FOR WAR

1. A preacher I know once made this statement in a bulletin article:

2. At the present time I do not know of anyone in the congregation who is:

3. Going through a divorce

4. Is about to get a divorce,

5. Has recently been divorced,

6. Or is asking questions about divorce and remarriage.

7. This brother than made his point.

8. He said, “Because divorce is not affecting anyone in this place I am going to speak on this topic.”

THERE ARE TIMES WHEN IT IS GOOD TO DEAL WITH A SUBJECT WHEN NO ONE IS THINKING ABOUT IT. WHILE THIS CANNOT BE DONE EVERYTIME, THIS IS ONE OPTION THAT IS SOMETIMES AVAILABLE TO PREACHERS.

A. Tonight and next week I plan to exercise this option.

B. Our country is not currently involved in a war.

C. Our military is sometimes involved in skirmishes, but we are not at war.

D. Thus, now is a good time to think about war and Christianity.

E. We may raise and answer questions like,

i). May a Christian serve in the armed forces?

ii). May Christian go to war for his country and kill someone in the performance of his duties?

2. Before I tread very far into this area I must make state some things.

A. Many brethren now and in the past have had strong convictions about combat.

B. Some have insisted that Christians have a right to fight in a war.

C. Others have insisted that Christians have no right to take lives during a military conflict.

D. In an assembly of this size both viewpoints are surely represented.

3. What is said tonight and next week will be a little unusual.

4. Sermons are often designed to change minds and redirect lives.

5. I am not doing to try and prove either position on the war question.

6. It is not my intent to convince anyone of either position is right.

7. I am doing go do my best to argue both sides of this question.

8. The final conclusions will be yours.

9. Tonight I am going to argue that Christians do have the right to engage in combat.

10. Next week I will argue the view that says that Christians are forbidden from taking lives in war.

11. PROOF THAT CHRISTIANS HAVE THE RIGHT TO, DURING A TIME OF WAR, TO USE WEAPONS TO DESTROY A SINGLE PERSON OR A GROUP OF PEOPLE CLASSIFIED AS AN ENEMY COMES FROM GEN. 14.

A. In this passage we learn that Lot was taken captive.

B. Abraham had some men and these men were armed (verse 13).

C. Abraham had a sizeable force (318 people).

D. This force, though not as large as a modern army, was an aggressive force.

E. It was an armed force that took the lives of people who were enemies.

F. Verses 14-15 specifically say that Abraham and his men killed people.

G. After Abraham and his men destroyed these enemies a commendation was given (verses 17-20).

H. As these verses are read please notice the word slaughter. READ.

I. A man of God killed recognized enemies and he was commended.

12. Some may wish to say, “This was the Old Testament; we live under the New Testament.”

13. Read Rom .15:4.

14. We are to learn from the Old Testament, and Gen. 14 teaches that enemies may be killed.

15. Taking the lives of certain people is clearly authorized in the Bible.

A. Think about the Christians who serve on juries where people are charged with capital crimes.

B. Few if any argue that Christians cannot serve on a jury.

C. Most agree that in some cases juries have the right to condemn people to death.

D. War is not too different from condemning a man to death.

E. In each case there is a bad person (either an enemy or a criminal).

F. In each case the person is supposed to die.

G. I recognize that the criminal may not die by the hand of the juror.

H. The convicted criminal may not die by the weapons used on enemy soldiers.

I. However, the basic elements in each situation are the same.

J. There is a bad person (or a group of bad people) and those who are evil die.

K. If we support capital punishment for wrongdoers we may take the life of wrongdoers in war.

16. When people say that Christians cannot participate in warfare they are inconsistent.

A. This inconsistency is seen in the jury analogy plus the church.

B. Christians fellowship those who are police officers.

C. Some of us have been in congregations where fellow Christians were cops.

D. Who has ever found a congregation that will withdraw from a policeman?

E. What congregation has said to police officers, “Get a new job or we are disfellowshipping you?”

F. Police officers sometimes shoot people. At times cops end lives.

G. Suppose that an intruder breaks into our house and threatens us.

H. A Christian policeman arrives at our home and shots the intruder.

I. Would an eldership withdraw from the policeman?

J. How can it be right for a policeman to kill an intruder but wrong for intruders on the battlefield?

K. If one is right the other is right.

17. Consider too what happens when our nation goes to war.

A. People who work in the factories help kill people.

B. Someone who makes ball-bearings is making material for weapons like tanks.

C. Those in the factories make springs that are used in guns.

D. Factory workers produce parts for bombs, missiles, and other weapons.

E. Though they may not be holding the gun that kills the enemy, they participate in the process.

F. Some Christians make parts of weapons (or weapons) that take lives.

G. By extension some are involved in any war our nation engages in.

H. Not only do some work in these factories, they thank God for their jobs!

I. The factory worker may not be pulling the trigger, but he helped build the gun used to kill someone.

J. If the Christian is authorized to help build the gun or weapon he can fight.

18. What about the people in the medical field?

A. Soldiers are wounded and need medical attention.

B. What do the doctors and nurses do?

C. They patch people up so soldiers can return to battle.

D. We may think that this work is kind and good.

E. Are doctor and nurses really being humane?

F. Is it humane when a doctor brings a person back to health so they can return to the battle?

G. Is it right to make people better so they can return to war and kill again?

H. If it is right to be a doctor it is right to be a soldier.

I. Both occupations are ultimately ways to kill people.

19. SOMEONE MAY SAY, “ALL BUT ONE OF THE ARGUMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE HAVE NOT BEEN BASED UPON SCRIPTURE. THEY ARE WORTHY OF CONSIDERATION, BUT WHAT ABOUT REFERENCES FROM THE BIBLE?

A. This is a fair question and the first reference will come from Lk. 22:36, 38.

B. These verses are very important.

i). In the first century weapons were not as advanced as ours.

ii). The weapons were still effective, but they were not technologically advanced.

iii). A common weapon in the first century was the sword.

iv). This was an instrument of death.

v). Jesus told his disciples to buy swords – verse 36.

20. What the Lord meant by, “It is enough” is not completely clear.

A. Did he mean that two swords were all they needed?

B. Or did he mean, “We have spoken enough about this matter.”

C. Those who oppose Christians in combat accept the first explanation.

D. This explanation does not fit in with the rest of the context.

E. Jesus gave a specific command: “Let hem who does not have a sword buy one.”

F. Even if a person needed to sell their cloak they were to buy a sword.

21. What Thayer says about the word sword in Lk. 22 is instructive.

A. He said, “as a weapon for making or repelling an attack.”

B. Jesus told His disciples to buy a device that could make or repel an attack.

C. Thus, people have the right to defend themselves against an aggressor.

D. If this is right for an individual it is right for a nation.

E. From the Lord’s own mouth there is authority for a Christian to engage in combat.

22. The Bible references supporting a Christian’s right to find to fight do not end here.

A. 1 Pet. 2:13-14 is next.

B. Peter provided some general information about governments.

C. Governments are to punish the guilty and dispense justice.

D. To do this governments have the right to take human life.

E. 1 Pet. 2:13-14.

F. If governments have the right to take human life, this authority also extends to times of war.

G. Because punishing wrongdoers is right Christians may participate in the process.

H. We can help our government carry out God’s will.

23. Another passage to support Christians in combat is Jn. 15:13.

A. Jesus said, (quote).

B. Jesus did not specify how this might be done.

C. One way to fulfill this passage is during a time of war.

D. If we love our friends we may put our lives on the battlefield to keep them safe.

E. Going to war may protect our friends, family, and fellow Christians.

F. Few enlist because they enjoy destroying things.

G. People enlist during a time of war because they love their country and fellow man.

H. People sacrifice a lot (sometimes their life) to demonstrate their love.

I. This is consistent with Jn. 15:13.

24. In Rom. 13 Paul said several things about civil government.

A. The verse I wish to direct our attention to is verse 4.

25. Paul said that the government is “an avenger of wrath to him that doeth evil.”

26. As an avenger the government “bears a sword” (a deadly weapon).

A. Governments are God’s tool to take care of evil men.

B. Whether this is one man or a nation of evil people, governments are to deal with evil people.

C. Governments may carry out this function by using war.

D. If a Christian participates in this process how can it be said they are in the wrong?

E. How can a child of God be part of a system given by God and be in error?

27. What is said in Rom. 13 is in harmony with the conversion of Cornelius.

A. This man became a Christian but nothing is said about a career change.

B. Jesus helped a centurion at Capernaum but there is no hint this man was told to change jobs.

28. Some who wonder about the war question frequently ask about two other New Testament passages.

A. The first of these passages is Rom. 12:19.

B. Rom. 12:19 says that vengeance belongs to God.

C. The other passage is Mt. 5:44 – “love our enemies.”

D. Some believe that Rom. 12:19 means Christians cannot participate in war.

E. Romans 12 deals with personal relationships.

F. This passage forbids private retaliation.

G. War does not involve private relationships and personal retaliation.

H. Mt. 5:44 is also not a suitable text to reject Christian warfare.

I. If a Christian goes to war it is not because of hatred.

J. Neither is it a lack of love for one’s fellowman.

K. Rather, the love for safety, security, and the protection of others in one’s nation is the motivation.

L. The Christian does not relish war, but if war occurs, he is left with no choice.

M. Friends and family must be put above an aggressor.

29. Conclusion

30. You have just heard a variety of arguments to support Christians in combat.

31. Next week the opposing viewpoint will be presented.

32. No matter which side is the most convincing to us, we do know this.

33. People have disagreed on this issue and they will continue to do so.

34. This is okay. The matter does not affect our salvation.

35. We must, however know, believe, and obey, God’s plan for salvation.