Q: With the current war in Iraq and the war on terrorism, am I as a Christian supposed to support the war effort (troops, politicians, & the overall war effort)?
A: I'm not sure why I choose to take the hairy political issues. First it's abortion, now the war. Next, someone will ask who to vote for, and my head just might explode. Until then, what shall we say about the war? I feel there are two ways that a Christian can approach the war in Iraq (or any war, for that matter).
The first way is pacifism. The pacifist Christian gets his/her foundation from Matthew 5:39, which reads, "Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also." Those words come straight from the mouth of Jesus, so there must be some credence given to them. However, one will also note that Jesus resorted to what appeared to be violence when he drove the moneychangers from the Temple, turning over their tables and using a whip (we don't know that He use the whip on people). Regardless, the pacifist take is one way to approach war.
Another way that many Church fathers (St. Augustine and Thomas Aquinas) and theologians (Immanuel Kant and Paul Tillich) have looked at war is through the lens of the Just War Theory. This theory states that a war is justified if it meets certain conditions, and that there are certain actions within a war that are justified. The criteria for going into war (jus ad bellum) are:
Just cause: The cause must be just, and can therefore include taking back things that were taken or punishing those that have done wrong.
Comparative justice: Recognizing that there is suffering on all sides of a war, the injustice suffered by one side must far outweigh that suffered by the other.
Legitimate authority: Only those that are legitimately in authority may use deadly force or wage war.
Right intention: Force may only be used in a truly just cause, such as righting a wrong. Material gain is not right intention.
Probability of success: If you can't win, if the cause is futile, you should not engage.
Last resort: All other peaceful and viable options must be attempted and exhausted first.
Proportionality: The anticipated benefits of waging a war must be proportionate to the harms that are expected.
Once in a war, there are a couple of other considerations that must be kept in mind to keep it a just war (jus in bello):
Distinction: The acts of war should be directed at the enemy combatants, and not at civilians.
Proportionality: The force used must equal to the wrong endured and to the good that may come.
Military necessity: The minimum force necessary should be used.
Now, you may be thinking after reading all of this philosophic rigmarole, "Just tell me if I should support this war, already!" I'm sorry, but I really can't do that. There are certain things that I can give a definitive answer for, but unfortunately this isn't one of them. What I would recommend is that you read through the criteria for a just war, pray, and decide for yourself. Also, I would recommend highly that you DO support the troops that are serving. They are doing their American duty to serve and protect us. If the Administration makes decisions that you don't agree with, don't blame the troops for it. They deserve our support.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Can a Christian Support the War?
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2 comments:
I address this as a deeply committed lay person and career serviceman who has experienced war. First, pacifism is a logical position. Sometimes I conclude that it is the only possible Christian response, but I’m not a pacifist. Yet I struggle with the horror of war. CS Lewis was helpful to me (Mere Christianity, pg 91-93).
Second, I would caution about how the passage, “turn the other cheek” is applied. Dallas Willard would suggest that it is an individual response. That to do so and consequently expose others to danger could lead to harm. (Wesley said, “First, do no harm.”) Unfortunately, we live in a gray world.
Third, I’m uncomfortable with possible misinterpretations of proportional response and minimum force. If war is necessary, I would be a proponent of Colin Powell’s doctrine of overwhelming force. The ability to contain and shorten conflict would hopefully lead to proportionally fewer casualties and damage.
I’ve recently watched Ken Burn’s PBS documentary, “The War,” what was termed by one of the combatants as “a necessary war.” It should be required viewing to show not only what our fathers and mothers went through but to contrast it to today. War is hell, but sometimes man’s inhumanity to man must be halted, even if by force.
I have mixed feelings and regret about the circumstances we now find ourselves in. I’ve almost concluded that war can never be supported because of the unintended consequences and incompetence that so often accompany it. In contrast, Christ told us that “there is no greater love than this, that one would lay down their life for a friend.” Are there not circumstances where love is served by the sacrifices of good people? Is it not love to give an Afghanistanni girl the freedom to go to school?
It is important that Christian people, good people, wrestle with these questions and never become comfortable with them. God made the world that way and told us in Genesis 3 that life would involve pain, toil, sweat and limited time; and Jesus told us there would always be wars. He gave us a gray world in which most Christians believe that war can be justified. The decision should always be difficult, and we must remember whose kingdom we serve.
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None of the staff have responded to this post because it really asks no question, and it is so well written there is nothing to push back on.
Personally, I very much appreciated your perspective, Rick. Thanks for taking the time to post and share these thoughts with us.
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