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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | How do we respond to war as Christians? | Deut 7:2 | Morant61 | 23687 | ||
Greetings Martha! Where exactly in the Bible does it say that war is evil? The reason I ask is because this is a common assumption, but it isn't based on Scripture. We can honestly debate whether or not war is approriate, but the simple fact that God commanded wars in the Old Testament makes it clear that war is not inherently evil. Even in the New Testament, there is no command to never go to war. While I agree with you that on a personal relational level we ought to love and be patient. There does seem to be justification on a national level for war, especially in self-defense. For instance, suppose that the current terroist groups were successful in their call for a Holy War against America. Don't you think that it would be justified to defend our nation against those who would come in and force us to worship their way? I look forward to hearing from you! Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |
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2 | How do we respond to war as Christians? | Deut 7:2 | jlpangilinan | 23752 | ||
Tim Your Question:"Where exactly in the Bible does it say that war is evil?" If you want to find it "word by word" you cannot find it I sure. But to defind it is evil maybe I could show you some passages I know that in the time of Old testament God through Moses commanded people of Israel to go to war in order to protect thier faith (JEWISH) because at that time only JEWISH people worship the true GOD. If we recall that when Babylons invaded Israel Daniel and other people of Israel force to worship Idols. There is the reason why Israel has to do battle against the nations that not worshiping the true God. But in the time of Jesus Christ we have now part of the commonwealth of Israel: Eph 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: We are now even Gentiles worshiping the same God. There are no reason to go to war against each other. If war is really not an evil act why Jesus Christ ordered us not to fight back? Instead He commanded to flee to mountains: Lu 21:20 ¶ And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Lu 21:21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. He also taught soldier "to do violence to no man" meaning Jesus Christ dosn't want violence and war include many violence. Lu 3:14 And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.1 2 He (Jesus) never encouarage anyone to go to war or to fighback. Some passages that will explain that war is evil. Jas 4:1 ¶ From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Jas 4:2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. with that passages, if lusts desire to kill is still not evil for you, what can I say is I dont think so. Another example: Re 20:8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. Re 20:9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. Re 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. Gog and magog will do "battle" against to the beloved city. Battle is very the same as war. At Re 20:10 it was mentioned, "And the devil that deceived them" who decieved the gog and Magog to do war against the beloved city? THE DEVIL! so if the devil who decieve them to go to war meaning THE WAR IS EVIL in this particular time. I dont think if the devil decieve them and we call them HOLY? Thank you, Johnny |
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3 | How do we respond to war as Christians? | Deut 7:2 | Morant61 | 23769 | ||
Greetings Johnny! It is good to hear from you! I really don't want to revive the long debate that occured on the forum in the recent past over this kind of issue, so allow me to simply make a few comments. 1) There isn't a verse anywhere in the Bible that says that "war" is evil. 2) God has commanded wars in the past. We know this from Scripture. We also know that God is holy, so He could not command anyone to do anything which is evil no matter what the reason. 3) We know that as Christians we are to seek peace in our personal relationships and in our national ones as well. 4) We know that war can be done for evil reasons. 5) We know that Rom. 13:4 says that God has granted governments the right to use the sword to bring punishment upon evil doers. 6) In light of all this, I simply don't agree that war in and of itself is necessarily evil. Are some wars evil? Yes, because they are committed for evil reasons. But, others aren't when they are done for righteous reasons. For instance, how could a war meant to stop Hitler from killing 6 million innocent people be described as evil? The Scriptures you refer to simply don't make your case for the following reasons: a) Eph. 2:12: If war is evil, then war to defend Israel's faith is also evil. The reason would not change the fact that war is evil. No matter the reason, God could not have commanded war. Therefore, in light of this and the fact that not one Scripture says that war is necessarily evil, war must not always be evil. b) Luke 21:20-21: These individuals were told to flee because the fall of Jerusalem was a judgement of God because of their sin and could not be stopped by war. So, they are told to flee to spare their lives. Those who believed God and obeyed would be spared. Those who didn't would perish. But, nothing in this passage says that war is evil. In fact, God used the Romans to bring judgement upon Jerusalem. So, was He responsible for a evil act? c) Luke 3:14: The word that your version translates as "do violence to no man" is a word which means "to extort money or intimidate." It was common practice for soilders to abuse their position of power. So, when they asked John what they should do to escape the coming judgement, he basically told them not to abuse their power or extort money from others, but to be content with their wages. Again, nothing here is said about war and it's essential nature. d) James 4:1-2: This passage probably refers to individual fights and quarreles, but even if it does refer to national wars it never says that war is evil. It simply states that most wars are caused by evil desires. We know this from experience. But, again, this never says that all war is evil because God could not command us to do something which is evil. e) Rev. 20:8-10: Satan deceived people into going to war against Jerusalem. They went to war for the wrong reasons, but again this passage doesn't say that all war is evil. I went into such detail to make a point. Should we avoid war? Yes! Should a Christian nation be involved in agressive wars designed to take territory? No! But, it simply isn't Biblical to say that all war is evil. Scripture allows individuals and nations to defend themselves. Scripture records that God has commanded nations to go to war in the past (whether He does now or not can be debated), since God cannot do evil, war cannot be inherently evil. Now, since it is Thanksgiving, allow me to make a positive statement. I am thankful for all of my forum friends, like you, who are committed to God's word and living for Him. I am thankful for the great nation that we live in. Is it perfect? NO! But, it is the greatest nation in the history of the world. It is great in power and in freedom. I am also thankful for all the men and women over the years who have fought to give us these freedoms. I am thankful for the men and women right now who are fighting to protect us from the cowards who would kill innocent men, women, and children. Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |
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4 | How do we respond to war as Christians? | Deut 7:2 | jlpangilinan | 23802 | ||
Tim, Before my statement I did a clarification that If you find the word "war is evil" in the bible you never find it. But to define it we can define that war is evil. Tim to simplify the issue. 1.For me really war is evil, my question to you now tim is what really the root why we wars? Do you think it is not becuase of Evil? It is right God commanded Israel to go to war, because there is evil behind thier enemies. Those people that trying to invade Israel are idols worshipers. But if there is no evil do you think those people will do war against Israel? If there is evil behind wars, meaning war is evil! Because I dont think there is war if there is no evil behind it. 2. If there is no evil, who do you think will go to war to protect themeselves to any invader or will try to invade Israel, so do you think God will still commanded Israel to go war without an enemy? 3. If there is no evil, who do you think will put to hitler an evil heart to kill 6 million innocent people? do you think it is God? I dont think God still create wars if there is no Evil. Meaning behind every wars there is evil. Because if there is no evil Im sure there is no war. That is the reason that my difinition of war is evil. Your are right! We cannot find a single word in the bible that "war is evil" but you can define it, becuase if there is no evil, we all sure there is no war. And I am really sure that God will not create any wars against anyone! I sure He will not happy watching His people killing each other and He is the one Behind those wars! otherwise He is a crazy god. God bless, Johnny God bless, Johnny |
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5 | How do we respond to war as Christians? | Deut 7:2 | Morant61 | 23817 | ||
Greetings Johnny! Thanks for the clarification! I think I understand what you are saying now! Wars are caused by evil! That I would agree with. My only concern was the statement "war is evil" makes it sound like even those who are defending themselves are committing an evil act, or that those who went to war because told them to were committing an evil act. But, if you are simply saying that evil is the root cause of all war, I would agree with you! :-) Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |
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