Question:
Dear Greg,
Can
you give me some clarification on God’s character trait of justice and how
that correlates with the United States seeking justice from the perpetrators of
the World Trade Center attacks?
Are
Christians supposed to be supporting military action?
If so, why, if not, why not?
Robin
Answer: Dear Robin,
There
are at least four biblical positions about Christians and warfare.
Most countries that have some basis in the Judeo-Christian heritage allow
for Christians practicing one of these four valid positions.
The
first is non-resistance. Christians who have such a position often believe that
Christian participation in war should be limited to non-combatants—medics,
cooks, quartermasters, etc.
Second
is pacifism. This is the most
“extreme” view, in that Christians who have such a belief will not
participate in war of any kind. They often will not own a gun, will not become a security
guard, policeman, etc. They believe
that peace is their calling, period.
Third
is the just war idea. The just war biblical view sees warfare as permissible if the
warfare is defensive—in a similar way as personal safety.
No Christian should offensively assault anyone else, goes this view, but
should Christians find themselves being physically threatened, they may
defensively protect themselves and/or their loved ones and fellow citizens.
Some, of course, believe that the United States military follows this
principle—that we do not attach others, but defend what is rightfully ours, or
some other country that is threatened.
Fourth—Christians
may not only go to war to defend themselves, but they may—indeed must—in
the cause of justice. When
outrageous and evil behavior occurs, such as Adolph Hitler, such as the Al
Quaeda terrorists, then, goes this view, Christians are duty-bound and obligated
to stand against a moral evil. They
are, given this view, agents of God standing against evil oppression (see Romans
13).
In
Christ,
Greg Albrecht