It is getting increasingly difficult to bury your head in the sand. The world is at war; whether officially declared or not. Russia, China, the United States, Israel, Ukraine, Iran ... the drumbeats of war are sounding. The reality of what we're looking at in the world is causing a good amount of fear and anxiety among all peoples. That includes Christians, even though we should all be familiar with this verse in Matthew 24:6: You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place... (Matthew 24:6).
Throughout history, as portrayed in the Bible, it is clear that war is inevitable when the world is filled with sinful people. And we must not confuse killing with murder. We cannot apply God's command of Thou shalt not kill to the prospect of war. That holy commandment refers to the "intentional, premeditated killing of another person with malice; in other words, murder. We can agree that war is never preferable, but sometimes it is unavoidable in order to protect innocent people, or to uphold a righteous cause. Consider WWII, when Hitler and his evil plan of extermination of the Jews had to be stopped. Or think of our own Civil War, when the evil institution of slavery was only going to come to an end through war.
If you study the history of those two wars, you will find that years of appeasing and compromise did not stop the evil happening against innocent people. It is calculated that 70-85 million people died in WWII, and a conservative estimate of 650-750,000 Americans died in the Civil War. There is no questioning that war is a terrible thing, and God grieves the loss of life, while He hates the sin that leads to war. But He often uses it to see His will done when men refuse to follow His ways. And obviously, some wars are more "just" than others, but we must acknowledge that war is always the result of sin.
King Solomon, who received God's wisdom [until he sinned by following after his pagan wives' religions], declared that God has created different times and seasons in mankind's existence: There's a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace. As Christians we are not to desire war, and as citizens of both the world and the Kingdom of Heaven, we are to represent Jesus, showing His love, and offering Peace as an option to war. Paul reminds us, in Romans 12:18, "If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all". Sometimes, peace isn't possible. War is part of the reality of living in a fallen world, and evil people make war inescapable, and we must take a stand.
Yes, Jesus is the Prince of Peace, but He is not a Pacifist and He and the Father were in agreement when King David was sent to war against the Philistines. David declares "Blessed be the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle...". In his youth, David's hands and fingers were trained for the shepherd's hook and the musician's harp. But when he answered the Lord's calling to lead His people, David understood the Lord had a different purpose for him, and was training him for wars in the natural world and battles in the spiritual realms.
So, when it comes to the subject of War in the Bible, there are a couple of things that I think we must consider. While we know that God never changes, Jesus makes it clear that He and the Father are one (John 10:30), and that He could do nothing by Himself; only what He saw the Father doing (John 5:19). So we can be assured that Jesus's teachings and actions perfectly align with God's unchanging character. And yes, Jesus is the Prince of Peace. But He's also the Lord of Hosts; the commander-in-chief of Heaven's armies.
Pacifists like to point out that Jesus taught us to "turn the other cheek", and spoke that "Blessed are the Peacemakers" in the Beatitudes (Mark 5). They often cite the Biblical concept of Shalom as the guiding principle of the Lord's pacifism. But to understand Jesus's teachings on peace, it is important to understand that there is a deeper meaning to Shalom than just "peace". The word comes from the Hebrew root shalem, signifying wholeness, harmony, and restoration -- its meaning extending far beyond the idea of peace as tranquility or the absence of conflict. Again, the restoration part of Shalom is in perfect alignment with God's plan of redemption and reconciliation with sinful mankind through Jesus's payment [on the Cross] for our sins. He broke the power of sin and offered us the way to our personal restoration with God. That is true Shalom!
But let us not forget that Jesus is also the Lord of Hosts. He didn't promote Shalom by avoiding conflict, but by confronting [and defeating] evil. Take note of His statement, "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword" (Matthew 10:34).. This sword isn't to be used for physical violence, but rather division; causing men to make a choice between sin/evil and justice/righteousness. He backs that first statement up with another: "Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division" (Luke 12:51). Remember, He used a whip to drive the money changers out of the Temple; He overturned their tables; and publicly rebuked them as a den of thieves.
And as much as many modern-day Christians hope they will be raptured out of the world, and escape the coming wrath and judgment against Evil, we cannot ignore Revelation 19:11-16. Jesus will come as a Warrior-King, leading Heaven's armies in a final battle to destroy Evil and to manifest eternal Shalom ... "With justice He judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on His head are many crowns. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and His Name is the Word of God".
So, war is part of the reality of living in a fallen world, and there are times it may be necessary to wage it in order to prevent more atrocities and deeper levels of Evil. We can see in the Old Testament that God would use warriors like Joshua, David, Gideon, and Deborah to act as His instruments to secure His justice and establish peace. He never changes, so we can rest in the knowledge that it may be necessary for Him to raise up warriors in our time to engage in conflict in order to ultimately secure justice and establish peace. That does not mean that every leader who wages war has been appointed by God to do so. The Bible is also full of examples of unrighteous warrior kings who acted for Satan. Jeroboam, Ahab, Manasseh, the King of Tyre come to mind.
In summary, as we face an uncertain future amidst the tensions that come with the beginnings of the prophesied birth pains (see Matthew 24:3-8), we need to come to terms with War in the world. It's inevitable and can be used for God's plan of redemption. It is also a tool of the Enemy, and when unrighteous, must be confronted with righteous force, while pursuing the mercy and peace that pours from God's victory. As difficult as it is, when we see the wickedness and brutality of war, we need to model Jesus. We need to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44), while standing firm against evil. That portrays the spirit of Jesus and the heart of the Father. May we receive the wisdom of the Holy Spirit to follow their example.
I leave you with these final thoughts: Only God knows when that time or season of His appointment to the Final War will take place. But I cannot dismiss that we may [or will] experience a cataclysmic war on the way to our ultimate Victory against Satan and Evil. I only know that however or whenever war comes, I must remain steadfast in my hope and trust in the Lord. I will proclaim His Greatness, Mercy, Love, Glory, Justice, and Righteousness in all the circumstances that may befall our nation. I am ready to receive His judgment as well as His compassion and to represent Him to foe and friend alike, to the best of my abilities. I will take captive all thoughts of fear and anxiety; any feelings of hate or revenge, and I will endeavor to stay focused on the Holy Spirit [in me] to guide me in the ways of my Deliverer. Lord, let me stand ready to fight, or to lay down my sword -- whatever You command me. Just let Your Goodness and Your Peace cover this world. We are growing weary of the Enemy and his dominance over men's hearts. We long to see You manifest in the earth once more. Come, Lord Jesus, Come!
I invite you to click on the link to this article, which inspired me as I wrote this blog.
Joel 3:9-10. Proclaim this among the nations: Consecrate for war; stir up the mighty men. Let all the men of war draw near; let them come up. Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears; let the weak say, "I am a warrior."
