What About War?
Realistically, nobody likes war. Certainly not soldiers and their families. Not even politicians. War, despite the noble picture often painted by literature and film, is a painful, costly, frightening experience. But nations, and the citizens living therein, often find themselves at war.
Pacifists have a certain well-publicized response. Loyalists have another. Some are satisfied that war can be at times good, and at times evil, and trust that our government is the best arbiter of the standards of differentiation.
It is not enough to simply look to the results of a particular war to determine its value, for we are not mere pragmatists. Nor should it be enough to blindly wave a flag and say, ‘our country, right or wrong.’ But despite the complexity and emotionalism of the issue, we shouldn’t just ignore it either.
War is a part of life on earth. Not a desirable part, any more than weeping, tearing, or losing are desirable. But the Preacher in Ecclesiastes declares that those things, AND war have their appropriate (albeit painful or sad) times. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)
War in the Old Testament was a tool used by God (however harsh and costly) for particular purposes. War seems to have been endorsed by God for the initial establishment of His kingdom on earth at that time, Israel. It also seems to have been endorsed by God to punish His people, or prod them towards repentance. However, these examples are difficult to bring into modern application. God’s present kingdom, the church, is not brought about by a physical gun-totin’ army… Nor are WE able to discern God’s will for punishment or prodding; using war (on our own) as a tool on God’s behalf is questionable, and quite arrogant.
While not as valuable as a set of Biblical principles, theologians have developed through the years a set of guidelines for defining a ‘just war.’ Note, that before we even get to the concept of what a ‘just war’ might be, we are accepting the concept that military expression of force by a nation is not unethical. But it should be done cautiously, humbly, and according to carefully worked out standards. If nothing else, Paul’s exhortation to do all things “decently and in order” (I Corinthians 14:40) should guide our efforts here.
It is my belief that just wars are not presently being executed in these United States. As each of the ‘just war’ principles are described, I hope to demonstrate how today’s wars are not following these principles.
Exercised by proper authority: This might seem an obvious guideline… the “sword” has been given to the State as a delegation of God’s authority. (Romans 13) The purpose of the State is to establish justice (ensuring that all under her authority receive what is their ‘due.’) At times, this includes war. (But only where the other guidelines and principles have been kept.) However, in nations such as our Republic, a complication arises. Who is to define which wars are necessary for justice? According to our constitution, ONLY the Congress can declare that the USA is at war. In other words, only the Congress defines what war is necessary for justice. This is not simply a matter of the division of the branches of government. It is a part of our Constitution because the determination of justice is not to be found in one man (or small group of men.) (Proverbs 16:22) The use of the state’s sword is best determined by a multitude of counselors… in the case of our government, a congress. Any use of the sword that is not so determined is not a proper use. In more modern times, pragmatism has removed this condition. From Nixon’s Gulf of Tonkin, to today’s Executive Orders moving troops to hot spots, war is effectively declared NOT where proper authority is being exercised, but rather where tyranny governs.
ALL other paths explored and attempted: If there is a time for war, it is only after all other options have been ruled out. In the first chapter of Deuteronomy, Moses attempts diplomacy, economic recompense, and treaty to avoid war with the descendants of Esau. These attempts all failed, and war resulted. But war was not Moses’ first desire. While war might seem the most efficient and immediate method to meet a nation’s goals, it is never presented in Scripture as anything but a last resort. Moses’ warning to the Israelites about the dangers of having a king (Deuteronomy 17) show that governments, far removed by their very nature from the personal and local, will not avoid the deaths of their citizens with the same passion of parents and neighbors. Even though war is effective, and sometimes seems the most logical choice, should be avoided until absolutely necessary (as determined by more than just the administrators of government; see previous principle!) In modern times, war is treated as a useful tool. Small wars are common. The military is used as a present diplomatic force, instead of as a threat of last resort. War is used to force other nations to adhere to the American government’s present programs, often see-sawing back and forth as elections are won and lost. The arms sold to Iraq during President Nixon’s era were used to attack America’s ally, Iran, in later years; and eventually used against our own forces in Desert Storm and Shield. War (and its subsidiary arms industry) is not a last resort anymore.
Defensive in Nature: Simply put, wars that are just are never, ever, ever anything other than defensive. Because a just war is always the last resort, that is conceivably always ONE more thing to try before going to war. In fact, a war that is NOT defensive is a form of theft. Some might say that a war that is preventative is still defensive, but that is rationalizing. If a nation (or perhaps it’s ally) is not attacked, that nation has no business going at war. Today we seem to start wars that are not defensive. We attack nations because we suspect they have weapons that might be used horrifically… but which they have not yet used. We attack to prevent wars… which is a strange logic indeed.
PEACE the goal: The only worthy goal of war is peace. And that goal should be obvious. A goal that is to protect financial investments, to expand territory, to gain resources is not a just war. From the above, it is clearly reasoned that the only war that is just is a war that has as its aim to bring peace. This makes very few wars ‘just.’
This is obviously a brief expose, while longer than my usual posts. It is not possible to do other than paint this subject with a broad brush in a paper of this size. However, I hope to have described that rare beast, the ‘just war.’