Recently – I have been challenged on my position against Christians fighting in wars. Actually – to say I have been challenged is being polite. I have been slandered. Because of this recent attack – I want to reaffirm my position against war.
Using the Old Testament to Justify War? Isn’t it obvious that New Testament brings in a new era to how men relate with God. We cannot use the Old Testament for forming our doctrine of war. When I see people doing this I cringe, because they don’t seem to realize that when God led the Jews to war – there was a prophet there declaring that God had directed them to war. They seem to ignore that we Christians are not part of the Old Covenant. They look to the Jews to justify war when its clear that Jesus told us no more eye for an eye or tooth for a tooth – and that we are to love and pray for our enemies.
Many want to use Ecclesiastes 3:8 to justify war – stating that there is a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.
Jesus called us to LOVE – all the Law hangs on love – the time for war will not come until He returns…
oh yes – I know He told us we weren’t worthy of Him unless we hated our mother and father, but that isn’t justification for war – it is a call to reject the old sinful ways and to follow Him… we are living under the New Covenant – this is a time for love – and as far as wars go – this is a time for us to to be as He was.
He came to glorify the Father. When Jesus was arrested He said He didn’t come to lead a rebellion – despite the fact that that was exactly what the Jews wanted the Messiah to do. The Apostles and the early Christians didn’t lead a rebellion either! They did one of two things when faced with the violent persecutions of Rome… the ran – or the died praying for their enemies. This was one of the ways they brought Glory to the Father! They loved to the point of being willing to die – actually praying for those killing them! Can you wrap your minds around that?! Today – after centuries of deception under the guise of a ‘Just War’ doctrine created by the Catholic Church we find that Christians have forgotten how our forefathers endured. Instead of trusting our Father to take up His wrath in His own way in His own time – we claim that God has ordained our actions and do it ourselves… There is absolutely no way we can claim we are glorifying God so long as we have the blood of our enemies on our hands. This truth drives people crazy – but to that all I do is remind them what Jesus said in John 17:14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. -if you get angry by hearing these words – maybe you should take the time to pray and study up on what you believe. Maybe – just maybe – the ‘world’ in you is screaming against the truth of Christ.
Some have argued “Romans 13 says we must obey the State!” but I ask, Since when did the laws of the State take precedence over God’s laws? Acts 5:29 states “We must obey God, rather then men”. If the government conflicts with God’s laws, we are called to follow God over men! Furthermore, Paul says to obey our governments because “The authorities that exist have been established by God” but if we are to follow that reasoning consistently, it means that the government of the other country that we are attacking has also been established by God for His purpose. Romans 13 does not address the issue of war at all. It simply tells us to be good citizens, obeying the laws of our country when they do not go against God’s principles. I’ve also heard one YT claim that the chapter says that the soldier is a minister of God – that isn’t what it says at all…
Some have said “But there will never be peace on Earth until Christ returns! Christ said there will be wars and rumors of wars…”
This is true – but Jesus didn’t tell us to participate in these wars. He was warning us that these were signs of the end…
Now lets look at a few other things that have been presented as proof texts to me…
Luke 22
35 Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?” “Nothing,” they answered.
36 He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.
37 It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.”
38 The disciples said, “See, Lord, here are two swords.”"That is enough,” he replied.
What is interesting about this passage is verse 37… verse 36 has Jesus telling them to get swords… verse 37 Jesus says And he was numbered with the transgressors’; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. and in verse 38 – the disciples come up with two swords and Jesus says – thats enough. Ok – lets think about this a second. Jesus is speaking during the Last Supper – so we know that there were several disciples with Him – presumably 11 as it would seem Judas had already left… He tells them they need to get swords – and then tells them that He must be numbered among the transgressors and that it was coming to pass… the disciples say – hey – we got two swords here – and Jesus said – thats enough? Enough for 11 men? Thats odd. Would you send 11 soldiers out to war with two riffles? That doesn’t seem to make any sense at all. So lets ask ourselves WHY Jesus told them to get swords. He doesn’t say its for self defense or for war – but instead He says what is written about Him must be fulfilled. How exactly do the two swords allow Him to be numbered among transgressors? I am not really sure – as elsewhere we are told the criminals on the cross fulfilled that passage… but regardless of what the other Gospels say – it seems clear that Jesus was saying that the disciples and their swords would allow Him to be numbered among the transgressors… and indeed – later on – as Jesus was being arrested Peter struck the ear of one of the guards – committing assault and actually attempting to circumvent the will of God by trying to stop the crucifixion of Christ.
But let us assume that the swords were for more conventional purposes. Lets assume that what people try to make this verse say is true. Lets say the swords were for war or self defense. If this is true – then it is amazing that nowhere else in the New Testament do we see or hear about these swords. Even in extra-Biblical accounts – the Apostles are not recorded using swords. In fact – as I have pointed out several times previously – the early Christians were pacifists! They didn’t use swords either! They ran from persecution or died praying for those killing them! We are so caught up in protecting our lands and our financial interests that we have forgotten the example of Jesus, Stephen, the Apostles, and the early Christians!
Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Could this be anymore clear? Paul, writing to Christians, states our struggle is NOT against flesh and blood… in other words – its not against other physically against other people –
What is our struggle against? against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
How do we fight in this struggle? We can’t fight physically if we are to believe that our struggle is not against flesh and blood – so we fight spiritually… rising above our urge to lash out with a fist – sword – or gun… and defeating wickedness with love…
This is a statement Paul wrote – and its amazing how so many of us are willing to ignore the flesh and blood part of this verse – as if its a meaningless footnote to be dismissed when its inconvenient. As far as I know – this is the only war God has ordained for Christians in the New Covenant… the Spiritual War…
This entry was posted on February 1, 2010, 2:07 am and is filed under Commentaries. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0.
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
War – Revisted
Recently – I have been challenged on my position against Christians fighting in wars. Actually – to say I have been challenged is being polite. I have been slandered. Because of this recent attack – I want to reaffirm my position against war.
Using the Old Testament to Justify War? Isn’t it obvious that New Testament brings in a new era to how men relate with God. We cannot use the Old Testament for forming our doctrine of war. When I see people doing this I cringe, because they don’t seem to realize that when God led the Jews to war – there was a prophet there declaring that God had directed them to war. They seem to ignore that we Christians are not part of the Old Covenant. They look to the Jews to justify war when its clear that Jesus told us no more eye for an eye or tooth for a tooth – and that we are to love and pray for our enemies.
Many want to use Ecclesiastes 3:8 to justify war – stating that there is a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.
Jesus called us to LOVE – all the Law hangs on love – the time for war will not come until He returns…
oh yes – I know He told us we weren’t worthy of Him unless we hated our mother and father, but that isn’t justification for war – it is a call to reject the old sinful ways and to follow Him… we are living under the New Covenant – this is a time for love – and as far as wars go – this is a time for us to to be as He was.
He came to glorify the Father. When Jesus was arrested He said He didn’t come to lead a rebellion – despite the fact that that was exactly what the Jews wanted the Messiah to do. The Apostles and the early Christians didn’t lead a rebellion either! They did one of two things when faced with the violent persecutions of Rome… the ran – or the died praying for their enemies. This was one of the ways they brought Glory to the Father! They loved to the point of being willing to die – actually praying for those killing them! Can you wrap your minds around that?! Today – after centuries of deception under the guise of a ‘Just War’ doctrine created by the Catholic Church we find that Christians have forgotten how our forefathers endured. Instead of trusting our Father to take up His wrath in His own way in His own time – we claim that God has ordained our actions and do it ourselves… There is absolutely no way we can claim we are glorifying God so long as we have the blood of our enemies on our hands. This truth drives people crazy – but to that all I do is remind them what Jesus said in John 17:14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. -if you get angry by hearing these words – maybe you should take the time to pray and study up on what you believe. Maybe – just maybe – the ‘world’ in you is screaming against the truth of Christ.
Some have argued “Romans 13 says we must obey the State!” but I ask, Since when did the laws of the State take precedence over God’s laws? Acts 5:29 states “We must obey God, rather then men”. If the government conflicts with God’s laws, we are called to follow God over men! Furthermore, Paul says to obey our governments because “The authorities that exist have been established by God” but if we are to follow that reasoning consistently, it means that the government of the other country that we are attacking has also been established by God for His purpose. Romans 13 does not address the issue of war at all. It simply tells us to be good citizens, obeying the laws of our country when they do not go against God’s principles. I’ve also heard one YT claim that the chapter says that the soldier is a minister of God – that isn’t what it says at all…
Some have said “But there will never be peace on Earth until Christ returns! Christ said there will be wars and rumors of wars…”
This is true – but Jesus didn’t tell us to participate in these wars. He was warning us that these were signs of the end…
Now lets look at a few other things that have been presented as proof texts to me…
Luke 22
35 Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?” “Nothing,” they answered.
36 He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.
37 It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.”
38 The disciples said, “See, Lord, here are two swords.”"That is enough,” he replied.
What is interesting about this passage is verse 37… verse 36 has Jesus telling them to get swords… verse 37 Jesus says And he was numbered with the transgressors’; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. and in verse 38 – the disciples come up with two swords and Jesus says – thats enough. Ok – lets think about this a second. Jesus is speaking during the Last Supper – so we know that there were several disciples with Him – presumably 11 as it would seem Judas had already left… He tells them they need to get swords – and then tells them that He must be numbered among the transgressors and that it was coming to pass… the disciples say – hey – we got two swords here – and Jesus said – thats enough? Enough for 11 men? Thats odd. Would you send 11 soldiers out to war with two riffles? That doesn’t seem to make any sense at all. So lets ask ourselves WHY Jesus told them to get swords. He doesn’t say its for self defense or for war – but instead He says what is written about Him must be fulfilled. How exactly do the two swords allow Him to be numbered among transgressors? I am not really sure – as elsewhere we are told the criminals on the cross fulfilled that passage… but regardless of what the other Gospels say – it seems clear that Jesus was saying that the disciples and their swords would allow Him to be numbered among the transgressors… and indeed – later on – as Jesus was being arrested Peter struck the ear of one of the guards – committing assault and actually attempting to circumvent the will of God by trying to stop the crucifixion of Christ.
But let us assume that the swords were for more conventional purposes. Lets assume that what people try to make this verse say is true. Lets say the swords were for war or self defense. If this is true – then it is amazing that nowhere else in the New Testament do we see or hear about these swords. Even in extra-Biblical accounts – the Apostles are not recorded using swords. In fact – as I have pointed out several times previously – the early Christians were pacifists! They didn’t use swords either! They ran from persecution or died praying for those killing them! We are so caught up in protecting our lands and our financial interests that we have forgotten the example of Jesus, Stephen, the Apostles, and the early Christians!
Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Could this be anymore clear? Paul, writing to Christians, states our struggle is NOT against flesh and blood… in other words – its not against other physically against other people –
What is our struggle against? against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
How do we fight in this struggle? We can’t fight physically if we are to believe that our struggle is not against flesh and blood – so we fight spiritually… rising above our urge to lash out with a fist – sword – or gun… and defeating wickedness with love…
This is a statement Paul wrote – and its amazing how so many of us are willing to ignore the flesh and blood part of this verse – as if its a meaningless footnote to be dismissed when its inconvenient. As far as I know – this is the only war God has ordained for Christians in the New Covenant… the Spiritual War…
This entry was posted on February 1, 2010, 2:07 am and is filed under Commentaries. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.