Beginning of War: Introduction to Holy War, Just War, Nonviolent Resistance, and Pacifism
When and how should Christians fight in war? How do we apply the teaching of Jesus to love your enemy? When is killing another human justified? These are questions that Christians have struggled with since the church’s beginning. As you think about the U.S. Civil War, the answers are often not easy. Church history reveals that the followers of Jesus fall mainly into one of four positions: holy war, just war, nonviolent resistance, or pacifism.
Holy war is defined when God commands the war for His glory and purpose. The soldiers of God are executing His justice. Because it is the judgment of God, noncombatants may be killed along with enemy combatants. The enemies are nonbelievers whose wickedness had reached a point requiring judgment. The Old Testament battles for the land of Israel are an example of Holy War.
The Just War Theory is a tradition that defines when and how the church participates in war. A just war is determined by the below criteria:
1. Just Cause – There must be a just and proper reason for going to war. Some of the justifiable reasons include self-defense, protecting the innocent (e.g., preventing genocide), restoring human rights wrongly denied, and assisting an ally in their self-defense.
2. Proportionate Cause – The good of going to war must outweigh the destruction and death that will be caused by warfare. In other words, going to war must prevent more evil and suffering than it is expected to cause.
3. Right Intention – Our reasons and motives for engaging in warfare must noble and in line with the ethic of Christian love. We can go to war to right a wrong or restore a just peace but not to restore our “national pride” or to seek revenge against an enemy.
4. Right Authority – War can only be authorized by a legitimate governing authority. This means it has to be a governing authority we would recognize as fitting the criteria of Romans 13. But it also means that the proper governing authority has actual sovereign authorization to engage in war. For example, the President of the United States has the proper authority to initiate warfare against Canada while the governor of North Dakota does not.
5. Reasonable Chance of Success – The initiation of warfare brings violence, pain, and suffering. This cost is only worth paying if it will, as we noted, outweigh the destruction and death that will be caused by warfare. If there is no reasonable chance of success in warfare there can be no reasonable chance of using warfare to restore a just peace.
6. Last Resort – Engaging in warfare must be the last reasonable and workable option for addressing problems. Any peaceful alternatives, such as diplomacy or non-violent political pressure, must first be exhausted before going to war.
Nonviolent resistance defines a position where Christians are allowed to participate in war only in noncombatant roles. The rightness of the war is inconsequential. The goal is to show the love of Jesus to those on both sides of the conflict and work for peace. Christians who volunteer as medics, chaplains, and other noncombatant military roles are examples of nonviolent resistance.
Pacifism is a position that all war is wrong for all people. Any participation in war is against God’s will for any Christian. Pacifist seek to stop the horrors of war by refusing to participate and calling for both sides to end the hostility.
What is Your Worldview?
Many Christians do not fall neatly into any single category. Some believe all are valid. Holy war was used by God in the Old Testament. Pacifism reminds us continually on the horrors of war causing the just war theorist to really consider if war is worth the cost. The people who believe in nonviolent resistance must do all they can to prevent war and heal the wounds after the war. Some fall between just war and nonviolent action. As we study the scriptures, make note of the following questions.
- What is your worldview? Does it align with scripture?
- Do the good always win in war and the bad always lose?
- Is it better to fight a war God’s way and lose or win with no rules?
- Which war position does this scripture support?
- Can the scripture be applied in a modern war? Why or why not?
- Does history support your worldview?
- Can a local church practically implement your worldview of war?
- Can a church in the enemy country implement your worldview of war?
Discussion Questions
Review: Genesis 4:8-12
1. According to verse 10, what does God hear from victims of violence?
2. According to verses 11-12, what is Cain’s punishment for killing his brother?
Review: Genesis 6:5-8
3. When did God first kill outside of a natural process?
Review: Genesis 9:5-6
4. When did God give the commandment to kill murderers?
5. Why do you think God did not give the command at the death Able or some other time before the flood?
6. According to verse 6, what was the reason God gave why a murderer must be put to death?
7. What do you think would happen to a society that did not punish murderers?
Review: Genesis 14:11-24
8. According to verse 14, why did Abraham engage in battle?
9. According to verses 13-15, what tactics did he use to when the battle?
10. According to verses 18-20, how does the scripture show God’s support for Abraham’s battle?
11. How is Melchizedek different from the other kings from the beginning of Genesis 14? See Hebrews 7:2
Review: Genesis 15:13-16
11. How does the Bible justify the coming war with the Amorites?
Summary
Old Testament verses can be hard to apply to modern war. However, since we know that God does not change, we should be able to gather some basic principles.
- God hears the from the dead that are unjustly killed
- God is sovereign and may choose to destroy wickedness through either supernatural events and/or other nations
- God waits till wickedness of a nation reaches a full measure before destroying it
- Killing and murder are not the same
- Societies are responsible to punish murderers
- Societies that do not act justly eventually put their whole society at risk
From the first texts of the Bible, we can see the merciful attributes of God with Cain, and His patience with both the earth and the Amorites. He delays His wrath for centuries till wickedness reaches a point of judgement. We can also see His wrath and requirement to act justly towards wickedness. Once a society reaches a level of wickedness, He will destroy every man, woman, child.
In the same story that God introduces war, we also see a glimpse of a king that is different from all the other kings. A foreshadow of a coming king of peace. He is a king that serves bread and wine. A king that is a priest before God. A king that does not take part in the wars of this earth. A king over Jerusalem. A king that blesses God’s people. God’s people will tithe their blessings to this king.
Looking ahead: We will start to examine verses pertaining to the regulation of war in the Old Testament. Deuteronomy 20
Exercises
- Pray to be open to whatever the Lord may reveal through His scriptures no matter the social, political, or economic cost.
- Take a blank sheet of paper. Draw a horizontal and vertical line to divide the page in quarters. Label each quarter with a Christian war position. As you go through verses in the coming weeks, categorize them into a position.
- How did violence continue in the line of Cain in Genesis 4?
- Review Genesis 11:1-9, how does God again use nonviolent force to punish mankind?
- Review Hebrews 6:20-8:6, how does Melchizedek point towards Jesus?
- What laws do you believe a modern soldier should follow when going to war?
References
Carter, Joe. A brief introduction to the just war tradition: Jus ad bellum. https://erlc.com/resource-library/articles/a-brief-introduction-to-the-just-war-tradition-jus-ad-bellum
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Thoughts of War 