What does the bible teach about Christians and war?

Dave L

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In the gospels, when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem, the Christians moved away from the region. This would be comparable to the Christians who went to Canada when the American Revolution broke out. In both cases, they did not take up arms to defend or establish their homeland.

But when Christians ignore this principle, and become unequally yoked together with the heathen, taking up arms with them, they end up killing each other as we see in WWI and WWII. Not to mention the fuel they add to both sides of the conflict and the increased casualties resulting from it.

In Acts, Christians always fled the presence of violence. And never defended themselves using more than words.

Paul tells us the love of money is the root of all evil. And this would include war. It is always about money and territory. All of the things Christians are to shun. This was true in Israel's wars of the Old Testament. And it is true today.

So what is the Christian response to war? We have plenty to draw from in answering this, but one thing is certain, we are to love enemies and not kill them. Or lay up treasure on earth and protect it. Or kill on behalf of others who do.
 

RDKirk

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I agree with you on this point.

I would point out, before someone else brings it up, that Romans 13 does not bind the Church or Christians into military support of any human government.

Romans 13 identifies the same sort of rules any diplomat follows when posted to a foreign nation: Obey their laws, give due honor to their officials, pay the taxes they levy on you.

Every diplomat does these things without being confused that he's a citizen of that nation.
 
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bcbsr

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In the gospels, when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem, the Christians moved away from the region. This would be comparable to the Christians who went to Canada when the American Revolution broke out. In both cases, they did not take up arms to defend or establish their homeland.

But when Christians ignore this principle, and become unequally yoked together with the heathen, taking up arms with them, they end up killing each other as we see in WWI and WWII. Not to mention the fuel they add to both sides of the conflict and the increased casualties resulting from it.

In Acts, Christians always fled the presence of violence. And never defended themselves using more than words.

Paul tells us the love of money is the root of all evil. And this would include war. It is always about money and territory. All of the things Christians are to shun. This was true in Israel's wars of the Old Testament. And it is true today.

So what is the Christian response to war? We have plenty to draw from in answering this, but one thing is certain, we are to love enemies and not kill them. Or lay up treasure on earth and protect it. Or kill on behalf of others who do.
I think with anabaptists, menonites and such they do respect the role of armed forces and police as valid, affirmed by passages like Romans 13. But that that's not the role God has called themselves to. Though some in fact join the armed forces as medics.

As I think about it, there is a major issue pledging oneself to the armed forces in that one pledges to obey unspecified orders which may end up doing evil and may be in conflict to our allegiance to Christ as Lord. And the other thing is one becomes a slave to the armed forces, which exert a lot of control, and not having the freedom to do ministry. Paul says, "do not become slaves of men." 1Cor 7:23. And he also speaks of being in the Lord's service, to try to make oneself available to that service, being Christ's slave, much like the soldier is a slave to his service. "Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs— he wants to please his commanding officer." 2Tim 2:3,4

Though I'm too old the join the military I would adviser younger Christians to avoid doing so, not only to avoid being involved in what may end up being unnecessary violence, but also to free them up from unnecessary obligations in order to serve Christ better.

And if you want to make America a better place, influence its culture through the propagation of the gospel and Christian living rather than through violence and intimidation.
 
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dqhall

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In the gospels, when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem, the Christians moved away from the region. This would be comparable to the Christians who went to Canada when the American Revolution broke out. In both cases, they did not take up arms to defend or establish their homeland.

But when Christians ignore this principle, and become unequally yoked together with the heathen, taking up arms with them, they end up killing each other as we see in WWI and WWII. Not to mention the fuel they add to both sides of the conflict and the increased casualties resulting from it.

In Acts, Christians always fled the presence of violence. And never defended themselves using more than words.

Paul tells us the love of money is the root of all evil. And this would include war. It is always about money and territory. All of the things Christians are to shun. This was true in Israel's wars of the Old Testament. And it is true today.

So what is the Christian response to war? We have plenty to draw from in answering this, but one thing is certain, we are to love enemies and not kill them. Or lay up treasure on earth and protect it. Or kill on behalf of others who do.
Some Quakers did not believe in military service or war. They left the United States to form a community in Costa Rica. Costa Rica has police, but no army.
7 minute 23 second video:
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/2016/06/24/quakers-costa-rica/31089/
 
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yeshuaslavejeff

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So what is the Christian response to war? We have plenty to draw from in answering this, but one thing is certain, we are to love enemies and not kill them. Or lay up treasure on earth and protect it. Or kill on behalf of others who do.
I think given the OP that this is a rhetorical question.

IN the world, there are two (at least) kinds of "christians" - those who obey Yahweh, and those who do not.

i.e. in truth, OR , having the form of religion with no power.
 
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Practical Paul

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Michael Snow

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Good points on Romans 13 which is often misused. Most don't know the context which can be an 'eye opener' Romans “13” In Context

I grew up not knowing anything about Christians who rejected participation in war. My pilgrimage, here: christianpacifism | About
 
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RDKirk

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Daniel C

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In the gospels, when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem, the Christians moved away from the region. This would be comparable to the Christians who went to Canada when the American Revolution broke out. In both cases, they did not take up arms to defend or establish their homeland.

But when Christians ignore this principle, and become unequally yoked together with the heathen, taking up arms with them, they end up killing each other as we see in WWI and WWII. Not to mention the fuel they add to both sides of the conflict and the increased casualties resulting from it.

In Acts, Christians always fled the presence of violence. And never defended themselves using more than words.

Paul tells us the love of money is the root of all evil. And this would include war. It is always about money and territory. All of the things Christians are to shun. This was true in Israel's wars of the Old Testament. And it is true today.

So what is the Christian response to war? We have plenty to draw from in answering this, but one thing is certain, we are to love enemies and not kill them. Or lay up treasure on earth and protect it. Or kill on behalf of others who do.


Well there are some problems with your post there Dave.

First of all the examples you give are historical events not biblical scripture, so just because a group of Christians acted in a certain way at certain time, doesn't necessarily make it right.

Another thing is if Christians keep running from aggressors who are determined to fight, those on the run are just leaving other people to fight the battle on their behalf.

The main belligerents in ww2 were communists (Russians) and nationalists (Germans), not Christians. So I don't see a massive Christian grave there.

I agree MOST wars are thought over money and land but some are thought over religion. Do you have any idea how much territory Christians have lost to invading Muslims historically? Those invasion weren't about money. It was/is about Islamic supremacy.

I'm not 100% decided on just wars or not but the way things are looking today with every single Islamic nation persecuting Christians that live under their jurisdiction and the arrival of Muslims in western nations, there might be a need for a legitimate defence war to protect the faith.
 
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Dave L

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Well there are some problems with your post there Dave.

First of all the examples you give are historical events not biblical scripture, so just because a group of Christians acted in a certain way at certain time, doesn't necessarily make it right.

Another thing is if Christians keep running from aggressors who are determined to fight, those on the run are just leaving other people to fight the battle on their behalf.

The main belligerents in ww2 were communists (Russians) and nationalists (Germans), not Christians. So I don't see a massive Christian grave there.

I agree MOST wars are thought over money and land but some are thought over religion. Do you have any idea how much territory Christians have lost to invading Muslims historically? Those invasion weren't about money. It was/is about Islamic supremacy.

I'm not 100% decided on just wars or not but the way things are looking today with every single Islamic nation persecuting Christians that live under their jurisdiction and the arrival of Muslims in western nations, there might be a need for a legitimate defence war to protect the faith.
All that you say contradicts Jesus' teachings and the examples of Christian conduct in the New Testament. If not, find one example in scripture where Jesus or the early church practiced violence. Jesus rebuked Peter for trying it.
 
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Daniel C

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All that you say contradicts Jesus' teachings and the examples of Christian conduct in the New Testament. If not, find one example in scripture where Jesus or the early church practiced violence. Jesus rebuked Peter for trying it.


He only rebuked Peter because it was disrupting Christs mission. He didn't actually scorn him for self defence. Self defence has always been a gray area in the Bible.

I could give the example of Christ driving the corrupt out of the temple with a whip but realistically Christ wasn't a violent character. And neither am I. :)

I noticed in your OP you said "love your enemies and not kill them" and I agree. My personal enemies I forgive them their debts and don't repay evil for evil. A person in war is not a personal enemy, that would be a combatant Dave, not a personal enemy.
 
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Dave L

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He only rebuked Peter because it was disrupting Christs mission. He didn't actually scorn him for self defence. Self defence has always been a gray area in the Bible.

I could give the example of Christ driving the corrupt out of the temple with a whip but realistically Christ wasn't a violent character. And neither am I. :)

I noticed in your OP you said "love your enemies and not kill them" and I agree. My personal enemies I forgive them their debts and don't repay evil for evil. A person in war is not a personal enemy, that would be a combatant Dave, not a personal enemy.
But we are a bit short on scripture proving your claims.
 
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Daniel C

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But we are a bit short on scripture proving your claims.


But you didn't provide scripture either.

I also demonstrated how the OP was faulty, using ww2 as some kind of mass grave of fallen Christians when the main belligerents were not Christians.


I'm curious about something. What sort of wars did you have in mind when you wrote that post. What type of wars do you think Christians could be involved in 2019.
 
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Dave L

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But you didn't provide scripture either.

I also demonstrated how the OP was faulty, using ww2 as some kind of mass grave of fallen Christians when the main belligerents were not Christians.


I'm curious about something. What sort of wars did you have in mind when you wrote that post. What type of wars do you think Christians could be involved in 2019.
You need to find proof for your claims in the NT. I'm only pointing out the absence of violence in Christian belief throughout the NT. Why would you take part in war, not having licence from scripture to do so?
 
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Daniel C

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You need to find proof for your claims in the NT. I'm only pointing out the absence of violence in Christian belief throughout the NT. Why would you take part in war, not having licence from scripture to do so?


You're not being very helpful here Dave.

I tried to answer some of your points but you seem oblivious to all of mine.

I get it. Your answer is to run and let the heathen fight the battle for you.Fine, that would be your choice. God himself is not totally adverse to violence, if the target is evil or sinful. The OT informs us of God annihilating whole groups of people who he did not favour. Why? Because he is righteous and that's part of his omnipotent plan.

If you believe Jesus is God and the trinity, with Christ being eternally co-existent with the father, he was a partner in that (justified) violence.

Sad to say but wars to defend the faith against oppressive religious rivals might be on the cards.
 
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Dave L

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You're not being very helpful here Dave.

I tried to answer some of your points but you seem oblivious to all of mine.

I get it. Your answer is to run and let the heathen fight the battle for you.Fine, that would be your choice. God himself is not totally adverse to violence, if the target is evil or sinful. The OT informs us of God annihilating whole groups of people who he did not favour. Why? Because he is righteous and that's part of his omnipotent plan.

If you believe Jesus is God and the trinity, with Christ being eternally co-existent with the father, he was a partner in that (justified) violence.

Sad to say but wars to defend the faith against oppressive religious rivals might be on the cards.
Not his plan for the New Covenant believer.
 
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