Memorial Day 2006

It Is Biblical to Fight a Just War

Ecclesiastes 3:8

 

Jonathan Edwards is primarily known for his great sermon, “Sinners in the hands of an angry God”; but I want to quote from another of Edwards’ sermons.  This sermon from I Kings 8:44-45 gives us a Biblical perspective of war and the necessity of it.  Here are a few quotes from that message.  “A people of God may be called of God to go forth to war against their enemies.”  Edwards held that military force was justified when the “rights and privileges of a people are threatened,” or “when the preservation of the community or publick requires it.”  Gerald R. McDermott summarizes Edwards’ views on war: “If ‘injurious and bloody enemies’ molest and endanger society, it is the ‘duty’ of government to undertake that society’s defense by the use of force.  This follows ‘from the Law of self-Preservation’” (74).

On September 11, 2001, our nation was cruelly and viciously attacked.  I believe it would be sin for us not to stand up for the thousands killed in this attack.  The German preacher Martin Luther said: “War for the sake of war is sin, but war for the sake of defense is duty.  The power of temporal rulers is to be turned against the wicked, to hold them in check and keep them at peace, and to protect and save the righteous” (Brown 3).

It is good to quote these men, but it is better to look to the Word of God as we look at what God thinks of war.

 

I.        THE CAUSE OF WAR– JAMES 4:1-2

A.       Because men’s hearts are filled with evil, there is war.  Because men like Hitler, Mussolini, Saddam Hussein, and others lust for power, there is war.

1. Wicked men terrorize peace loving people and the peace seekers must fight to protect peace.

2. Evil men develop weapons of war so those who love God and peace must fight with weapons of war to bring about peace.

B.       When the enemies of righteousness wage war against innocent people, it is the right and duty of those who want peace to wage war.

1. Believers are to stand up for right, to defend life, to defend liberty, to defend private property against evil attacks.

2. I want to give reasons for waging a just war:

a. A war of defense against evil aggression.

b. A war in which we go to the aid of an ally, or a weaker nation, defending and helping him defeat an evil aggressor.

c. Civil wars are just when they are fought to overthrow tyrannical and oppressive rulers or to put down an evil insurrection.

d. A war to recover things taken away by violence by another people.

 

II.          WHAT ABOUT THOSE WHO MUST KILL OTHERS IN THE COURSE OF WAR?

A.       Those who kill in the line of duty, this would include military service and Law enforcement, are not murderers; they do not commit murder.  It is not murder to kill in the line of duty (Rm 13:1-5).

B.       Dr. Charles Stanley has this to say about war and killing: “But I can’t go to war because shooting the enemy would be murder, and the Bible says ‘you shall not murder’ (Ex 20:13).  Actually, when a man in combat shoots his enemy under the command of government, without personal hatred, he is not committing murder.  Instead, he is simply being obedient to the purpose for which he is fighting.... Many men had died on the battlefield without animosity toward anyone— They were fighting for a cause, defending or freeing their land.  Therefore, if called, it is a citizens national and biblical responsibility to defend his country” (3).

C.      When a duly constituted civil government calls men to arm and men fight and kill under the orders of their government, (in the US, the Commander in Chief is the President) the killing is not murder.

1. Government has the responsibility of promoting the peace, and at times to do so, war must be wages (II Tim 2:1-6).

2. Government is to punish evil doers (Rm 13:1-6, I Pt 2:13-15).

 

III.          BIBLE REASON AS TO WHY A JUST WAR IS NOT SINFUL

A.       Israel was commanded by God to wage war against Israel’s enemies, and God Himself went with them to give victory.

1. Judges 4:6-7; 6:14-16; I Chron 14:10-17.

2. Remember this, God cannot and will not command His people to do that which is inherently evil.