our responsibility to give place to the wrath of God (Rom. 12:19) and discards
the source and means of our true security.
God has told us how we can
achieve real security with Him.
-1 Tim. 2:1-2. PRAY for those in authority that we might
live in peace.
-James 4:1-3. (cf. 3:13--) Ye fight and war and receive not because ye ask not.
-Rom. 8:28. ALL
things work together for good to them that love the Lord.
-2 Cor. 10:1-6. God has provided weapons and armor
which are mighty through God to the
pulling down of strongholds: casting down imaginations, and every high thing
that exalts itself against the knowledge of god. (cf. Eph. 6:10-18)
I am not a “pacifists.” I am aggressively pressing the battle with the weapons God has
provided—weapons that do not snuff out men’s lives, but save their souls. Hatred cannot be purged from the earth by
more killing. Blood only calls for
more blood, and there is no such thing as a war that ends wars.
The fact is that the person
who takes things into his own hands actually weakens the likelihood that God
will preserve him and the nation he supports because he is demonstrating a lack
of faith with God. The materialist may
scoff at the idea of winning by not fighting but the “foolishness” of God is
wiser than men and the “weakness” of God is stronger than men (1Cor. 1:25;
2:14).
If our participation in a
war cannot favorably alter the outcome, then is it not a violation of the
responsibilities of Christian stewardship, to participate? (Matt. 25:14-30)
-Consider the eroding effect
of military life upon the spiritual growth of the Christian.
-Consider the fact that you
are not free to work for the Lord as you otherwise could?
-Consider how your time,
talent and example are channeled into the business of making widows and orphans
wholesale.
III.
THE PROBLEM OF FULFILLING
GOD’S OBJECTIVE OF BEING AT PEACE WITH ALL MEN?
Isa. 2:1-4. …they will learn war no
more
Note: This has reference to the church. Compare
Luke 24:45-47 “the law shall go forth
from zion” and 1Tim 3:15. speaks of the church as the “house of God.”
1 Tim. 2:1-2. …that we may lead quiet and
peaceable lives
James 3:13—4:1-3. …“peaceable,” “sown in peace,” “whence come wars…from your
lusts.”
Rom. 3:15-17. “The way of peace
they have not known.”
2 Pet. 3:14. “Be found in peace
at his coming.”
Matt. 5:5, 9. “Blessed are the peacemakers
for they shall be called the children of God.”
Heb. 12:14. “Follow peace with
all men.”
Rom. 14:17,
19. The
kingdom of God is … peace…”
“follow after things which make for peace.”
Note: It does not say, “be
at peace with Christians.” It does not
say, “blessed are the war-makers.”
IV.
THE PROBLEM OF MAINTAINING
THE CHRISTIAN GRACES
Mat. 5:38-48. “It hath been said, an eye
for an eye…But I say, resist not evil…turn the other cheek…love thy enemies,
bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them
which despitefully use you…” (cf. 7:12. The Golden Rule).
Rom. 12:14-21. “Bless them which persecute
you: bless, and curse not…Recompense to no man evil for evil…live peaceably
with all men…avenge not yourselves…if thine enemy hunger, feed him…Be not
overcome of evil, but OVERCOME EVIL WITH GOOD.”
Gal. 5:14, 19-23. “The fruits of the Spirit
are love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness…”
1 John 3:15. “He that hateth his brother
is a murderer…no murderer hath eternal life.”
Try to imagine the chaplain
just before the battle saying, “Go out there and love your enemies, return not
evil for evil.” How do you say, “I
love you brother” and then blow his brains out?
I am reminded of the story
about the old Puritan who was getting rather upset with a pushy salesman. He walked over to the wall, took down his
hunting rifle, and pointed it at the fellow and said, “Friend, I would that no
harm would come to thee, but thou art standing where I am about to shoot!”
It is a lot easier to
rationalize these contradictory concepts in the detached circumstances of home
than in the viscous reality of combat.
When you have a man in your gun-sight, there is just you and him and
God. You pull the trigger a fraction of
an inch and suddenly there is just you—and God! I have never heard a man say that in that
moment that he was demonstrating love.
There was just fear, hate, or a desire not to think about it at all. The sickening feeling of taking a man’s life
tends to make men doubt reality, or to have a loathing for what they are doing
that even causes them to doubt the reality of God.
Some may rationalize and
become so hardened that they actually derive pleasure out of brutality, but for
most it is a gut-wrenching experience.
One man I read about had come to enjoy the “sport” of killing men after
he had been in combat for a while. He
declared bluntly, “Kill a Communist for Christ!” War is not pretty and to compensate for the fear and hatred, some
are turned into monsters. Others are
emotionally shattered and scarred forever.
After being raised to be peaceable it is a terrible change to be trained
to be a killer. After being trained to
be killers it is no easy job for these men to return to living normal lives in
society.
V.
THE PROBLEM OF THE TEMPLE OF
GOD AND KILLING?
Because King David had shed
blood and made war, God would not permit him to build the temple (1Chronicles
22:8). How then can we, who are “living
stones” in the spiritual temple of God, participate in killing? (cf. 1Cor.
3:16; 1Pet. 2:15) Note that this very
analogy of our relationship to the temple is used to show our need to be
separated from other sins such as idolatry and adultery. (1Cor 6:15, 19; 2Cor. 6:16)
VI.
WARNING AGAINST TAKING UP
THE SWORD OR SUPPORTING CAPTIVITY
Rev. 13:9-10.
9 If any man have an ear, let him hear. 10 He that leadeth into captivity
shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed
with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
Luke 22:49-51.
49 When they which were about
him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the
sword? 50 And one of them smote the
servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear. 51 And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye
thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him.
Matt. 26:51-52.
51 And, behold, one of them
which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a
servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear. 52 Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his
place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
Luke 9:54-56.
54 And when his disciples
James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to
come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? 55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said,
Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. 56 For the Son of man is not
come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another
village.
VII.
CHRISTIANS DO NOT WAR AFTER
THE FLESH
2Cor.
10:1-6.
1 Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of
Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:
2 But I beseech you, that I may not
be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold
against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. 3 For
though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4
(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God
to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every
high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing
into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 6 And
having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is
fulfilled.
CONCLUSION:
Nowhere in the New Testament
where any Christian participated in carnal war, nor was any Christian ever told
to do so. Rather, we are to be separate
from such things. The fact is that when
we trust God’s power concerning personal and national security, the prime
motivation for war is removed. It is
not easy to overcome the life-long conditioning to strike back but we must
shake free from the picture of soldiering as a gallant crusade to thwart the
forces of evil. The emotional grip is
powerful but Christians can see the true futility and injustice of war.
It takes considerable
honesty, faith, and courage to face the scorn of one’s fellows. It takes great courage to do this in the
face even of imprisonment and disgrace, even against part of the military that
would be unlikely to enter combat.
Ironically, this nation, which has granted the right to refrain from
military service is the strongest in the world.
THE PROBLEM OF BOUNDARIES
Sometimes it is not easy to
determine just how far we may go in cooperation with the military. Does responsibility cease with the man who
fires the bullet? --with the one who
transports them? –or with the one who manufactures them? What about the medic that prepares the men
for battle?
Some would feel that service
as a chaplain would be acceptable.
These men need spiritual help.
However, this also poses problems in meeting the needs of people of all
religious faiths.
The armed service is a
TEAM. Every part is essential to the
effective job of destroying resistence.
The man who thinks that in the medics or Chaplain core that he will not
be contributing to the success of the team is laboring under a delusion.
The Army Field Manual, FM
8-10[1]
says, “The primary duty of medical troops
as of all other troops is to contribute their utmost to the success of the
command of which the medical service is a part.” “The mission of the medical service in a theater of operations is
to contribute to the success of the military effort through—a. Conserving
Manpower. Military strength is
preserved by seeing that only the fit take the field, by protection of troops
against unnecessary hazards to health and efficiency, and by effective care and
early return to duty. b. Preventing
adverse effects of unevacuated casualties on combat efficiency. Casualties within any combat unit restrict
its movement. Lack of care and proper
evacuation reduces the soldier’s willingness to take necessary risks. Both can be prevented by adequate medical
aid and rapid evacuation.”[2]
“The essentiality for physical fitness is a critical factor in the combat
efficiency of troops. Military history
is rampant with examples of battles that were lost and campaigns that failed
solely because the troops were immobilized by disease.”[3]
What activities outside the
military might be involved? This is a
more difficult problem, and one that must be approached with great
caution. The fact that the line is not
always easy to recognize is not justification for disregarding its
existence. One rule I find helpful is
that of keeping the margin of error on my side of the line. The fellow who is always crowding the line
is exposing a weakness and will inevitably step over from time to time. If we are going to be safe we must start
with the right attitude towards safety.
The following are some
ground rules to consider.
1.
We
are free to perform such services as would exist in the absence of war. (All must eat, so raising and selling food
would be permissible.)
2.
It
must not be the development or fabrication of a military weapon. (Thus, one
might make steel but could not form it into guns, bombs etc. Some areas such as making trucks, ships
etc., which may be used for either peaceful or military uses where involvement with
weapons is not present may be open to debate.
The basic rule here is, “if in doubt—don’t.” (Rom. 14:23)
3.
Whatever
we do must not be such as to interfere with our life of service for Christ.
4.
Since
Jesus taught that taxation levied against us belongs to “Caesar” we are not
responsible for what the government does with it.
DEALING WITH OBJECTIONS
OBJECTION: “Does not Rom. 13:1-7 teach that we must
obey laws of the land?”
ANSWER:
Yes, even if you lived
under Stalin or Hitler. ALL
governments are ordained of God. (“There is NO POWER but of God”) If you resist any of them you will be in
violation of Rom. 13:1-2. However the
text designates the extent of their power as being that which is for
“good.” James 4:1-3 shows us that war
is NOT good. Since all nations derive
their authority from God, the higher authority takes precedence over any
earthly law in any area where there is conflict.
Acts 5:29 puts the issue
pointedly, “We must obey God
rather than men.”
It is stretching credulity
pretty far to maintain that the suffering, destruction and wholesale killing of
both soldiers and civilians is “good.”
Is it “good” to drop a bomb that wipes out a whole city of 100,000
souls? Dare we assume such a
responsibility without a command of God?
OBJECTION: “Does not Rom.
13:1-7 empower the government to use the sword against evil doers?”
ANSWER:
Yes, and only evil
doers. These powers have to do with
their power over their citizens and not wholesale killing of the citizens of
another state. All powers are ordained
of God and therefore the citizens of one have no right to kill citizens of
another. Even within the state this
does not justify throwing a bomb that kills people en mass. There is a vast difference between the state
restricting itself to punishing the guilty, and the realities of the
carnage of war.
It may not always be easy to
distinguish when the punishment of evil doers changes to a struggle for the
state but God has made such a distinction and it is up to us to see that we
stay on His side of the line. “We do
not war after the flesh” (2Cor. 10:3).
OBJECTION: “What about Cornelius, a soldier of the
Roman army? (Acts 10)
ANSWER:
Here we have a case of a soldier
becoming a Christian—not of a Christian becoming a soldier. At the time of his conversion he was
performing ordinary police responsibilities—not engaged in war. We don’t know what he did after his
conversion.
Any argument drawn from
silence concerning the future of his military status is pretty frail. It is just as easy for us to conjecture that
he must have resigned. The fact is that
NOTHING is said about his future life.
We have no record of any changes whatsoever that he needed to make
beyond baptism but it is pretty presumptions to declare that he would need to
change nothing.
If silence proves that
Cornelius continued in the military and we must do the same, then what does it
teach us about becoming publicans (as in the case of Zachaeus. Lk. 19:1-9) or
harlots (Mat. 21:31-32)? Certainly the
prohibitions against favoring captivity would apply to him just as would
commands against stealing, adultery and extortion. (cf. Lk. 3:14)
OBJECTION:
“Did not John the Baptist tell the soldiers to be content with their
wages?”
ANSWER:
Yes, the soldier, living
under the Old Testament and performing the function of a policeman was
told this. He was also told that he was
to “do violence to no man” (Lk 3:14).
If he was obedient we may presume that he did BOTH of these things, but
this is not an argument for Christians killing people in war.
OBJECTION: “Doesn’t it say there will be wars and
rumors of wars?” (Mat. 24:6-10; Luke 21:9-21)
ANSWER:
Such arguments sound like
the fellow who believed that if there was a gunfight in the street that he
should get into it so he wouldn’t be SHOT AS AN INNOCENT BYSTANDER!
It also says that there will
be false-prophets. Must we join them?
Actually, the text teaches
just the opposite. It tells them to
“pray” and when they see the armies they are to “flee.” It is significant that in this, the only
place in the New Testament where it deals directly with what the Christian is
to do when confronted by a war, they are told to flee. Do we have any authority for doing anything
else? (Mat. 24:16, 19)
OBJECTION:
What about Jesus driving the moneychangers out of the temple?”
ANSWER:
Nothing is said about any
man being struck—much less killed. The
Greek text indicates the “scourge” was used to drive the animals. Furthermore, Jesus had authority to do anything
he pleased, but he specifically disavowed any sympathy with taking life. (Lk.
9:55-56; Jn. 18:36). Above all, this
certainly has nothing to do with the mass violence of war.
OBJECTION:
“Did not Jesus say to buy a sword?”
(Luke 22:36-38)
ANSWER:
Was he telling them to
prepare for war? Was the gospel to be
spread by means of physical swords?
Certainly two swords among twelve men were a bit inadequate to wage
war! Perhaps his request was related to
the prophecy, “he shall be reckoned among the transgressors.” Even if we suppose this to provide for defense
in restraining an evildoer, it is a far cry from a war between two nations that
spreads wholesale devastation. This is
not s contradiction of Luke 9:55-56 and John 18:36. The fact that Peter misunderstood is evident from the rebuke of
Jesus later. (cf. Mat. 26:51-52; Luke
22:49-51. cf. Rev. 13:9-10)
OBJECTION:
“Did not Jesus say that he came to set a sword upon the earth?” (Mat.
10:34)
ANSWER:
Are we to kill our parents
and other relatives who disagree with us concerning Christ? If the “sword” here is to be regarded as
literal, it certainly does not indicate that it is the Christian who would use
it. The scriptures forbid Christians
from returning evil and for many years after the New Testament they refused to
participate in the army through their enemies used swords upon them. The parallel passage in Luke 12:51-53
indicates what he had in mind. It says
he came to set “division.” The sword of
the Spirit, which is the Word of God, was the weapon provided for the
Christians. (Eph. 6:17; 2Cor. 10:3-5)
OBJECTION: “What if everyone quit fighting? Would not our country be destroyed and
Christianity abolished?”
ANSWER:
Not as long as God is still
God and wills its continuing. Matthew
16:18 says the gates of Hades shall not prevail against the church. We trust in God and know that God will be
victorious. Rome ruled the world and
tried with all her might to stamp out Christianity. Certainly the governments today are no more depraved than Rome
and yet Christian were not to fight against Rome. In the end, Rome fell to the power of Christian influence.
If our whole nation turned
Christian it is inconceivable as to the vast impact upon other nations. They would feel no need for vast firepower
and destruction to be unleashed because they would feel no real threat. They might take over our nation, but in time
Christians would just convert them or at least enough of them that any
repression would be ineffectual.
However, the basic weakness
with such arguments is that they do not really make any difference, if God does
not want us to fight. They begin with a
big empty “if” which is entirely presumptive.
But 1Pet. 3:8-14 has an “if” that is the direct answer to this. “But even IF ye should suffer for
righteousness’ sake, blessed are ye: And fear not their fear, neither be
troubled.”
Besides this, Jesus rejected
the idea of fighting for his kingdom. (John 18:36) We are to fight with the weapons of God. (2Cor. 10:3-5)
OBJECTION:
“What would you do if your wife or children were being molested?”
ANSWER:
The question is unfair and
has no bearing on the issue. In the
first place, I am being asked to tell what I would do in a situation that has
never arisen. I don’t know what I would
do but my faith in God trusts that He would never permit it to take place or I
would handle it correctly. Secondly, is
it right to say that if you defend yourself against an actual act of wickedness
that therefore you are at liberty to join the wholesale devastation of a
nation, which is characteristic of war?
Thirdly, there is a difference between a forceful attempt to restrain a
person, and the intent to take his life or vent revenge upon him. Fourthly, here again is the presumptive
“if.” Is God going to permit this “if”
to take place if I am right with him?
Also, “if” he does then does that relieve me of responsibility to do as
he said?
Since “ifs” are such
appealing arguments we could easily counter with, “If five men had the drop on
you and you had no weapon, what would you do about someone molesting your
wife?” Does the fact of what you would
do or not do prove that we can go to war whenever we choose? Does it prove that we can never be
violent? Actually, it proves absolutely
nothing. If my answer decides this
issue then I say that I will not kill so you must not.
OBJECTION:
“What about wars in the Old Testament?”
ANSWER:
When God wanted men to fight
he spoke to them through prophets to tell them which side He was
supporting. There were times when they
had to just lay down their arms and surrender to a wicked nation (Jer.
38:14-17). Also, it is often overlooked
that at times they were even to kill the women and children (1Sam. 15:3). Does such a divine decision authorize us to do
whatever extent we choose? Rather, the
fact that we do not have such divine guidance today is an indication that we
are not expected to do it.
OBJECTION: “Is it not inconsistent to draw the benefits
of this country derived from the sacrifice of others and refuse to share in its
defense?”
ANSWER:
The true source of the
benefits of this country is GOD. It stands
by the power of God, and its wealth is derived from God. By being true to God and bringing Christ
into the lives of men I am engaged in the very highest form of contribution
to its security. The man who REALLY
undermines the security of our nation is the person who is unresponsive to His
will. Is it not, then, inconsistent
for others to draw from the benefits of this country which stands by the power
of God, while refusing to share in returning the love and obedience which he
asks?
WAR TO PROTECT THE WEAK
This is, in my view, one of
the toughest questions. Every
Government of this world is sustained by force (John 18:36). The weak need protection. God has authorized the Government to avenge
evil.
Rom
13:1-4
4 For he is
the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be
afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a
revenger to execute wrath upon
him that doeth evil.
When I view this world I see the need for someone to protect
the weak. That is the purpose of a
police force. Where does this role
leave off and a military force take over.
Historically, there was often no distinction?
I see millions being
slaughtered and abused by tyrants. If I
were to see someone being beaten or killed, my instincts are to intervene. If that is so in a local situation, would
not it be equally proper to go to the rescue of people being raped, beaten and
slaughtered on a massive scale? It
would seem so, however, once war begins, personal choice ceases and propaganda
tends to become too overwhelming to make an informed decision.
CONCLUSION:
Whenever one presents the
truth he is always confronted by the inevitable array of objections. Usually, most of them are superficial and
emotionally inspired. Some will be
sincere difficulties. Some will be
repeated time and again. I have here
tried to deal with some of the most common and sometimes difficult problems.
However, I have found that
for the most part there are two key factors which when solved tend to dissolve
the difficulties.
First, when the person
becomes fully informed on the subject.
Usually the people who are the most vehement in their objection are
those who have not personally been involved in the hideousness of war and the
misery it produces, what it does to the men who do the killing, or have not
assimilated the teachings and attitudes of the scriptures concerning this
issue.
Secondly, when the person is
freed of his anxiety for his future and fear of social intimidation he is able
to think more clearly. Many people are
more concerned with what other people think than with what God thinks. It takes great courage to face the scorn of
friends and intimidation of the law. It
takes great faith to trust that God will work things out to his own good ends
and we are not to be swayed by concern for our security.
For me, the whole issue is
solved in this: I trust God. I believe
that His word means exactly what it says.
God has always taken care of me and I am not going to desert Him nor
tell Him how He must run things. If He
wills that I should suffer then I only pray that He will strengthen me to bear
it courageously so that His name can be glorified and His objectives will be
achieved.