A justafiable War??

[StillSmallVoice]

no i do not because of what jesus taught. He taught that we should forgive those that would do evil to us. Also jesus taught us when he warshed the apostles feet that the servant cannot be higher than the master. And if we are no higher than our master how can we go to war? because jesus did not kill anyone he taught love and peace. he was the ultamate example
to how we should live that is why i do not belive in wars.

Thanks for your reply

 

[Rob]

The bible is actually pretty clear on this one IMHO. Yes the Bible instructs us to be passive and turn the other cheek. As Christians we should ask god to show the same forgiveness for our enemies as he gives us, shown when Jesus said "Father, forgive them,". The Bible also makes it clear that it is our job to defend the defend those who are defensless and holds us responsible if we don't care for those people.

Psa 82:1-8 <A Psalm of Asaph.> God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods. How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah. Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked. They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course. I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.
Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations.

There are also some other areas in the Bible that I believe support war in some instances but are not as clear so I won't even try. I believe it is our job as Christians to protect those who are unable to protect themselves, even if that means going to war.

 

[McQuacks]

Good post Rob.
I think there is such thing as a justifiable war. Even Jesus used war as an analogy in one of his sermons (Luke 14:31), and also said that there will be wars in the future, and that these things, "have to pass."
The Bible also says that before Jesus comes, the Gospel has to be preached to all nations. I wonder if war could be a means of spreading the gospel to other nations, and that's why Jesus says, "These things have to pass."
Whichever way you look at it, I do not think Jesus ever meant to take self-defense away from government when he said, "turn the other cheek." Indeed, he was speaking to people when he said that about not being prideful, but I doubt he intended for a nation to take that and then say, "So we won't defend ourselves. Let that country come on in and take us over, kill us, whatever. We'll just turn the other cheek."
That's my take. ;)
-McQ 8-)

 

[Quath]

I think the choices are bad. Wars are not for defense only.

I think wars are much more common than they should be. I think war should be the last option to be used to settle a dispute.

Quath

 

[WyldCyde]

you'd have to define more clearly just what you mean by the term 'JUST'... justice is a deep concept and hence why the debate over what is just and what is not.
All actions can be justified, whether that justification has the approval of God is another story.
If for an action to be biblically 'just' it needs to have the sanction of God then... one should ask if history shows any wars that had God's approval.
The Old Testament has many wars and battles which appear to have God's approval.
So one needs to determine what if anything has changed since the new covenant being enacted.

I believe there may be a difference between christians going to war over religious issues as compared to governments going into battle for defensive and offensive reasons.

Paul affirms that government has a clear role of punishing and bringing the sword to those who are unlawful... he does not endorse or encourage christians to use the sword to convert or punish enemies though.

We can easily agree that local police have jurisdiction to arrest a violent madman that is terrorizing a neighborhood... but is it then just for the government of one country to invade another country in order to subdue a tyrannical dictatorship.

I dont believe Iraq fits that case especially since for many reasons, one being that there are many other leaders around the world that are far worse than Suddam but the US is not invading those countries, heck the north koreans have blatantly starved and oppressed their own people, plus they've been openly doing nuclear testing but the US haven't invaded them... so even if a just war exists, which government is so righteous in their ways that they show no partiality in dishing out internal and global justice?

The lack of attaining perfect justice in our ways though does not mean we as men are unable to commit just acts, it is the determination of God who understands, sees and upholds all things that determines that which is justified. That said something that is justified doesn't mean it is good... sometimes it can just be repaying evil for evil which is what God has done many a time. see Isaiah 45.

Wyld