Biblical War & Peace
A Study of SBC Baptist Faith
& Message Article XVI
by Michael
G. Maness
presented to the New Bethel Baptist Association Meeting
First Baptist Church, Chester, Texas, 2001
Outline on Baptist-Biblical Views of
Peace and War
|
1. Peace in O.T. Hebrew 2. Peace in the O.T. NIV 3. Peace in N.T. Greek 4. Peace in the N.T. NIV 1. War & Battle in O.T.
Hebrew 2. War and Battle in O.T.
NIV 3. War & Battle in N.T.
Greek 4. War & Battle in the
N.T. NIV |
PREVIEW
–Baptists—people of the
Bible and the Bible’s God! –What’s the purpose of the Baptist
Faith and Message? –What does the Baptist
statement say? Is it the Bible’s
view? –The three views on
Christian peace and war are Pacifism, Just War, and Crusaderism. – What do
they mean? –Is peace the most important
element of Christian faith? –Is pacifism biblical? –Is war always wrong? –What is
the most important element of the Christian faith? – Love God? – Should we enforce
that? –Jesus observed that there will
be war this side of heaven. We
are to be peacemakers, not pacifists or crusaders. |
Preview
The SBC Article XVI on peace and war is a bit passive for most Baptists, especially all the hunters, LHC holders, soldiers, law officers, and pretty much all who would desire to defend their home from a marauder. I gave this presentation at a New Bethel Baptist Association in 2001 in a series with other ministers on the articles of the BF & M. Enjoy.
A. Article XVI.
Peace and War
Baptist Faith and Message 1963 & 2000
It is the duty of
Christians to seek peace with all men on 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. The supreme need of
the world is the acceptance of His teachings in all the affairs of men and
nations, and the practical application of His law of love. Christian people throughout the world should
pray for the reign of the Prince of Peace [Last sentence added in 2000].
Scriptures in Baptist Faith and Message from NIV
Isa. 2:4 – He
will judge between nations … settle disputes…. They will beat their swords into
plowshares … Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train
for war anymore. Matt. 5:9 – “Blessed
are the peacemakers … called sons of God” Matt.
5:38-48 – “‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, Do not
resist an evil person. If someone
strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also…. sue you … let him
have your cloak…. forces you to go one mile, go … two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not
turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you…. ‘Love your neighbor and
hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love
your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your
Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends
rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? … the tax
collectors doing that? And if you greet
only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly
Father is perfect.” Matt. 6:33 – “Seek
first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to
you.” Matt. 26:52 – “Put your sword
back in its place,” … “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.” Luke 22:36, 38 – “If you have a purse,
take it … if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.” 38 – The
disciples said, “See, Lord, here are two swords.” “That is enough,” he said. Rom. 12:18-19 – If it is possible, as
far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave
room for God’s wrath, for it is written:
“It is mine to avenge; I will
repay,” says the Lord. Rom. 13:1-7 – Must
submit himself to governing authorities … no authority except that which God
has established. The authorities … established by God…. rebels against the
authority is rebelling against what God has instituted…. For rulers hold no
terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong…. Free from fear…?
Then do what is right and he will commend you.
For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid,
for he does not bear the sword for nothing.
He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the
wrongdoer…. necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of
possible punishment but also because of conscience…. pay taxes … God’s
servants, who give full time to governing.
Given everyone what you owe him:
if you owe taxes, pay taxes; if
revenue, then revenue; if respect, then
respect; if honor, then honor. Rom. 14:19 – Make every effort to do
what leads to peace and to mutual edification. Heb. 12:14 – Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to
be holy; without holiness no one will
see the Lord. James 4:1-2 – What
causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that
battle within you? You want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what
you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God.
B. Peace in the
O.T. and N.T.
1. Peace in O.T. Hebrew
Edited from: Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words (Thomas
Nelson, 1985)
NOUN: shalom
OT:7965, “peace;
completeness; welfare; health.” The Semitic root with the meaning
“peace” in Akkadian, Ugaritic, Phoenician, Aramaic, Syriac, Arabic, and
Ethiopic. A very important term in the O.T. maintaining its place in Mishnaic,
rabbinic, and modern Hebrew. In Israel today, people greet the newcomer and
each other with the words mah shlomka—what is your peace? or how are
you doing? and ask about the peace of one’s family. Shalom is used
237 times in a varied semantic range. The first two occurrences in Genesis
already indicate the changes in meaning:
“And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace” with shalom in the
sense of tranquility, at ease, and unconcerned in Gen 15:15; and “that thou wilt do us no hurt…. as we
have done unto thee nothing but good, and have sent thee away in peace” with shalom
meaning of unharmed in Gen 26:29. Both uses are essentially the same
expressing the root to be whole. The phrase ish shelomi or friend
of my peace in Ps 41:9, “Yea, mine own familiar friend” is literally friend
of my peace (cf. Jer 20:10), a state of feeling at ease with someone. The
relationship is one of harmony and wholeness.
Closely associated is the
use referring to personal welfare or health, as in 2 Sam 20:9, “Joab said to
Amasa, Art thou in health, my brother?” or in the phrase leshalom with
the verb to ask as inGen 43:27:
“And he asked them of their welfare, and said, Is your father well, the
old man of whom ye spake?” Shalom also signifies peace as with a
prosperous relationship between two or more parties: “Their tongue is as an arrow shot out; it speaketh deceit: one
speaketh peaceably [literally, “in peace”] to his neighbor with his mouth, but
in heart he layeth his wait” Jer 9:8;
in diplomacy: “Howbeit Sisera
fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite: for there was peace between Jabin the king
of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite” Judg 4:17; and in warfare: “...if it make thee answer of peace, and open unto thee, then it
shall be, that all the people that is found therein shall be tributaries unto
thee, and they shall serve thee” Deut 20:11.
Isaiah prophesied concerning
the “Prince of peace” Isa 9:6, whose kingdom was to introduce a government of
peace in Isa 9:7. Ezekiel spoke about the new covenant as one of peace: “Moreover I will make a covenant of peace
with them; it shall be an everlasting
covenant with them: and I will place
them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for
evermore” in Ezek 37:26. Ps 122 is a great psalm in celebration of and in
prayer: “Pray for the peace of
Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love
thee” Ps 122:6.
The Septuagint gives the
following translations: eirene
to peace, welfare, health; eirenikos
to peaceable and peaceful; soteria
deliverance, preservation, salvation;
and hugiainein to be in good health and sound. Related noun is shelem,
87 times, means peace offering.
VERB: shalem
OT:7999, “to be complete, be sound.” 103 times. In 1 Kings 9:25: “So he finished the house.” Another verb, shalam, means to make
peace: “When a man’s ways please the
Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him” Prov 16:7.
2. Peace in the O.T. NIV
The word peace appears 124 times in the
O.T.: 4 times in Genesis, Gen. 15:15 – You … will go to your fathers in
peace; 1 time in Leviticus, Lev. 26:1-6
– Observe my Sabbaths…. If you follow my decrees … I will send you rain…. I
will grant peace in the land; 2 times in Numbers, Num. 6:22-26 –
[Lord to Moses] bless the Israelites…. The LORD bless you and keep you;… the
LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace; 3 times in Joshua,
Josh. 9:15 – Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live; 6 times in Judges, Judges 6:23-24 – [to
Gideon] the LORD said to him, “Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to
die.” So Gideon built an altar to the LORD there and called it The LORD is
Peace; 41 times in 1 & 2 Sam., 1 & 2 Kings, and 1 & 2 Chronicles,
1 Sam. 1:17 – Eli answered, “Go in peace”;
1 Sam. 16:5 – Samuel replied, “Yes, in peace; I have come”; 2 Sam.
10:19 – When all the kings who were vassals of Hadadezer saw that they had been
defeated by Israel, they made peace with the Israelites and became subject to
them. So the Arameans were afraid to help the Ammonites anymore; 4
times in Job, Job 3:26 – I have no peace, no quietness; I have no rest, but only turmoil; 17
times in Psalms, Psalm 4:8 – I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you
alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety;
Psalm 29:11 – The LORD blesses his people with peace; Psalm 85:8 – I will listen to what God the
LORD will say; he promises peace to his
people, his saints; Psalm 120:7 – I am
a man of peace; but when I speak, they
are for war; 7 times in Proverbs, Prov. 3:17 – all her paths are peace; Prov. 12:20 – joy for those who promote
peace; Prov. 14:30 – A heart at peace
gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones; Prov. 16:7 – When a man’s ways are pleasing to the LORD, he makes
even his enemies live at peace with him;
Prov. 17:7 – Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full
of feasting; 26 times in Isaiah, Is. 9:6-7 – For to us a child is born … and the
government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his
government and peace there will be no end;
Is. 26:3 – You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast,
because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is
the Rock eternal; Is. 26:12 – LORD, you
establish peace for us; Is. 32:17 – The
fruit of righteousness will be peace;
the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence
forever; 18 times in Jeremiah, Jer. 6:13-14 – greedy for gain; prophets and priests alike, all practice
deceit. They dress the wound for my people as though it were not serious.
“Peace, peace,” they say, when there is no peace; 7 times in Ezekiel, Ezek.
13:10 – saying, “Peace,” when there is no peace; Ezek. 13:16 – those prophets of Israel who prophesied to
Jerusalem and saw visions of peace for her when there was no peace, declares
the Sovereign LORD.
3. Peace in N.T. Greek Edited
from: Vine’s Expository Dictionary
of Biblical Words (Thomas Nelson, 1985)
NOUN: eirene
NT:1515 “occurs in each of the books of the NT (save 1 John and save in
Acts 7:26 it is translated as at one again in the KJV but translated peace
in the RV). It describes (a) harmonious relationships between men, Matt
10:34; Rom 14:19; (b) between nations, Luke 14:32; Acts 12:20;
Rev 6:4; (c) friendliness, Acts
15:33; 1 Cor 16:11; Heb 11:31;
(d) freedom from molestation, Luke 11:21; 19:42; Acts 9:31 (RV, peace,
KJV, rest); Acts 16:36; (e) order, in the State, Acts 24:2 (RV, peace,
KJV, quietness); in the
churches, 1 Cor 14:33; (f) the
harmonized relationships between God and man, accomplished through the gospel,
Acts 10:36; Eph 2:17; (g) the sense of rest and contentment
consequent thereon, Matt 10:13; Mark
5:34; Luke 1:79; 2:29;
John 14:27; Rom 1:7; 3:17;
8:6; in certain passages this
idea is not distinguishable from the last, Rom 5:1.”
VERB: 1. eireneuo
NT:1514, primarily, “to bring to peace, reconcile,” denotes in the NT, “to keep
peace or to be at peace”: in Mark 9:50,
RV, the Lord bids the disciples “be at peace” with one another, gently rebuking
their ambitious desires; in Rom 12:18
(RV, “be at peace,” KJV, “live peaceably”) the limitation “if it be possible,
as much as in you lieth,” seems due to the phrase “with all men,” but is not
intended to excuse any evasion of the obligation imposed by the command; in 2 Cor 13:11 it is rendered “live in
peace,” a general exhortation to believers;
in 1 Thess 5:13, “be at peace (among yourselves).” 2. eirenopoieo
NT:1517, “to make peace” (eirene, and poieo, “to make”), is used in Col 1:20.
In the Sept., Prov 10:10.
4. Peace in the N.T. NIV
The word peace appears 81 times in the
N.T.: 4 times in Matthew, Matt. 10:11-16 – Whatever town or village your
enter, search for some worthy person there and stay…. If the home is deserving,
let your peace rest on it; if it is
not, let your peace return to you…. shake the dust off your feet…. more bearable
for Sodom and Gomorrah … than for that town. I am sending you out like sheep
among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves; Matt. 10:34 – Do not suppose that I have
come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword; 2
times in Mark, Mark 9:50 – be at peace with each other; 12
times in Luke, Luke 10:5-6 – When you enter a house, first say, “Peace to
this house.” If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you; Luke 12:51 – Do you think I came to bring
peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division;
Luke 24:36 – Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be
with you”; 6 times in John, John 14:27 – Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you…. not … as the world
gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid; John 16:33 – told you these things, so that
in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart!
I have overcame the world; 11 times in Romans, Rom. 1:7 – Grace
and peace to you from God our Father;
Rom. 2:10 – glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good; Rom. 5:1 – we have peace with God through
our Lord Jesus Christ; Rom. 8:6 – the
mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; Rom. 12:18 – as it depends on you, live at peace with
everyone; Rom. 14:19 – make every
effort to do what leads to peace; Rom.
15:13 – May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in
him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit; Rom. 16:20 – God of peace will soon crush
Satan under your feet; 8 times in 1 & 2 Corinthians, 1
Cor. 14:33 – For God is not a God of disorder but of peace; 2 Cor. 13:11 – be of one mind, live in
peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you; 3
times in Galatians, Gal. 5:22 fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace.,
patience; Gal. 6:15-16 – what counts is
a new creation. Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule; 8 times in Ephesians, Eph. 2:14-18 – for he
himself is our peace, who has made the two one…. His purpose was to create in
himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace … reconcile both to them
to God through the cross…. He came and preached peace to you who were far away
and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the
Father by one Spirit; 3 times in Philippians; 4
times in Colossians, Col. 1:19-20 – God was pleased to have all his
fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things … by making
peace through his blood, shed on the cross;
Col. 3:15 – Let the peace of Christ rule your hearts, since as members
of one body you were called to peace; 7 times in 1 & 2 Thessalonians, 1
Thess. 5:13 – Live in peace with each other;
1 Thess 5:23 – May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you; 2 Thess 3:16 – may the Lord of peace himself
give you peace at all times and in every way;
4 times in Hebrews, Heb.
12:11 – No disciplines seems pleasant…. Later on, however, it produces a
harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it; 1
time in James 3:18 – Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of
righteousness; 2 times in Revelation, Rev. 6:4 – Then another horse came out, a
fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to
make men slay each other. To him was given a large sword.
C. War in the
O.T. and N.T
1. War & Battle in O.T. Hebrew Edited
from: Vine’s Expository Dictionary
of Biblical Words (Thomas Nelson, 1985)
Noun. milchamah OT:4421, “war;
battle; skirmish; combat” with a cognate only in Ugaritic.
Biblical Hebrew attests it 315 times and in all periods. It means war, the
over-all confrontation of two forces Gen 14:2. It can also mean the
hand-to-hand fighting which takes place:
“And when Joshua heard the noise …, he said unto Moses, ‘There is a
noise of war in the camp’” Ex 32:17. Milchamah sometimes represents the
art of soldiering or combat: “The Lord
is a man of war...” Ex 15:3.
Several principles governed
war in the O.T.. Unjust violence was prohibited, but war led Judg 4:13 and used
by God Num 21:14. War was preceded by sacrifices recognizing His leadership and
sovereignty 1 Sam 7:9; if He was
consulted and obeyed Judg 20:23, Israel was promised divine protection Deut
20:1-4. Not one life would be lost Josh 10:11. God’s presence in battle was
symbolized by the ark of the covenant 1 Sam 4:3-11. His presence necessitated
spiritual and ritualistic cleanliness Deut 23:9-14. Before and during battle,
trumpets were blown placing the cause before God in anticipation of the victory
and gratitude for it Num 10:9-10, as well as to relay the orders of the
commanders. A war cry accompanied the initiation of battle Josh 6:5. At the
beginning Israel’s army consisted of every man over twenty and under fifty Num
1:2-3. Sometimes only certain segments of this potential citizens’ army were
summoned Num 31:3-6. There were several circumstances which could exempt one
from war Num 1:48-49 and Deut 20:5-8. Under David and Solomon there grew a professional
army. Under Solomon, the army was renowned for its chariotry. Cities outside
Palestine were to be offered terms of surrender before being attacked.
Compliance meant subjugation to slavery Deut 20:10-11. Cities and peoples
within the Promised Land were to be utterly wiped out. They were under the ban
Deut 2:34; 3:6; 20:16-18. This made these battles uniquely
holy battles (a holy war) where everything was especially devoted and
sacrificed to God. Israel’s kings were admonished to trust in God as their
strength rather than in a great many horses and chariots Deut 17:16. Her armies
were forbidden to cut down fruit trees in order to build siege equipment Deut
20:19-20. Soldiers were paid by keeping booty won in battle Num 31:21-31. The
entire army divided the spoil—even those in the rear guard Num 31:26-47; Judg 5:30. God, too, was appointed a share
Num 31:28-30.
Verb. lacham OT:3898, “to fight, do battle, engage in combat.” This word is found
in all periods of Hebrew, as well as in ancient Ugaritic. More than 170 times.
Commonly used of armies engaged in pitched battle against each other Num 21:23,
Josh 10:5 & 11:5, it is also used to describe single hand-to-hand combat 1
Sam 17:32-33. Frequently, God fights the battle for Israel Deut 20:4.
2. War and Battle in the O.T. NIV
War appears
123 times (Fight 111 times)
in the O.T.: 8 times in Duet., Deut. 21:10 – When you go to war against your
enemies and the LORD your God delivers;
9 times in Joshua, Josh.
11:18 – Joshua waged war against all these kings for a long time; Josh. 11:23 & 14:15 – Then the land had
rest from war; and 53 times in 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & Kings, and 1 & 2 Chronicles.
Battle appears
202 times in the O.T.: 13 times in Numbers, Num. 10:9 – When
you go into battle … blast on the trumpets.
Then you will be remembered by the LORD your God and rescued from your
enemies; 31:4 – Send into battle a
thousand men from each of the tribes; 10 times in Deut., Deut. 20:2-3 – When
you are about to go into battle, the priest shall come forward and address the
army. He shall say: “Hear, O Israel,
today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or
afraid; do not be terrified or give
way to panic before them. For the LORD
your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you … to give you
victory; 94 times in 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings, and 1 & 2 Chronicles,
1 Sam. 14:23 – So the LORD rescued Israel that day, and the battle moved on
beyond Beth Aven; 1 Sam. 17:47 – [David
to Goliath] not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will
give all of you into our hands; In 2
Chronicles 17, The LORD was with Jehoshaphat and his army of 1,160,000 fighting
men; 9 times in Psalms, Psalm 18:34 & 39 – He trains my hands for
battle … armed me with strength for battle;
Psalm 140:7 – O Sovereign LORD, my strong deliverer, who shields my head
in the day of battle; 12 times in Isaiah, Is. 31:9 – [to
Israel about Assyria] “Their stronghold will fall because of terror; at the sight of the battle standard their
commanders will panic,” declares the LORD;
16 times in Jeremiah; in Jeremiah chapter 6, there is a terrible
warning of 30 verses against Israel.
3. War & Battle in N.T. Greek Edited
from: Vine’s Expository Dictionary
of Biblical Words (Thomas Nelson, 1985)
Verbs. 1. polemeo NT:4170 (Eng.,
“polemics”), “to fight, to make war,” is used (a) literally, Rev 12:7 (twice),
RV; 13:4; 17:14; 19:11; (b) metaphorically, Rev 2:16, RV; (C) hyperbolically, James 4:2. 2. strateuo NT:4754, used
in the middle voice, “to make war” (from stratos, “an encamped army”),
is translated “to war” in 2 Cor 10:3;
metaphorically, of spiritual “conflict,” 1 Tim 1:18; 2 Tim 2:3, KJV; James 4:1; 1 Peter 2:11. 3. antistrateuomai NT:497,
“to make war against” occurs in Rom 7:23.
Noun. polemos NT:4171, war
is so translated in the RV, for KJV battle,
1 Cor 14:8; Rev 9:7,9; 16:14;
20:8; for KJV fight, Heb
11:34; KJV and RV in James 4:1,
hyperbolically of private quarrels.
4. War & Battle in the N.T. NIV
War appears
11 times in N.T.: Luke 14:31 – “Suppose a king is about to go to war…. Will he not
first; Rom. 7:23 – Work in the members of my body, waging war against the
law of my mind; 2 Cor. 10:3 – We live in the world, we do not wage war as the world
does; 1 Pet. 2:11 – in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which
war against your soul; 7 times in Revelation 12:7, 17; 13:4, 7;
17:14; 19:11, 19 – war in
heaven. Michael … fought / enraged at woman and went off to make war / [beast]
Who can make war against him? / He was given power to make war against saints
and to conquer them / they will make war against the Lamb / with justice he
judges and makes war / armies gathered together to make war against the rider
on the horse.
Battle appears
7 times in the N.T.: 1 Cor. 14:8 – Again, if the trumpet
does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?; Heb.
11:34 – [in chapter of Hall of Faithful] who became powerful in battle and
routed foreign armies; James 4:1 – desires that battle within
you; Rev. 9:7, 9; 16:14; 20:8 – horses prepared for battle /
chariots rushing into battle / They are spirits of demons performing miraculous
signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for
battle on the great day of God Almighty. [Then comes 16:15 – Behold, I come
like a thief! Blessed is he who stays awake] / [Satan released from prison]
will go to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth – Gog and Magog
– to gather them for battle.
Fight appears
14 times in the N.T.: John 18:36 – If it were [my kingdom of
this world], my servants would fight; 1 Cor. 9:26 – I do not fight like a man
beating the air; 2 Cor. 10:4 – The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the
world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We
demolish arguments … against the knowledge of God; 1 Timothy 1:18 & 6:12
– fight the good fight; 2 Tim. 4:7 – I have fought the good
fight; James 4:2 – You quarrel and fight;
Rev. 2:16 – [to the church in
Pergamum] Repent … Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against
them with the sword of my mouth.
D. Peace and War
Conclusion & Literature
|
Bible indicates several kinds of War War caused by God War caused by Satan War caused by people sent from God War caused by people sent from Satan War
caused by both good and bad people |
War against
Christians Directly or Indirectly Satan and his demons war against Christians Some religious people war against Christians Some religions war against Christians Some people war against Christians Some organizations war against Christians |
|
Bible indicates several kinds of Peace |
|
|
Redemptive Peace only God can bring Miraculous Peace only God can give Community
Peace partially at government’s hands |
Peacemaker Peace that each have a responsibility Earthly Peace that awaits the reign of Christ Ultimate Peace that awaits us in
heaven |
Quotes from
Arthur F. Holmes’ War and Christian Ethics
Holmes said, “Just cause:
the only morally legitimate reason for going to war is self-defense. If this
rule were universally followed there would be no aggressors and no wars…. Just
intent: the only morally legimate
goal in war is the restoration of peace, with justice for both friend and foe.”
(p5)
Reformer Martin Luther
(1483-1546) said, “For whoever fights with a good and well-instructed
conscience can also fight well. This is especially true since a good conscience
fills a man’s heart with courage and boldness. And if the heart is bold and
courageous, the fist is more powerful, a man and even his horse are more
energetic, everything turns our better, and every happening and deed
contributes to the victory which God then gives. On the other hand, a timid and
insecure conscience makes the heart fearful. It cannot be otherwise; a bad
conscience can only make men cowardly and fearful…. [quotes Deut. 28:20, 25]
The both man and horse are lazy and clumsy; they lack vigor for the attack, and
in the end they are defeated. (p.141)…
[Luther continues] “Now
slaying and robbing do not seem to be works of love. A simple man therefore
does no think it is a Christian thing to do. In truth, however, even this is a
work of love. For example, a good doctor sometimes finds so serious and
terrible a sickness that he must amputate or destroy a hand, foot, ear, eye, to
save the body. Looking at it from the point of view of the organ that he
amputates, he appears to be a cruel and merciless man; but looking at it from
the point of view of the body, which the doctor wants to save, he is a fine and
true man and does a good and Christian work, as far as the work itself is
concerned. In the same way, when I think of a soldier fulfilling his office by
punishing the wicked, killing the wicked, and creating so much misery, it seems
an un-Christian work completely contrary to Christian love. But when I think of
how it protects the good and keeps and preserves wife and child, house and
farm, property, and honor and peace, then I see how precious and godly this
work is; and I observe that it amputates a leg or a hand, so that the whole
body may not perish. For if the sword were not on guard to preserve peace,
everything in the world would be ruined because of lack of peace. Therefore,
such a war is only a very brief lack of peace that prevents an everlasting and
immeasurable lack of peace, a small misfortune that prevents a great
misfortune.” (p.141 & 143)
James Johnson said, “Peace,
then, is more than not having war: it
is the final ideal that results from the prior achievement of two other ideals,
right order and justice.” (p353)
The tension is not so much
between pacifism and just war. For Christians, Duane Friesen said, “This is the
tension between the kingdom of God—God’s rule and sovereignty over the entire
creation, which in some sense has ‘already’ come—and the reality of a sinful
world ‘not yet’ transformed into the kingdom of God.” (p367)
The fog of war in Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace. George Weigel
said, “Thus moral muteness in a time of war is a moral stance: it can be a stance born of fear; it can be a stance born of
indifference; it can be a stance born
of cynicism about the human capacity to promote justice, freedom, and order,
all of which are moral goods. But whatever its psychological, spiritual, or
intellectual origins, moral muteness in wartime is a form of moral judgment—a
deficient and dangerous form of moral judgment.
“That is why the venerable
just war tradition—a form of moral reasoning that traces its origins to St.
Augustine in fifth-century North Africa—is such an important public resource….
allowed men and women to avoid the trap of moral muteness, to think through the
tangle of problems…. Indeed, in the national debate launched by the war against
terrorism and the threat of outlaw states armed with weapons of mass
destruction, we can hear echoes of the moral reasoning of Augustine and his
successors:
“What is the just cause
that would justify putting our armed forces … in harm’s way? Who has the
authority to wage war? The President? The President and Congress…? Is it every
right to use armed force first? Can going first ever be, not just morally
permissible, but morally imperative? How can the use of armed force contribute
to the pursuit of justice, freedom, and order in world affairs?” (p.374)
Augustine’s tranquillitas
ordinis = peace of order.
George Weigel said, this is the “order created by just political community
and mediated through law…. is composed of justice and freedom. The peace of
order is not the eerily quiet and sullen ‘peace’ of a well-run authoritarian
regime; it is a peace built on
foundations of constitutional, commutative, and social justice. It is a peace
in which freedom, especially religious freedom, flourishes. The defense of
basic human rights is thus an integral component of ‘work for peace.’” (p382).
Biblical Views
on Peace and War
What does the Baptist
statement say? The statement leans too
close to pacifism for most Baptists and Christians. Is peace the most important
element of Christian faith? No. The Great Commands to Love God and others,
and the Golden Rule are more important than peace or war. Peace is a Christian value, sometimes
secured by war.
Is pacifism biblical? Where is pacifism in the Bible? You’re not a 100% pacifist if you would
spank your child? Is war always wrong? Not to God.
What is the most important element of the Christian faith? Love God! But we cannot ever enforce Love, and
we should never legislate Love God.
Love is best served from a willing heart. What does the Bible say about peace and war? We are to be peacemakers, sometimes
supporting the waging of war to protect our freedom to live and worship.
Jesus indicated there would
be war this side of heaven. We’re to be peacemakers, not pacifists or
crusaders.
In just-war theory, many fulcrum concepts magnify
complexity. Would you have sanctioned
the assassination of Hitler? SBC Ethics Scholar Richard Land would. In a nuclear age, how far do we assert
foreign diplomacy? Most importantly, what conditions need to exist to use
violence and even lethal force? At least, I think, we would all agree that
force and lethal force is justified to prevent a danger to human health, life,
and liberty—especially to those we Love.
E. Literature
Holmes,
Arthur F., ed.. War and Christian Ethics, 2nd Ed.: Classic and Contemporary Readings on the Morality of War.
Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2005 (1st
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Wayne G. Boulton, Thomas D. Kennedy, and Allen Verhey,
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Adeney, Bernard. Political Realism and Faith.
Scarecrow Press, 1988.
Bainton, Roland H. Christian Attitudes toward War
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Catholic Bishops, 1983.
Bennett, J. C., ed. Nuclear Weapons and the
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Perspective. Scribner, 1966.
Brown, Dale. Biblical Pacifism. Herald Press,
1986.
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1945.
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