War and Peace
Jimmy Porter“You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still yet to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom” (Matt. 24:6-7, NIV).
The newspaper for several days (mid January) has contained articles about the possibility of war – not only with Iraq but also with North Korea. Every leading journal is filled with pros and cons of war. Is it right or is it wrong? Should we or should we not? Are we to be the peacekeeper of the world? Do we have a right to intervene?
We have never known a day when there was not war in some part of the world. Even as we search the Bible we read of numerous conflicts. Over the years Christians have struggled to balance the “God of Love” with verses like Ecclesiastes 3:1,8, “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven ... a time to love, a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace”.
How do we respond to this problematic issue of war versus peace? Within the Christian tradition there have been various attitudes and practices regarding war. They vary because “some Christians see love as the central demand of God, others see justice, and still others a combination of the two. Those differing views regarding God’s will lead to different conclusions about the morality of war.”(1)
First, pacifists insist that war is alien to Christian love and often refer to “turning the other cheek.” Matthew 5:9 says, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called Sons of God.” Those who are pacifists are no passive. They seek ways to actively spread God’s love to all people in all nations.
The “Holy War” philosophy seeks to bring peace to our world by serving God through war. “Holy War” is viewed as absolute good pitted against evil. The end always justifies the means; therefore, there are no restraints in war. Thousands and thousands often die needlessly, but the perpetrators of such violence see themselves as performing a holy vocation.
September 11, 2001, taught us to be wary of those who believe terrorism is actually a “Holy War” directed toward the United States – the ultimate and absolute evil. Holy War proponents allude to Old Testament passages such as I Samuel 15:3 where God gives the command to go into battle.
Another attitude toward war was formulated by St. Ambrose (AD 349-397) and St. Augustine (AD 354-430). Their teachings and ideas became known as the “Just War” theory. Certain criteria have emerged for us to evaluate and determine if war is acceptable. The criteria is as follows:
1. The War must be waged by legitimate authority.
2. The cause being fought for must be just, such as defense against an aggressor.
3. The ultimate goal or intention must be peace.
4. The subjective motivation or intention must not be hatred or vengeance.
5. War must be the last resort.
6. Success must be probable.
7. The means must be indispensable to achieve the end.
8. The means used must be proportional, that is, causing no more harm than they prevent.
9. Harm to civilians and defenseless enemies must be avoided.
10. The means must respect the provisions of international law.(2)
In Augustine’s mind the just war criteria never made war just, only justifiable. After the destruction of the Twin Towers in New York, Americans insisted that war on terrorism was justified.
As I write this article, no one knows what will happen in Iraq and North Korea. Our nation is divided. Can we conduct a war on two fronts? Others say we have the technology and weaponry to win decisively with fewer casualties than with “Desert Storm.” Others say we are totally wrong to even think of invading either of these two countries. How do we respond as Christians?
Dr. Henlee Barnette, emeritus ethics professor at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, gives us some insight in an article written for Baptists Today (July 2002). Dr. Barnette says to win the war against terrorism we must, “Out think them, out love them, out sacrifice them, out witness them, and out live them!” The teachings of Dr. Barnette are what most of us believe and accept. We must never take war lightly, we must be intelligent and realistic about war, we must be willing to give our all, we must see every country and place as one in which Christ has told us to go and spread the good news, and we must always promote and practice the basic values upon which our way of life is grounded – life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
As a follower of Christ, I must pray daily for peace, not only in the world but for peace in my heart and the heart of my enemy. I must encourage the leaders of my nation to seek diligently for peaceful solutions for the world’s problems. Also, I must ask for wisdom and sensitivity from God to be an effective witness for him in times of peace and war.
The Baptist Faith and Message states it well: “It is the duty of Christians to seek peace with all men of principles of righteousness. In accordance with the spirit and teachings of Christ, they should do all in their power to put an end to war. The true remedy for the war spirit is the gospel of our Lord.” Amen and amen.
1. Issues and Answers: War and Peace, Christian Life commission of the Southern Baptist Commission.
2. Therefore, periodical of the Christian Life Commission of Baptist General Convention of Texas, Vol. 9, Number 7.