A Christian Viewpoint of the War in Iraq

 

As the American and coalition forces invaded Iraq several antiwar demonstrations took place in various cities across the country.  Before the invasion some Christians have voiced their displeasure with the American stance on this issue.  Is the war in Iraq immoral or unchristian?

We often read in the Bible about the God of Peace and our Lord Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace.  Surely Christians should be against war since it causes so much suffering.  More than three hundred wars are mentioned in the Bible, so we should be able to discover what God thinks about them and whether He approves or disapproves.  Does God sometimes consider war is right or does He always say that it is wrong?  It is important to consider the Bible as a whole and not select those parts that suit our particular point of view.

The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name (Ex. 15:3)

Origins of War

Many Christians do not understand why God allows a nation to declare war against another. Others pose the questions: "Why is killing murder in one instance and not in another? Can a Christian support or participate in a war?

War can be caused by sin (James 4:1,2), by God's decree (Exodus 17:16), or as a result of God's judgment (II Samuel 12:10).  Primarily, war is the result of man's sinful nature. Sin entered the human race through Adam in the Garden of Eden, and it will be present until the Lord Jesus Christ executes His final judgment.  Until mankind is at peace with the Creator, man will not live in continued peace with his fellow man.  God allows men to strive against one another.  Though men use treachery for the sake of evil, God can still use their actions to bring about His good and His glory.

Although our Heavenly Father is loving and patient, He also has a stern hand of judgment. The Lord has extended his mercy to Gentile cities that repented under His prophets’ warnings but has also rained judgment on those who rebelled against Him.    On several occasions He commanded His people to attack cities and to kill every man, woman, and child.  It was the LORD who personally destroyed the entire populations of Sodom and Gomorrah.  The LORD also pronounced death to every firstborn child of Egyptian families that did not worship the One True God.  The LORD uses the nations of the world to bring about His final overall will.   His prophets wrote about God's use of heathen nations to execute judgment upon His own rebellious people.  For example, God used pagan governments to defeat and chastise both the Northern Kingdom, Israel, and the Southern Kingdom, Judah.  Several biblical prophets have dealt with the issue of God using wicked nations to execute judgment upon His people.

How did God deal with his special people about war?

There are five things in general: -

1.          He sometimes told them to go to war.  If they did what He said then they won the battle.  If they went against what he said they lost.

2.          He sometimes told them to exterminate their enemies.  He only told them to do this when the enemy was so corrupt that their survival in the whole or part would blight the history of the human race.

3.          Sometimes He did the fighting for them and they had to do nothing e.g. when they crossed the Red Sea and the Egyptian army was destroyed.  Preemptive Strike inspired by God (Jud. 7:15-22)

4.          Sometimes He fought against them.  He brought invaders to conquer their country e.g. Assyrians and the Babylonians.  Every time this happened, Israel had done things that God had wiped out other nations for.  Whatever God did for or against Israel was always morally justified - He is completely just.

5.          God did not approve of men who continually fight.  He told David that he could not build His temple because there was too much blood on his hands.  God, in effect, says" I must allow wars sometimes, but it is not what I desire which is peace between men.

There seems to be a difference in tone between the New and the Old Testaments in regard to war.  In the New Testament Jesus refuses to fight and He refuses to let his followers fight. 

Jesus spoke about War and Self-defense

We all know that the Lord Jesus Christ is a Man of compassion and conviction.   He possesses a soft touch.  To a woman caught in the very act of adultery he said, "Go and sin no more" (John 8:11).  On one occasion, Christ softly dealt with a woman who had five consecutive husbands and was living in fornication with a sixth man (John 4:18).  Besides having a soft touch, Jesus possesses the inner steel to stand firm in Biblical standards.   He stood up to men who were using the temple ground to do business and make profits.  He made and used a whip to drive the men out of the temple.   He then overturned the massive stone tables and scattered the money-changer's coins onto the ground (John 2:15).

Jesus spoke plainly in Matthew 24:6-8 and said that wars would be a part of the history of mankind right up until the end:

“And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled, for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.  For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.  And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.  All these are the beginning of sorrows”. (Mt. 24:6-8)

The sword can be used by a legitimate authority of a nation for self defense; but not to settle personal disputes.   For the sake of self defense, Jesus had earlier commanded His disciples in Luke 22:36,  "But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a sack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one."

But does not Jesus tell us not to resist one who would do us evil and to turn the other cheek? Indeed He does.  However we need to make a distinction between individuals and nations. 

After the apostle Paul wrote:

“Repay no one evil for evil.  Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.      If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord.  Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Rom. 12:17-21)

he immediately goes on to tell us that the government officials who punish crime and wield the sword are God’s servants!

 

“For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.” (Rom. 13:3-4)

 

Although individuals should turn the other cheek, God has clearly delegated to governments the responsibility to defend the stability of the nation even if it means the use of the sword.

America’s  Righteous War against Iraq

According to President Bush, the United States and coalition forces should overthrow Hussein because his government has been making biological and chemical (and maybe nuclear) weapons. Hussein promised to stop making such weapons in 1991 after his troops invaded Kuwait and were forced back by an international coalition.  Hussein has blocked inspections by the United Nations to check that he has kept his promise.  And many specialists on Iraq agree that a war -- or at least the threat of war -- is likely the only thing that will make Hussein keep his word.