"From whence come wars
and fightings among you? Come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in
your members?"-
James 4:1
"If there’s any group of people that should be opposed to war,
torture, militarism, the
warfare state, state worship,
suppression of civil liberties, an imperial presidency, blind nationalism, government propaganda, and
an aggressive foreign policy, it is Christians." -Laurence M. Vance
War Fever
As it stands right now, the United States is currently
engaged in at least five different wars in the Middle East. These wars include
the War in Afghanistan, the War in Iraq, the bombing of Libya, drone attacks in
Pakistan (carried out via the CIA), and the bombing of Yemen. All of these wars
are unconstitutional, for they were not in response to an attack upon the
United States, nor were they constitutionally declared by Congress.
The war fever in America can still be considered high,
despite the fact that many Americans are beginning to question America's foreign
policy of endless war. But disturbingly enough, many if not most Christian
Americans have been some of the biggest champions of war, militarism, and the
growth of governmental power that comes with war, especially in recent years
with the advent of 9/11 and the War on Terrorism. Randolph Bourne once stated
that "War is the health of the state." It is disturbing that many
Christians have become so enthusiastic with war and the military, and that
they, along with many other Americans, equate war and militarism with freedom.
But what should the Christian attitude be towards war? What is a just war? What
constitutes a just war? Have American wars met the just war criteria? Can U.S.
foreign policy be fixed to accommodate a just war? These are some of the
questions that I hope to answer today.
Christian
Attitudes towards War
Laurence
M. Vance states the following about Christianity's peaceful nature: "If there was anything at all advocated by the early
Christians, it was peace. After all, they had some New Testament admonitions to
go by: “Blessed are the peacemakers,” Matthew 5:9. “Live peaceably with all
men,” Romans 12:18. “Follow peace with all men,” Hebrews 12:14. Aggression,
violence, and bloodshed are contrary to the very nature of Christianity. True,
the Bible on several occasions likens a Christian to a soldier. As soldiers,
Christians are admonished to put on the whole armor of God. The apostle Paul,
who himself said “I have fought a good fight,” told a young minister to “war a
good warfare.” But the Christian soldier in the Bible fights against sin, the
world, the flesh, and the devil. He wears the breastplate of righteousness and
the helmet of salvation. The weapons of the Christian are not carnal. His
shield is the shield of faith, and his sword is the Word of God. The New
Testament admonishes Christians to not avenge themselves, to do good to all
men, and to not render evil for evil. There is nothing in the New Testament
from which to draw the conclusion that killing is somehow sanctified if it is
done in the name of the state."
Justin Martyr, a Christian apologist stated the following
about war and the Christian attitude towards war: "“And we who had been
filled with war and mutual slaughter and every wickedness have each one all the
world over changed the instruments of war, the swords into plows and the spears
into farming instruments, and we cultivate piety, righteousness, love for all men,
faith and the hope which is from the Father Himself through the Crucified One.
We who hated and slew one another, and because of differences in customs would
not share a common hearth with those who are not of our tribe, now after the
appearance of Christ have become sociable, and pray for our enemies, and try to
persuade those who hate us unjustly in order that they, living according to the
good suggestions of Christ, may share our hope of obtaining the same reward
from God, Who is master of all.”
Christians throughout the Roman Empire critical of
military service and the Roman Empire. Christians often found themselves being
targeted by the Roman Empire because they declared that Jesus Christ is the
Lord, which was in direct opposition to the claims of the Roman government.
Church Father Lactantius explained the Roman Empire's mentality as follows:
“Truly the more men they have afflicted, despoiled, and slain, the more noble
and renowned do they think themselves. And captured by the appearance of empty glory,
they give the name of excellence to their crimes. If any man has slain a single
man, he’s regarded as contaminated and wicked. Nor do they think it right that
he should be admitted to this earthly dwelling of the gods. But he who has
slaughtered endless thousands of men, deluged the fields with blood, and
infected rivers with it, is admitted not only to a temple, but even to heaven.”
Lactantius then explained that Christians were “those who
are ignorant of wars,
who preserve concord with all, who are friends even to
their enemies, who love all men as
brothers, and know how to curb anger and soften with
quiet moderation every madness of the
mind.”
While Jesus Christ never addressed the subject of war
directly, he did admonish Christians to "Love your enemies, do good to
those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat
you." -Luke 6:27b-28
Some other passages in the Bible that further address the
Christian attitude toward their enemies are as follows:
"Dearly
beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath" (Romans
12:19)
"As
we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men" (Galatians
6:10)
The Just War Theory
Now comes the Christian Just War Theory, which Laurence
M. Vance notes was an "attempt by Augustine to reconcile Christian
participation in warfare with the morality of New Testament Christianity by,
among other things, distinguishing between soldiers’ outwardly violent actions
while waging war and their inwardly spiritual disposition. In its essence Just
War Theory concerns the use of force: when force should be used, and what kind
of force is acceptable. The timing of force relates to a country’s
justification for the initiation of war or military action. The nature of force
relates to how military activity is conducted once a country commits to use
force. The principle of the Just War is actually many principles, all of which
must be met for a war to be considered just."
It should be noted that the Just War Theory cannot be
found in Scripture. It is merely a reconciliation of war and the principles of
the New Testament.
The Just War Theory can be summed up as follows:
1. War must be self-defensive.-in response to a wrong suffered (like an invasion of territory).
2. There must be a wrong suffered-See point 1
3. All other options short of war must be exhausted (last
resort)-all diplomatic options that are non-war like must be tried.
4. Declaration by the appropriate authority-Congress must declare the war.
5. The objective must be attainable-the objective must be reasonable; waging war on communism or terrorism does not apply here.
6. Peace must be restored-no punative punishments imposed on the defeated; never become the aggressor yourself.
U.S. Foreign Policy
What then is to be done about U.S. foreign policy? Since
World War 1 and World War 2, the American people have come to unfortunately
accept the premise that the United States needs to pursue a foreign policy of
perpetual war and empire.
The Founding Fathers on Foreign Policy and War
George Washington once stated the following about
American foreign policy:
"The great rule
of conduct for us, in regard to foreign nations, is in extending our external
relations to have with them as little political connection as possible....
Europe has a set of primary interests which to us have none, or a very remote
relation. Hence she must be engaged in frequent controversies, the causes of
which are essentially foreign to our concerns.... "
"Every
true friend of this country must see and feel that the policy of it is not to
embroil ourselves, with any nation whatever; but to avoid their disputes and
their politics; and if they will harass one another, to avail ourselves of the
neutral conduct we have adopted."
Said
James Madison:
"Of
all the enemies to public liberty war is, perhaps, the most to be dreaded,
because it comprises and develops the germ of every other. War is the parent of
armies; from these proceed debts and taxes; and armies, and debts, and taxes
are the known instruments for bringing the many under the domination of the
few. In war, too, the discretionary power of the Executive is extended; its
influence in dealing out offices, honors, and emoluments is multiplied; and all
the means of seducing the minds, are added to those of subduing the force, of
the people. . . . [There is also an] inequality of fortunes, and the
opportunities of fraud, growing out of a state of war, and . . . degeneracy of
manners and of morals. . . . No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst
of continual warfare. . . . "
Said
Thomas Jefferson:
"Peace,
commerce, and honest friendship with all nations-entangling alliances with
none."
"We
wish not to meddle with the internal affairs of any country, nor with the
general affairs of Europe."
"I
am for free commerce with all nations, political connection with none, and
little or no diplomatic establishment."
The
Founding Fathers endorse a foreign policy of noninterventionism.
Noninterventionism is a foreign policy of armed neutrality, whereby our country
refuses to fight other people's war, and that we shall not intervene in foreign
wars. War would only be entered into when our country was attacked or invaded.
Free trade (not the phony maneged trade of the WTO, NAFTA and CAFTA) and free
travel would be allowed to the greatest extend. Peace and liberty are the
ultimate goals.
Some
questions to ask ourselves
Haven't
America's war been just wars?
Should
the United States maintain a global military presence around the world?
Should
the United States go to war when other nations are being persecuted?
Should
the United States military be the social worker, policeman and essentially the
sacrificial lamb for the world?
Should
Christians join the military?
What
is wrong with a U.S. global empire?
Sources
Internet:
Books
to look at:
Christianity
and War and Other Essays Against the Warfare State by Laurence M. Vance
A
Century of War: Lincoln, Wilson and Roosevelt by John V. Denson
The
Costs of War: America’s Pyrrhic Victories by John V. Denson
A Foreign Policy
of Freedom: Peace, Commerce and Honest Friendship by Ron Paul
The Empire has
no Clothes: U.S. Foreign Policy Exposed by Ivan Eland
American Empire:
Before the Fall by Bruce Fein
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