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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Is war biblical? | John 18:36 | DocTrinsograce | 203894 | ||
Hi, Tamara... This is why people call it the just war theory. These are principles drawn from Scripture, but they do not consist in explicit commands. We know, for example, from Romans 13 that God grants authority to the state to take the lives of wrongdoers. However, we are not given precise parameters for how and when this is to be carried out. Over time, the Christian world has debated this question, adjusting their behavior accordingly. We've adjusted the means of administering death and the circumstances. Sometimes we've done that in an effort to better implement the principles of the Word. Sometimes we've done it contrary to the principles of the Word. One idea that has been kicked about by theologians for a long time, is the interpretation of Romans 13. We know from that passage that states are to punish evil deeds and reward good deeds. But what happens when a state punishes good deeds and rewards evil deeds? If the state operates under the auspices of the Lord in the former case, do they still operate by His authority in the latter? These questions are still open to debate, because the Scripture simply doesn't give us a clear answer. In Him, Doc |
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2 | Is war biblical? | John 18:36 | Tamara Brewington | 203913 | ||
Yeah Doc, I agree that the questions posed are tough. The Romans passage was written to Christians who were going to be put to death by the Roman government. Paul knew he was proscribing obedience to an evil government, the context is clear to obey it anyway. There are other passages that tell the Christians they are called to suffering in general and specifically for Christ. Paul even said to the Romans, if he had done anything worthy of death, he would be willing to die in another passage. This Romans passage seems to be talking about internal government inside the rulership of an empire, not external government response to an opposing government. The OT is ripe with God commanding war for His own holy purposes and they were all commended for their faith in war acts. There is the concept of caring for the oppressed and standing up for the causes of the oppressed in the OT, which I have heard applied to this theory on "just war", but which the scriptures used said nothing of war. Then to complicate things one has to consider how much suffering under and unjust government is enough? Should we suffer extensively only if it is for the gospel, but not for other reasons as Christians and when do we stop turning the other cheek and for what reasons? A big problem with no "just war" would be Hitler and his program of utter world domination and destruction in which, contrary to popular belief as many or more Christians than Jews(if you believe the like of the historical forays of R.C.Sproul and one other theologian whose name I can't remember) were killed and the rest of the world's inferior were to follow. Scripture does give us a clear answer to suffer under an evil regime localy, but does not give us a clue what to do outside our borders. I am gratefull for what you presented as an answer though. Agape, Tamara | ||||||