Can a Christian Support the War?

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.

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Turn the other cheek?

Q: How does defending ourselves and families relate to the teachings of Jesus? Do we turn the other cheek and let harm come to those around us? How does this relate to the war in Iraq?

A: The duties and functions of the state are quite different from those of the individual. Jesus clearly tells us that we are not to take the law into our own hands. When it comes to personal injury, we must resist the urge to seek revenge and strike back. We must let it go. We must forgive (like Jesus did with those who harmed him). However, God has given the government the power to “bear the sword.” The state is “God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer” (Romans 13:4). It is the state’s duty to defend its citizens from evildoers.

The law of love commands me to leave vengeance in God’s hands. It also compels me to love my neighbor. I must turn the other cheek. But, if you are being attacked, my love for you must cause me to protect you. The security guard at the Colorado church where a gunman opened fire on the crowd last month loved her neighbors when she shot and brought down the assailant. A soldier, fighting for his country, does the same.

Turning the other cheek does not mean pacifism. Long ago Saints Augustine and Aquinas developed what is known as the “just war theory.” In it, they laid out the conditions of a just war. I would encourage you to dig a little deeper, do some research into this and come to your own conclusions about the war in Iraq. But, on the issue of war itself, most Christians are united behind the just war theory. Only a minority of Christians are truly pacifists. United Methodists are not. Again, the duties of the state are different from those of the individual. Selfless love refuses to take revenge. It also refuses to stand by when others are being harmed.

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