THE CHRISTIAN AT WAR

By Peter Hammond

Frontline Fellowship

P.O.Box 74

Newlands 7725

South Africa

I am a Christian who has spent the last twelve years working as a missionary in the war zones of Southern Africa. I have ministered to soldiers,guerillas and terrorists on all sides of the wars in Angola, South West Africa/Nambia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and South Africa. I have witnessed the persecution of the church by Marxist regimes, atrocities by terrorists and I have see the results of war, counselling both the victims and the combatants.

As a theological student, I tackled the controversial subject of war and the Christian - from both sides. I have been both a convinced pacifist and an active soldier. I have also sought, as a missionary, to apply the teachings of the Bible to the realities around me. I have walked amongst the unburied corpses of the killing fields of Mozambique and I've cradled in my hands the dead and dying. I've walked through devestated towns in Angola, where not a living being remained - only wrecked houses, decomposing corpses and revolutionary slogans.

As a missionary, I've ridden through an ambush on my motorbike scrambler, preached under mortar fire, witnessed at ambush sites, shown Christian films to terrorists, been arrested and imprisoned, been led handcuffed and blindfolded through the streets of Livingstone and Luska, escorted to prison in Maputo in a Soviet Mi 8 Hip helicopter and come under fire on many occasions.

Most of all, as a Bible reading, Bible-believing Christian I have spent days, nights, weeks, months and years agonizing, praying and studying over this subject of War and the Christian.

What is the Christian response to war?

Should a Christian be involved in the active military defense of his country?

Is it ever permissible to take the life of another?

Is pacifism the answer to violence?

THE CHANGING FACE OF WARFARE

There was a time in warfare when the men at arms fought the opposing army on a pre-arranged battlefield. Conflicts between nations were settled by soldiers on the field of battle - and civilians, especially women and children, were kept out of the firing line.

For centuries a code of honor precluded the endangering of innocent lives. Soldiers fought openly - in uniform - against armed and uniformed foes. Non-combatants were respected. Women and children were protected.

At times conflicts were limited to two opposing champions - such as David and Goliath - deciding the fate of their nations in honourable hand to hand combat. Their respective armies were bound to respect the outcome of such duels. In the Middle Ages in Europe such practices became commonplace with knights fighting for their cause and country according to a set code of conduct.

In modern times, however, warfare has deteriorated dramatically. More and more civilians have been caught in the crossfire as mobile total warfare has devestated whole towns and villages.

This centuary began with scorched earth tactics and concentration camps during the Anglo-Boer war. The frustated British army resorted to burning down the Boer farm homes, the destruction of their crops and the detaining of the Boer women and children in concentration camps. This marked a new low in battlefield standerds. Unable to win by conventional warfare the British Empire resorted to what was in effect terrorism. They targeted the civilian homes and the women and children who, until then, had been respected and protected.

During the Second World War, whole cities were targeted for mass bombings. A thousand bomber aircraft would fill the skies and rain death and destruction upon the cities of Europe. Instead of targeting legitimate military targets at he front, these aircraft were used to massacre hundreds of thousands of women and children at home.

Since that terrible war, the face of battle has changed. Now civilians are no longer isolated from the cruel effects of war. No longer are civilians merely endangered by the crossfire of conflict. Now women and children seem to be the main targets of the enemy.

Those who place landmines in dirt roadds know that they have more chance of killing unarmed civilians than anyone else. By placing bombs in restaurants and shopping centres terrorists are targeting our wives and our children. Those cowards who throw petrol bombs or handgrenades into homes at night are wanting to murder the innocent. And now we even see terrorists bursting into church services and murdering Christians while they worship God. Such people are not only enemies of society, they are enemies of God.

To such people God's Word declares:

"Surely God will crush the heads of His enemies, the skulls of those who go in their sins." Psalm 68:21

To us the Bible commands:

"Do not be afraid...remember the Lord who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes."Nehemiah 4:14

THE PACIFIST POSITION

Pacifists claim that non-resistance and passive inactivity will break the cycle of violence. They say that to defend oneself will prevent war and that non-violence will result in peace. However, it is important to distinguish between the various mtivations which lead people to adopt these views.

Some pacifists are CONSISTENT PACIFISTS, claiming they would never involve themseleves in either national defence or self defence. They would generally claim a spiritual motivation for refusing to protect even family members.

Most are pacifists are actually SELECTIVE PACIFISTS, refusing to involve themselves in the national defence of (normally) Western democracies, but being willing to fight in certain other circumstances. These selective pacifists are often politically motivated, although they may use some religious arguments to justify their political stance. Many of these politically motivated, selective pacifists actually support violent revolutionary movements. Most are motivated by selfish desires to avoid discomfort, discipline, danger or being seperated from their girlfriend, mother or home comforts.

Pacifism is an unBiblical position. Although being able to appeal to suerficial argumanets of conscience and quote the odd verse out of contet - the whole spirit and thrust of pacifism is anti-Christian. Pacifists may be sincere - but they are sincerely wrong.

A Christian, by definition, must be active - with his or her sleeves rolled up, being willing to get his hands dirty protecting the innocent, defending the defenceless and saving lives from unprovoked aggression. Christian love is not mere words and sentiments. True love shows itself in action. (1 John 3:18).

If all the people with a conscience refuse to fight then it will leave the battle fields in the hands of men without a conscience.

A FALSE IDEA OF MAN

Pacifism finds it's ots in HUMANISM. Despite some impressive but superficial Christian pretension, pacifism is humanism. In common with humanism, pacifism shares a false idea of man. It sees man as basically good. To the pacifist all people are just too good to kill. Neither rapists, murderers nor terrorists deserve to be stopped, in the view of the pacifist.

In contrast to this notion of people being basically good, the Bible teaches us that "the heart of man is desperately wicked and deceitful";that they are quick to hurt and kill;they leave ruin and destruction wherever they go...everyone has sinned and is far away from God's saving presence." Romans 3:15,23

Pacifists often display more concern for the aggressor then for the defender, more sympathy for the criminal then for his victim.

A FALSE IDEA OF GOD

Pacifism also has a flase idea of God. It fails to understand the holiness and justice of God. It ignores the wrath of Almighty God against sin. The pacifist seems to fail to understand the nature of God. They must see God as a pleasant, amoral softie - either to blind to see sinful man for what he is or too gentle to punish evil. What kind of God would be unmoved by ruthless sadists torturing Christians in cocentration camps? Do we really think that God will not punish those who kill and cripple the innocent through car bombs, limpet mines and landmines?

Do we really believe that God does not require us to stop murder - whether by abotion or arson, whether by muggers or Marxists>

GOD IS NOT A PACIFIST!

The creator of all life (John 1:1-3) "determines whether you live or die" - Daniel 5:23. God killed everyone on earth, except Noah, his family and the animals - in THE FLOOD (Genesis 6:5-7;13;7:4;23). God killed every Egyptian first-born as a judgement on Egypt and in order to free the Israelites on the night of THE PASSOVER (Exodus 12:12;29). God destroyed the Egyptain army in the RED SEA (Exodus 14:13-31; 15:1-18). The Lord caused the earth to open up ana swallow the Jews who rebelled against Moses (Numbers 16:20,21;23-35). God killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers who were attacking Jerusalem (2 Kings 19:32-35). God killed Annias and Sapphira because of their lying (Acts 5-1-11); and Herod because of his pride (Acts 12:23), and God continues to use "My four dreadful judgments - sword and fmine and wild beasts and plague" Ezekiel 14:21, in order to lead sinful people to repent.

"I and I alone, am God; no other God s real. I kill and I give life, I wound and I heal, and no one can oppose what do." Deuteronomy 32:39

NEITHER IS JESUS A PACIFIST!

Our Lord Jesus may have been meek but He was never mild! His teaching was powerful, dynamic, direct and uncompromising. This tough carpenter from Nazareth was able to survive forty days fasting in the desert and forty lashes from the brutal Roamn whip. He could walk hundreds of kilometers in the blazing heat of Palestine's inhospitable terrain and He could walk through a murderous mob with such a presence that no-one dared stop Him (Luke 4:28-30).

When Jesus saw how corrupt men were desecrating the temple with their money-grabbing greed, He made a whip, overturned their tables and drove them forcibly from God's House (Matthew 21:12-13).

When Jesus returns to this world it will be as the conquering King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The Bible teaches us that the first time Jesus came as a Saviour - and all who turn from their sin and trust in Christ, following Him in obedience, are saved. But when Jesus comes again it will be as Judge - and all who have not repented and obeyed will be condemned and eternally punished.

The Scripture warns us that when Jesus returns He will annihilate the forces of the false church and the Antichrist. We are told that rivers of blood will flow from the carnage of mankind's rebellion against Christ (Revelation 14:19-20).

"With jusice He dges and makes war...He will rule them with an iron sceptre. He treads the winnepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty... King of Kings and Lord of Lords." Revelation 19:11,15,16

AN UNREALISTIC VIEW OF SOCIETY

Pacifism also has an unrealistic view of society. The reality of this world is that it is a fallen world, inhabited by sinful mankind in rebellion against the Creator. Idealistic fantasies about a world of peace and Utopia without war are cruelly false and dangerously deceptive. In the Bible we are warned that those who say "Peace! Peace!" when there is no peace are "loathsome" false prophets (Jeremiah 6:!4; 8:11). Jesus warned us that "wars and revolutions" would increase (Matthew 24:6,7; Luke 21:9,10). We are warned in the scriptures that "While people are saying 'Peace and Safety ',destruction will come on them suddenly." I Thessalonians 5:3

"PEACE" seems to be the modern equivalent of Baal worship. There is an irrational deifying of peace. This selfish materialistic age has made an idol out of peace. "Peace at any price" inevitably leads to tyranny and destruction - the peace of a graveyard.

People say that war is hell - but often peace is worse. More people died in the peace following the revolution in CAMBODIA than died in the entire war before it. Three-milion Cambodians (40% of the population) were slaughtered by Pol Pot's Marxist Khmer Rouge in the "peace" following 1975. In fact, more people have been tortured, maimed and massacred in times of peace than in times of war during this centuary!

Have we become so soft, decadent and self-seeking that we are no longer willing to risk our lives for anything? Is nothing worth fighting for? Do we have nothing worth defending? Do we care so little for others that we're unwilling to risk anyhing for their protection? Are we so engrossed in watching videos, in "wine, women and song" that we can no longer tell the difference between right and wrong? Or don't we even care?

For centuries Christians have believed that there were worse things than war.For our ancestors death in battle was not the worst thing that could happen to them. An eternity in hell was. They did not fear death. They feared God. They realised that death for the Christian is not fatal. They had a clear belief in eternal life. Principles were more important then personal safety. Duty, honor, country, family and God meant more to them than selfish desires for peace and safety. And thank God for that because the faith and freedoms we enjoy were won and preserved by their blood, sweat and sacrifices.

The wise Christian does not seek to selfishy avoid the problems of this world, but courageously steps out in faith to be part of the solution. We should recognize that sinful man needs to be restrained by laws and by force, that liberty needs to be defended, that our freedoms came through, and oten need to be maintained by, ard fighting.

If all Christians became pacifists,would all muslims, atheists and communists also become paifists?

Not likely.

It bothers me that the anti-defense, ban-the-bomb, end-conscription draft-dodgers and pacifists often demonstrate in London, Washington, Bonn and Cape Town - but seemingly never in Moscow, Havana, Tripoli, Tehran, Maputo, Lasaka, Harare, or Luanda.

Why?

It is useless for the sheep to pass resolutuions in favor of vegietarianism - while the wolf remains of a different opinion.

The Bible delares: "Blessed are the peacemakers" - Matthew 5:9. NOT blessed are the pacifists! You have to make peace. It takes action.

For the pacifists hoping for worldwide peace - Jesus said: "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword." Matthew 10:44

AN INADEQUATE UNDERSTANDING ON SCRIPTURE

Pacifists also often have an inadequote understanding on the Bible. Are they aware that God is not a pacifist? Do they realise that God has specified cerain circumstances in which men have been commanded to kill?

GOD HAS COMMANDED MAN TO KILL

"Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed." Genesis 9:6

"Anyone who strikes a man and kills him shall surely be put to death...if a man schemes and kills another man deliberatly, take him away from my alter and put him to death... Anyone who kidnaps... must be put to death... You are to take life for life." Exodus 21:12;14;16;23

"Do not allow a sorceress to live." Exodus 22:18

False prophets were also to executed - (Deuteronomy 13:1-5)

"A prophet who presumes to speak in My Name anything I have not commanded him to say or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods must be put to death." Deuteronomy 18:20

The God who commanded individuals in the Sixth Commandment - "You shall not murder", Exodus 20:13, also commanded the Nation on Israel, as a whole, to annihilate the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. "When the Lord your God has delivered them over to you and you have defeated them, then you must desroy them totally. Make no treaty with them and show no mercy." Deuteronomy 7:2

God's Commandment to the individual is to "Not murder"; God's Command to the nation was to "Destroy them totally" because of their evil debauchery and sinfulness had made them God's enemy. Killing by an individual (out of selfish motivations, vengefulness and greed, etc.) is always prohibited, but killing by a nation (for self-defence, justice, etc.) is commanded.

GOD HAS DELEGATED AUTHORITY

Jesus emphasized that civil authority is delegated by God when He said to Pilate: "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above." John 19:11

Paul wrote: "Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good." Titus 3:1

"Everyone must submit himself to the Governing authorities because there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience." Romans 13:1-5

It is worth noting that Paul wrote that Scripture during the reign of a particularly ruthless pagan government (that of Nero) which was even persecuting the Church!

Like Daniel, or Joseph, Christians are to serve worthily within the framework of any system of government under which he is called to live. JOSEPH rose to the prime minister of pagan Egypt without compromising his faith and was mightly used to save the Hebrews from starvation. DANIEL fearlessly testified to God's power and sovereignty within the pagan courts of Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar and Darius, rising to the highest levels of government.

"The Most High is Sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes." Daniel 4:17

"He sets up kings and deposes them." Daniel 2:21

God raised up Pharoh (Romans 9:17); Cyrus (Isaiah 44:28;45:1-5); and Nebuchadnezzer (Daniel 2:37,38). Even Pilate recieved his position and power by God's perfect sovereign will and design (John 19:11).

Hence Jesus taught: "Give to Ceaser what is Ceaser's and to God what is God's." This teaches our dual responsibility. As citizens, we are responsible to obey the laws of the land, pay taxes and defend our country. As members of the church, we are responible to love God with all our heart, soul, strength and mind, obey His commands and seek first God's kingdom.

Only if the state forbids obedience to God may we say with the Apostle: "We must obey God rather then man!" Acts 5:29. When the state forbids prayer to God (Daniel 6:6-13), forbids evangelism (Acts 5:40-42) or commands us to worship false gods (Daniel 3:12-18), then we must say: "We have no need to answer you in this matter" Daniel 3:16; "Judge for yourself whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather then God." Acts 4:19

So, with the exception of matters of worship and evangelism, Christians are commanded to: "Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king as supreme authority, or to the governors, who are sent by Him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right." I Peter 2:13,14

Jesus taught that "those who take up the sword", in the context of rebellion against lawful authority, "will perish by the sword." Matthew 26:52. This He said in rebuke to the Apostle Peter who was interferring in God's plan of redemption.

MANY MEN OF GOD HAVE BEEN SOLDIERS

JOSHUA was a mighty man of God and a mighty soldier commanding the Israelite army in the battle with the Amalekites (Exods 17:8-16), and in the conquest of the promised land (Joshua).

King DAVID was "a man after God's own heart," and the writer of much of the Psalms as well as a great soldier (I Samuel 17:45,47; 18:5; 7; 17; 2 Samuel 5:17-25; 8:1-14; 10:12; 12:26-29). Hence David was able to say:

"Praise be to the Lord, my Rock who trains my hands for war, My fingers for battle. He is my loving God and my fortress, My stroghold and my deliverer, My shield,in whom I take refuge. Who subdues people under me." Psalm 144:1,2

ABRAHAM resorted to military action to rescue Lot from the four heathe kings (Genesis 14:11-16).

DEBORAH and BARAK were led by the Lord to conquer Sisera and the Canaanite armies (Judges 4:14,15).

GIDEON was commanded by God to defeat the Midianites and rescue Israel from their power (Judges 6:14).

God gave SAMSON the power to defeat the Philistines and keep Israel for twenty years (Judges 14:19; 15:4,15,20; 16:28-30).

The four CENTURIANS (Roman officers) mentioned in the New Testament are all commended in one way or another (Luke 7:9; 23:47; Acts 19:2; 27:43). The Centurian at Capernaum was praised for his faith. Cornelius and the Italian Regiment of the Roman Army had the great honor of being the first Gentiles to be baptised by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ.

Throught the Bible the work and calling of soldiers are frequently mentioned, yet never with any suggestion that it could be in and of itself dishonorable or unChristian. John the Baptist, in answering the soldiers' question of what they were to do, never suggested that they should leave the army. He merely replied, "Don't extort money and do't accuse people falsely - be content with your pay." Luke 3:14. He told them how to be good soldiers.

The Christian life is often likened to many acceptable and honorable occuations, such as that of a farmer, athlete, worker, citizen, pilgrim and soldier (1 Tim 6:12; 2 Tim 2:3,4; Eph 6:11-17). Many of the aspects of a soldier's life such as his spirit of self-sacrifice, discipline and loyalty are commended.

"TURN THE OTHER CHEEK"

Pacifists often seem to have a limited knowledge of Scripture and predictably parrot these old favourites: "Turn the other cheek" and "love your enemies".

Jesus said, f someone slaps you on the right cheek, let him slap your left cheek too." Matthew 5:39. Let us not say more than what Jesus said. What he did NOT say was, "if someone stabs you in the one cheek et him stab you in the heart too"; neither did Jesus suggest that if someone rapes your sister let him attack your mother too. Nor did Jesus demand that if the Soviets bomb London that NATO should let them nuke Washington as well. These ridiculas things Jesus emphatically neer taught!Yet that is how some pacifists are misinterpreting these verses.

Jesus said, "If someone slaps you...." Let us not suggest more than what our Lord taught. Don't fight over a insult. Don't kill to preserve your pride. Don't retaliate just because of an insult. A slap can hardly be interprted as a threat of bodily harm or fatal injury - a slap represnts an insult. Matthew 5:39 was never meant to abolish national defence. It was never given that cowards could quote it as an excuse for not doing their duty or protecting their family. For the man who believes that God's commands of the Old Testamnet which allow capital punishment for murderers and military defence for nations could be abolished by the coming of our Lord - Jesus said:

"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." Matthew 5:!7

"LOVE YOUR ENEMIES"

To "love your enemies", Matthew 5:44, is a Christian obligation. So is to love your brother, to honor your parents, and to love your neighbor. Surely my priority must be to defend my family and neighbor against any aggressor - be he a criminal, terrorist or foreign invader. And I was never commanded to love God's enemies - who persecute His Church. Nor was I commanded to love my country's enemies. Personal vengence and jealousies are forbidden. My enemies I must forgive. But my family mst be protected, my country must be defended, and my neighbor must be saved from crime and terrorism.

I have personally taken the Gospel to SWAPO, ANC and PAC terrorists,, ZANU, FRELIMO and MPLA communists and to Russians, Cubans and Et Germans over the border. But when they cross the border and threaten my neighors, I will do my duty and take up arms to stop them.

I will do everything in my power to bring the Word of God and the Gospel of Christ to the enemies of my land and faith, I will endeavour to bring as many as possible to repentance from sin and to faith in Christ. But when called up to serve my country, I will do my utmost to protect my fellow ctizens from all foreign aggression or communist terrorism. Those who refuse to repent of their sins and turn away from the ways of terror, intimidation, fear and hate - those who endanger the live of the innocent and defenceless - I will fight, kill or capture.

Of course, any captured or wounded enemy will recieve prompt medical care, humane treatment and the Gospel. That is Christian love demonstrated in a practical and balanced way.

A CHRISTIAN RESPONSE TO WAR

The Christian response can never be appeasment and compomise with tyranny. Whether Piet Retief with Dingaan in 1838 or Chamberlain with Hitler in 1938, appeasement always leads to treahery and war. Strong defence leds to peace through strength. As the scripture says:

:Who will stand up for me the evildoers or who will rise up or me against the workers of iniquity." Psalm 94:16

We need to learn to be courageous, to be loyal, to be sacrificial and unselfish. We need to suppress fears and desires, and choose to do our duty, to protect the innocent and defend the defenceless.

Those encouraging pacifism and promoting an end to conscription have the easy task. They have human nature on their side. All of us are prone to selfish temptations to avoid difficulties, run from danger and resist discomfort. The draft-dodgers are often dodging the dangers inherent in defence. The consciences objectors are often objecting to cold showers, strenuous training, being shouted at at 5 am and being seperated from their teddy bears. The end-conscriptor campaign appeals to the cowadice, laziness and selfishness that lurks in each and every one of us.

To demand a choice for hardship, tough training, long absences from home, self-sacrifice, discipline, dedication, loyalty, duty and courage is to fight against human nature.

Prosperity, affluence and abundance spoil us, breeing pride, complacency, apathy and laziness. Adversity, suffering and hardships bulds character, faith and courage. The Christian dare not choose "the easy way out."

War, like other extreme situations, can bring out the best and the worst in people - depending on their spiitual state. (That is wa chaplaincy work is so crucial). But military training and combat situations have brought out many great acts of sacrifice, bravery, loyalty, courage and unselfish devotion to duty. Never ha pacifism produced such admirable qualities in its adherents as military service has produced in some Christians.

As Jesus said: "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13

WAR IN CHURCH HISTORY

Often we here the view that all war is wrong - wrong for the defenders as well as for the aggressors. That war is wrong even when waged with th4e sincere purpose of defending the innocent and restraining evil.

Yet much of the religious and political freedoms which have been taken for granted were won through wars approved by the churches of those days.

If the people of Europe had not resisted the Islamic invasion of the Moors and the Turks the Europe would have been conqured. And Islam would have replaced Christianity in the mission sending base from where our faith was communicated to us.

If, at the time of he reformation, the Protestants had not resisted the Roman Catholic oppression the the persecutions which were practised so freely in the Spanish, Italian and other Inquisitions would have become common throughout Europe. The Protestant faith would have been crushed.

If the Puritans ha not fought under Oliver Cromwell to establish the first parliamentry republic - then from where would the cause of freedom have recieved its first example of the rule of law, Lex Rex.

I f the American colonists had not fough for the rule of law and a Constitutionally limited repblic then where there would have been no United States of America.

Of course in most wars the guilt has been shared by both sides and there have been many senseless and unnecessary wars in which neither side was at all concerned about righteousness.

Nevertheless freedom is never free - it has to be bought with sacrifice and suffering.

"You have never lived until you have almost died, and for those who fight for it, life has a flavor the protected will never know."

Christians may desir peace, but we need to realise that there are worse things than war: such as the peace of a cemetery, or of a concetration camp, or an eternity in hell.

WAR IN THE BIBLE

Judges 3:1-2 "These are the nations the Lord left to test all those Israelites who had not experienced any of the wars in Canaan. He did this only to teach warfare to the descendants of the Israelites who had not had previous battle experience."

God's strategy for complacency is to train His people through conflict. Taught to trust God in battle - to be purged, purified and prepared as soldiers of Christ.

Exodus 15:3,4 "The Lord is a wrrior, the Lord is His Name. Pharaoh's chariots and His army He has hurled into the sea."

Exodus 17:8-16 Victory over the Amalekites by prayer and the sword.

Deut 20:1 "When you go to war...Do not be found faint hearted or afraid; do not be terrified or give way to panic before them. For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight..."

Joshua 5:13-15 The Lord is revealed as "the Commander of the army of the Lord..."

Joshua 6:1-5 and guides the Israelites to victory over Jericho.

Judges 5:16-18;23 Deborah's song of victory rebuked those who failed to fight for freedom. "Why did you stay among the campfires? 'Curse Meroz' said the angel of the Lord. 'Curse its people bitterly because they did not come to help the Lord, to help the Lord against the mighty."

Judges 6 & 7 God directed Gideon to defeat the Midianites and rescue Israel their power.

I Sam 11 The Spirit of God led Saul and Israel to rescue the people of Jabesh Gilead.

I Sam 14:6,23 The Lord rescued Israel from the Philistines by the faith, courage and initiative of Jonathan.

I Sam 15:2-3 The Lord commanded Saul to uterly destroy the Amalekites.

I Sam 17:45-47 David was enabled by the Lord to defeat Goliath.

2 Sam 5:19-20 David seeks the Lord's will and is guided to attack the Philistines.

Psalms May of the Psalms are prayers to God for the guidence in war or hymns of thanksgiving to the Lord for victory in battle.

Psalm 18:29-48 "With Your help I can advance against a troop...It is God who arms me with strength...He trains my hands for battle...I pursued my enemies andovertook them; I did not turn back until they were destroyed. I crushed them so they could not rise...You armed me with strenght for battle...The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God my Savior! He is the God who avenges me, who subdues nations under me, who saves me from my enemies."

In the Bible wars were ordained as a means of restraining evil, judging wickednes, purging sin and purfying God's people.

When God's people rebelled against His law then God allowed them to e defeated and enslaved or exiled by the Midianites, Philistines, Assyrians, Babylonians, Romans or others.

Deut 28:1,7 "If you fully obey the Lord and carefuly follow His commandments...the Lord will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated." (cf Lev 26:7-8; Joshua 1:5)

Lev 26:14-17 "But...if you reject My decrees and abhor My laws and fail to carry out my commands...you will be defeated by your enemies; those who hate you will rule over you..." (cf Deut 28:25;43)

The Scriptures reveal God as a God of war a well as a God of peace, because God is primarily a God of justice.

Jeremiah 21:12 "Administer justice every morning; rescue from the hand of the oppressor the one who has been robbed, or my wrath will break out and burn like fire because of the evil you have done."

On certain occasions God has not only permitted war but commanded it. In the Bible military defence against aggressor nations is given the same status as capital punishment for murderers.

Proverbs 21:15 "when justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers."

TO OBEY GOD OR MAN?

The Scriptures command general obedience to family, church and civil authorities (see Romans 13:1-4; I Tim 2:1-2; I Peter 2:13-15). In event of conflict between the Law of God and the Law of man:

"Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the thngs which we have seen and heard." Acts 4:19-20

Some Biblical examples of disobeying civil authorities include:

1. The Midwives disobeyed Pharaoh's decree that all Hebrew boys were to be killed at birh (Exodus 1:17).

2. Moses' parants hid their child and kept him for 3 months against the law of Pharaoh (Hebrews 11:23).

3. Moses worked to free his people from bondage in Egypt against the will of Pharaoh (Exodus 5:1-9; 14:23-25).

4. Rahab is twice commended in Scripture (James 2:25; Hebrews 11:31) for disobeying her pagan Canaaite government and protecting the Hebrew spies (Joshua 2:1-16).

5. David fed from King Saul and evaded capture on numerous occasions. He did not give himself up, but neither did he harm Saul when he had the opportunity (I Samuel 16:24).

6. The army of Israel intrvened to stop King Saul from executing his son Jonathan. Although legally condemned to death the army successsfully rescued Jonathan from the unjust and foolish command of the king (I Samuel 14:24-45).

7. Nathan the prophet confronted King David and rebuked him for the crimes of adultry and murder (2 Samuel 12).

8. When Queen Jezebel began her bloody purge of God's prophets, the prophet Obadiah defied her edicts by hiding a hundred prophets (I Kings 18:4).

9. Elijah pronouned judgement on King Ahab for his injustice (I Kings 21:17-29).

10. Elijah refused to answer the summons of King Aha (2 Kings 1).

11. Jehu mobilised the military to overthrow the wicked king Ahaziah and Queen Jezebel - in obedience to the Word of od (2 Kings 9:6-13; 22-23).

12. Jeosheba rescued the infant Joash from Athaliah's agents who were sent to slaughter him. (2 Kings 11:2-3).

13. Jeremiah was considered a traitor by his government when he proclaimed God's Word of judgement and called for repentance and surrender during the seige by the Babylonians (Jeremiah 38).

14. Daniel refused to defile himself ith the royal food (which had been offered to idols) and successfully appealed to be permited to eat only vegetables and water (Daniel 1:8-16).

15. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refused to obey the king's order to bow down before his golden image (Daniel 3:12-18).

16. Daniel openly defied a ban against prayer (Daniel 6:6-13).

17. Esther violated a no-trespassing law at the risk of death in order to rescue her people from a bloody purge (Esther 4:8-16).

18. The wise men from the East disobeyed Herod by not returning through Jerusalem and not reporting on the whereabouts of the Messiah as ordered (matthew 2:7-12).

19. Joseph fled to Egypt to save Jesus from the edict of King Herod (matt 2:13-15).

20. Peter and John refused to stop preaching (Acts 5:42).

21. Paul refused to leave prison without an official apology (Acts 16:37-39).

"We ought to obey God rather than men." Acts 5:29