So, my question is it wrong to defend those who can't defend themselves even to the point of murder... I mean war?
I found this great article that supports how I feel about war and being a Christian. I have never believed that being a pacifist was Christian-like.
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif][FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]Defense and War:
A Biblical Perspective[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]
[FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]by Ron McKenzie[/FONT][/FONT]
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A key responsibility of the civil government is to protect its citizens from attack by wrongdoers. This involves punishing those who break the law. It also involves defending the nation from every external attacker, including nations, other groups of people or dangerous pests and diseases. All these responsibilities are encompassed in the power of the sword (Romans 13:1-8). Therefore, pacifism is not a Christian option.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]The Bible gives a nation the right of self-defence. However there are a number of principles which should control the civil governments exercise of this authority in the fulfilment of its responsibilities.[/FONT]
- [FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]War is only justified for defence (Romans 13:1-8). It should not be used to expand a nation's boundaries, or to take control of another nation, or to extract trade advantages. This is a fundamental principle. A nation should never need to establish military domination in another region or nation.[/FONT]
- [FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]The idea of a Christian Holy War has no basis in Scriptures. The nation of Israel conquered and destroyed the Canaanite nations. This was only done after a specific and direct command from God (Deut 7:1,2). This was a special case where God had a specific purpose in terms of the salvation he planned for Israel. It is not an example that can be followed by Christians or a Christian nation. We should not use war to win people for the gospel. (We should be honest and admit that the crusades were a mistake, however well-intentioned the crusaders may have been).[/FONT]
- [FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]A Christian nation must not have a large "standing army"(Deut 17:16; 1 Kings 10:26-29). An army that is constantly training for war is dangerous, because it will be tempted to find a situation where it can use its skills. The military should not be given too much political power, as they will have a tendency to use war to solve all problems.[/FONT]
- [FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]The defence force should take the form of a part-time local militia. The central command structure may be full-time professional so that the defence of the nation can be well organised (Deut 20:5). However, most of the soldiers will be trained civilians who can be called up when a defence force is needed. As they have other interests there will be no danger of them becoming over militant and fighting unnecessary wars. However, because they will be defending their families and friends they will be highly motivated if they are needed. They will be well prepared, but they will be only rarely called upon to fight.[/FONT]
- [FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]The militia should be up made of volunteers. Anyone who is faint-hearted or afraid should not be forced to fight (Deut 20:5-9). People who are at a critical stage in their lives should not be forced into military service. For example, men who have recently married, started building a house or started a business should be freed from service, because they would not be focused on the battle.[/FONT]
- [FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]The army of a Christian nation will not have offensive weapons (Deut 17:16). God forbade the king from acquiring great numbers of horses for himself. The reason for this was that horses and chariots, at that time, were offensive weapons used for attacking other nations. The defence of the nation would not need large numbers of them. A modern defence force should choose weapons that are best for defensive purposes. [/FONT]
- [FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]Only the civil government has authority to declare war. Individuals or companies do not have the authority to commit a nation to war. Any declaration of war must be in accordance with correct legal processes (Deut 20:10).[/FONT]
- [FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]War should always be the last resort. Before declaring war, the civil government should try every means possible to obtain peace (Deut 20:10). We should never forget the horror of war. It is always costly in terms of human suffering. Christians should never glorify war. While it is an honour for a man to give his life to defend his family and community, war is never an ideal solution. A Christian government should be prepared for war, if it is attacked, but it should also hope that it would never have to fight.[/FONT]
- [FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]A Christian nation should always seek Gods will before declaring war. A nation going to war, because it thinks it is right, is being presumptuous (Deut 1:41-44). Presumption is a terrible sin. If the war has Gods blessing, the army is more likely to have success.[/FONT]
- [FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]A Christian government should only declare war if it thinks it has a reasonable chance of success. Jesus said that before a king goes to war, he should sit down and consider whether he can match the army that is coming against him. If not he will send a delegation to ask for terms of peace (Luke 14:31-32), even if this involves a loss of freedom. For Christians freedom is not an absolute value. It may be better to lose freedom to govern, than to lose a large number of lives in an unsuccessful defence. In fact, because Jesus has set us free, we cannot lose our freedom.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]Two things should always be remembered,[/FONT]
- [FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]Christianity can survive under extremely hostile environments. It was born in the hostile world of the Roman Empire. In our own time, Christianity has blossomed under the hostility of both the Soviet Union and Communist China. Therefore, Christianity will never be dependent on winning a war for its survival. If a Christian government has no hope of defending against attack, it should surrender, knowing that Christianity will survive.[/FONT]
- [FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]It is God who determines the appointed times of the nations and the boundaries of there habitations. (Acts 17:26, cf Job 12:23, Deut 32:8) If a nation is invaded by another and this is not Gods will, he will not allow the situation to last long. For example, after the Second World War, the Russian Empire took control of most of Eastern Europe. However, because this was contrary to Gods will, that empire had collapsed within fifty years. If a nation is unable to defend itself, all is not lost; God will have his way in the end.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]Counting the cost of war, is not just a matter of estimating how many soldiers will be lost. The full cost of the war should be counted. There are generally very few winners in war. The cost for the families of those who die is enormous. For the soldiers who survive the cost can also be high. Many will have injuries that blight their lives. Worse still, war has a desensitising effect on its participants, and good men can be drawn into doing great evil. They will have to live with there consciences. War is also an enormous waste of economic resources. There are actually very few situations serious enough to justify the enormous costs of war.[/FONT]
- [FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]Deut 20:1-5 declares that a small army with God on its side can beat a large well-armed one. A good example of this is Gideon, who defeated a large Midianite army with 300 unarmed men (Judges 7). However, this promise should not be used as a justification for foolish wars.[/FONT]
- [FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]Total war, as it has been practised in this last century, is prohibited by the Bible. Those engaged in war are prohibited from attacking and damaging the land (Deut 20). The same protection would apply to women and children. Non-combatants should also be protected.[/FONT]
- [FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]This prohibition makes nuclear war unacceptable. Nuclear weapons would harm the land and non-combatants. The same principle would rule out many modern weapons. Only weapons which can be targeted at combatants or other weapons can be used by a Christian nation. On the other hand, anti-ballistic missile defence systems may be justified, because they are defensive.[/FONT]
- [FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]Military alliances are common in the modern world. However these are forbidden over and over again in the Bible. A Christian nation has a covenant with God. It cannot be totally committed to God, and place its faith in another nation for defence (Is 31:1-3). Therefore, defence alliances are not an option for a Christian nation.[/FONT]
- [FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]God determines the appointed times of the nations and the timing of their rule. (Acts 17:26). No nation has the authority to invade another nation to change its government (even if it is evil). A nation cannot even be invaded to establish democracy. (Democracy must come from the hearts of the people, it cannot be enforced from the outside.) Most attempts by great powers to establish "better" government by force in other nations have failed, because the spiritual forces that control the nation have not been defeated (Dan 10:13).[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]The principles outlined here allow a nation to defend itself, but there are very severe restrictions on which methods may be used. Likewise there are very strict conditions which must be fulfilled before war may be justified. Almost all modern conflicts would fail to meet these conditions. The Bible recognises the horror of war. There are probably very few situations that would justify the cost of war. It should be an extremely rare event.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]The current war in Afghanistan does not fit with these principles. The people who organised the attack on the World Trade Centre, committed a dreadful crime and should be punished as criminals. However, the nation of Afghanistan did not attack the United States. The Taliban did not attack the United States. Afghanistan may be harbouring the criminals who organised the attack, but that is not a justification for war. We may dislike the Taliban intensely, but that does not justify war against them. The United States does not have the right to determine who should govern Afghanistan. (The Taliban gained power through victory in a civil war. This is the same way that the current federal system in the United States was established). The United States is not defending itself against an attack by Afghanistan, so it is not justified in attacking Afghanistan.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]The methods of warfare being used in Afghanistan cannot be justified either. Bombs that destroy the land and can kill and maim civilians are forbidden by Deuteronomy 20. The alliance with the ungodly men of the Northern Alliance is also contrary to the Scriptures.[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]November 23, 2001[/FONT]
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Ron McKenzie [send him mail] is an economist in Christchurch, New Zealand. He is also a Presbyterian minister.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]Copyright © 2001 LewRockwell.com[/FONT]
)... we are commanded to care for the widows and the orphans. This could apply to much, even with war. Example, THIS war is about the defenseless, no doubt many being widows and orphans. It's a long stretch, but it's true. You asked about the defenseless. No doubt if I saw a child being beat by a parent and I got in the middle to try and stop it, and even if it ended in the attacker's head smashed on the sidewalk... I sure hope it wouldn't be held against me in heaven. Same thing with war. The child can't defend itself. Iraq can't defend itself, Israel can't defend itself. It's up to us to make sure we love our enemies, but "turn the other cheek" doesn't mean let them walk all over you. Jesus got angry, a righteous anger. Because I "love my enemies" DOES NOT MEAN I will allow my enemies to harm my children, my brothers, my parents, my friends, my aunt (whom I support this war in memory of).
