Purpose Ministries

Anti-War: Is It Christian?
Brad Sherman
Jan 20, 2003


Anti-War: Is It Christian?

Is War Always Wrong?
I suppose many get the idea that Christians should automatically be against all war and violence comes from Jesus' statement about "turning the other cheek." Turning the other cheek is an issue of personal faith and witness, not an issue of civil responsibility. War between nations is a different matter. Rolling over and playing dead as a nation doesn't deter the ambitious tyrant bent on destroying and dominating, it only aids his cause.
To be consistent, the true pacifist has to also be against the very existence military armed forces, its just logical. But the military is no different from any other law enforcement agency, just bigger. So then, shouldn't we also be against the police force? Isn't it also wrong for the police to use force to stop a murderer, a thief, or a drunk from driving? I don't think so.
Jesus Himself said, "Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword." (Matthew 10:34). Jesus also said, however, that He would eventually bring peace. But how will He do that? He will return judging and making war until all the nations are subdued under the rule of His kingdom (see Revelation 19:11). Then there will be peace on earth.
So, if a person wants to be an antiwar pacifist, they have every right to be one, but they shouldn't believe it is a Christian position. There is a right time and a wrong time for war, but the blanket antiwar stance is not only unbiblical, it is illogical.

When Is the Right Time for War?
Deciding when it is time to go to war is obviously something that requires the consideration of huge amount of information. It is also probable that much of that information is highly sensitive intelligence that cannot be given to the public. We all have hour opinions, but the fact is, very few of us have access to enough information to make an intelligent decision about something as important as when to go to war. The fact is, those who control the media are responsible for forming public opinion. Sometimes it seems the media moguls are like puppeteers getting us to move and jump according to their will by telling us only what they want us to hear. The bottom line is: We need to trust our leaders. Instead of protesting and criticizing our leaders, we should prostrate ourselves and pray, trusting that God is able to work His will through them.

Isn't This War All about Controlling Oil?
I have heard the puppets on TV echoing the media's mantra, "This is just a war over big oil!" If that is part of the motivation for war, I have to ask, "What is wrong with that?" To use that as a reason to be against a war is also illogical.
What if Iraq or another rogue country controlled significant supplies of food and threatened to use that control to destabilize the world economy, which would result in hardship for millions? Should they be forced into submission? Of course. Someone can protest and shout, "Affordable food for all!" and everyone applauds. But if someone protests and shouts, "Affordable gasoline for all!" that person is vilified.
Food is an important resource and so is oil. So, think about it—the two are not unrelated! Whoever, controls oil will have a huge impact on the world economy, which also directly affects the production and distribution of food—as well as many other commodities.
"Yeah but..." someone will say, "What about those who get rich off oil? What about greed?" Well, sorry to burst your bubble of ideological bliss, but it's not a perfect world. Here is the real issue: which nation would you rather have controlling the oil; a) the nation that is ruled by an insane greedy dictator who, not only wants to be rich, but who also wants to destroy the whole western world; or b) the nation who has some rich and greedy people, but is governed by an elected body who desire to promote democracy and bring as much prosperity to the world as possible.
There has never been a nation who has had more opportunity to dominate the world than the United States of America, yet over and over we have chosen to rebuild the nations we have defeated. We don't live in a perfect world and the United States is certainly not a perfect nation, and our president is not a perfect man. But to the antiwar demonstrator I have this to say:


"There is a time to protest but now is not the time. Now is the time to pray and trust God to work through our leaders. So before you jump on the antiwar bandwagon, and say something disrespectful about our nation and its leader, cut those puppet strings and pray, "Father, if possible may this war be avoided. If not, may our victory be swift and may Your hand protect the innocent."