Are "War" and "Love" mutually exclusive? Are "War" and "Love" mutually exclusive?
In our Christian Walk today we are really for the first time in many years having to address our individual thoughts and beliefs on "war". One question recently posed by a group of my friends was "can a person kill in war and also love the individuals they are killing in war?" or stated in another way "can war and love be mutually inclusive?". In working through this question myself - I put together the following thoughts that you might find these thoughts useful as you form/validate your beliefs.
What is "war"? (1,9)
War is the use of arms and physical force by nations, countries, or other large-scale groups to compel an enemy (other nations, countries, or other large-scale groups) to comply with its desires.
What is a "just war"? (10,11)
In order for a war to be just, Thomas Aquinas states that three things are required:
- Requires Proper Authority - Romans 13:1-4
(Authority of the sovereign by whose command the war is to be waged.)
- Requires A Just Cause
(Namely that those who are attacked, should be attacked because they deserve it on account of some fault.)
- Requires Rightful Intention
(It is necessary that the belligerents should have a rightful intention, so that they intend the advancement of good, or the avoidance of evil.)
Based on this "just war" criteria, what could constitute a just war for a Christian? (12)
The use of arms and physical force between nations, countries, or other large-scale groups for the purpose of providing punishment for wrong/evil and the reestablishment of right/good. To quote Martin Luther from his letter to Assa Von Kram, "What else is war but the punishment of wrong and evil? Why does anyone go to war, except because he desires peace and obedience?".
- Requires Proper Authority (Just War Criteria: Nation/Country/Large Scale Group)
- Requires A Just Cause (Just War Criteria: Punishment Of Wrong/Evil And/Or Reestablishment Of Right/Good)
- Requires Rightful Intention (Just War Criteria: Desire For Peace Without Wrong/Evil)
Does God give governments the proper authority to conduct war? (3,8,10)
From the reading of Romans 13:1-4 and I Pet. 2:13–14, it appears that the sword has in fact been instituted by God to punish the evil, protect the good, and preserve peace. These passages provide powerful proof points that a government's pursuit of war (and the capital punishment (killing) associated with war) along with all the things that accompany wartime and martial law have been instituted by God.
Does God allow for the use of capital punishment as justice for wrong/evil? (2,4,5,13,14,15,17)
The issue of a Christian's involvement in war is an extension of the more primary question of capital punishment. In a certain sense war is capital punishment on a grand scale. It involves the civil magistrate's widespread use of power of the sword. From the reading of Genesis 2:17 it is clear cut that the initial punishment for any sin was instant death. Or, said in another way, originally all sin was regarded as a capital offense - with capital punishment being the divine judgment.
In Genesis 9:6 God made a covenant with Noah which proposes a new legislation for all mankind concerning the shedding of blood. This legislation states: "Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man. This is significant in that capital punishment for murder is built into Creation and presumably is binding as long as Creation is intact.
Though capital punishment was imposed as part of this new legislation, it was also circumscribed by other principles that were important to the entire justice process. Under this legislation, the rich were given no special privilege and two or three eyewitnesses were required (and their testimony had to agree). If the witnesses who testified in a capital trial were found guilty of perjury, the penalty for bearing false witness was itself death. With this being said - while there may be questions as to whether or not reforms need to take place in the assignment of capital punishment, capital punishment in principle appears to be sanctioned by God himself.
The bible also states that while a person should not kill another person (Exodus 20:13 - the sixth commandment) - there is a punishment for those who do (Exodus 21:12). Matthew Henry in his complete biblical commentary addresses this sixth commandment and it relation to killing in war as follows:
The sixth commandment concerns our own and our neighbour's life (v. 13): "Thou shalt not kill; thou shalt not do any thing hurtful or injurious to the health, ease, and life, of thy own body, or any other person's unjustly." This is one of the laws of nature, and was strongly enforced by the precepts given to Noah and his sons, Gen. 9:5, 6. It does not forbid killing in lawful war, or in our own necessary defence, nor the magistrate's putting offenders to death, for those things tend to the preserving of life; but it forbids all malice and hatred to the person of any (for he that hateth his brother is a murderer), and all personal revenge arising therefrom; also all rash anger upon sudden provocations, and hurt said or done, or aimed to be done, in passion: of this our Saviour expounds this commandment, Matthew 5:22. And, as that which is worst of all, it forbids persecution, laying wait for the blood of the innocent and excellent ones of the earth.
Does the administration of justice exclude love? (6,7,17)
From the reading of Luke 11:42 it appears that justice and love can be mutually inclusive - meaning you can do both at the same time (one does not exclude the other).
"Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone."
This statement seems very intuitive when viewed though the example of the parent administering punishment (justice) to a disobedient (wrong) child, while continuing to love the child. However, while it does seem counterintuitive when viewed through the example of a nation sending men to war to compel through force and ultimately death the will of another nation, the aforementioned logic based on the thought of biblical leaders and biblical texts should provide a framework for understanding how the execution of a just war by a government would not necessarily prevent those participants from loving those whom they are fighting.
Also, from a Just War perspective, while we could be called upon to administer justice to our enemies- even to the point of death - we are not relieved of the requirement to follow Jesus' guidance in Matthew 5:43-44 which states: Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.
What do I think?
While I absolutely understand that loving an enemy in war may not be easily accomplished, based on the evidence I have read I believe that:
- There is such a thing as a "Just War" for Christians.
- During a "Just War" Christians could in good faith execute guidance to enforce national desires upon the enemy - enforcement that may include the unfortunate task of killing.
- During a "Just War" Christians can reconcile justice and love - even if manifested in loving the enemies one has been charged with administering justice to as part of a nation's execution of a "Just War".
What do I want? (15,19)
I would hope that we all could be of one mind and live in peace and I look forward to that day when the realization of living in that complete peace occurs. I trust that God in his infinite wisdom considered all of the potential outcomes, comprehended each of our best interests as his children, and focused on his divine objectives for us individually and collectively when he established governments as authorities to administer the "sword" and established biblical considerations for capital punishment.
Even more than a world of peace, I would hope for "individual peace" - peace that individuals can experience through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. For it is through this Christ-centric peace that we have our best chance of world peace prior to his glorious return.
What are your thoughts? (18)
I would love to hear your thoughts and the reasons for those thoughts - as we can sharpen each others beliefs as we "study to show ourselves approved unto God, workmen that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth". (2 Timothy 2:15).
References:
- Definition Of War: A contest between nations or states, carried on by force, whether for defence, for revenging insults and redressing wrongs, for the extension of commerce, for the acquisition of territory, for obtaining and establishing the superiority and dominion of one over the other, or for any other purpose.
- Ethics Of Capital Punishment (Chapter 5 From Ethics And The Christian - RC Sproul
- Ethics Of War: Ethics And The Christian - RC Sproul
- Genesis 2:17: "But you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."
- Genesis 9:6: "Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man."
- Justice: The upholding of what is just, especially fair treatment and due reward in accordance with honor, standards, or law.
- Luke 11:42 "Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.
- I Pet. 2:13–14 13Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, 14or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.
- Purpose Of War: The purpose of war is to achieve an end state different and hopefully better than the beginning state-the reason for fighting.
- Romans 13:1-4: 1Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. 4For 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.
- Summa Theologica II-II, Question 40, On War, Thomas Aquinas / Dominican Friars Translation
- Whether Soldiers, Too, Can Be Saved, A Letter To Assa Von Kram From Dr. Martin Luther
- Exodus 20:13: Thou shalt not kill.
- Exodus 21:12: He that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death.
- Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 20
- Matthew 5:22: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
- Matthew 5:43-44: Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.
- 2 Timothy 2:15: Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
- 2 Corinthians 13:11: Finally, brothers, good-by. Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.
- John 15:15: I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
3:29:52 PM 
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