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A Brief Argument Against War

by James Barringer  
6/27/2011 / Christian Living


Several years ago, I wrote a lengthy essay, originally for the purpose of securing conscientious objector status from the Selective Service System, about what the Bible teaches Christians with regard to war. I have since realized that most people don't really bother reading lengthy essays, so I've truncated the whole thing into this easy-to-digest version. If you're one of those nutcases like me who simply enjoys reading, you can find the original here: faithwriters.com/article-details.php?id=104168

On the ground floor, we all have to agree that the Bible prohibits murder. The 10 Commandments are considered morally binding by Christians, Jews, and Muslims alike, combining for roughly half of the entire world population, and the 6th Commandment reads, "You shall not murder." There aren't many teachings in the Bible clearer or simpler than that.

However, not all killing is murder. The 10 Commandments are found in Exodus 20, but just two chapters later in Exodus 22, we see God explaining that certain kinds of killing are okay. "If a thief is found breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no bloodguilt for him." The next few verses make it obvious that "breaking in" does not mean entering a person's house (partly because Israel was wandering in the desert at the time, and as such, no one owned houses), but rather entering his property, pasture, or farm field. This kind of killing, "self-defense," does not refer exclusively to the defense of one's own self, but to one's property as well.

So the question is, does warfare more closely resemble murder or self-defense? The answer is that it depends on the war. If the United States was invaded by a foreign nation, then warfare would be completely permissible according to the Bible. There is a principle called synechtiche, which basically says that anything which applies to one individual also applies to the nation. Thus, if a thief invaded my house (the United States), I would be justified in defending it without being guilty of blood before God.

However, the moment United States troops invade another nation, that justification evaporates. Suddenly we are in someone else's house, and they are justified before God in defending their house without being guilty of the blood of our soldiers. That's a really brutal thing to say, but if the sword cuts one way, it has to cut the other way too. The Bible says that we're justified in defending our house when a thief breaks in. In any other kind of war, God's blessings come off - and they may even be on the other person, if that person happens to be a Christian and is defending his home against a foreign invader.

There is lots more that I could say, of course, but I told you that this was a brief argument and I have to be a man of my word. Rest assured that I do not say this out of any hatred for the military. My wife is in the Army Reserves; my sister-in-law and her husband are in the armed forces; two of my uncles served; and so did one of my grandfathers. I have no axe to grind and I'm not a pacifist. I'm just a teacher who wants to view the Bible for what it actually says, not through the lens of patriotism and right-wing politics that tend to wrap the cross in the American flag.

I welcome and appreciate further thoughts, questions, dissenting opinions, and observations.

Jim Barringer is a 38-year-old writer, musician, and teacher. More of his work can be found at facebook.com/jmbarringer. This work may be reprinted for any purpose so long as this bio and statement of copyright is included.

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