Dr. Robert C. Newman, Prof N.T.                                                            St.Paul Lutheran Church

Biblical Theological Seminary                                                                     Flemington, NewJersey

November 1, 1987                                                                                         Sanctityof Life Series

 

THE ETHICSOF WAR

 

Introduction

 

            Inlight of our concern over abortion and the sanctity of life, can we rightlyhold any other position on the ethics of war than pacifism ?

 

            To answer this, need to answer some basicquestions:

                        1.Where does sanctity of life come from?

                        2.Does God place any bounds on this sanctity?

                        3.Has God delegated such authority to humans?

                        4.Is this authority restricted to OT Israel?

                        5.Does this God‑given authority extend beyond the bounds of police actionwithin one's country?

                        6.Does this authority extend to offensive warfare?

                        7.What is the responsibility of Christian individuals to their government inregard to warfare?

                        8.What is a "just war"?

 

1. Where does sanctity of life comefrom?

 

            Problemof value of life in societies where man merely advanced animal:

                       Nazi,Marxist obvious

                       Hindutends to put all life on same plane

                       SecularHumanism:

                                   snaildarter vs human unborn

                                   Sagan,Dragons of Eden, p 42

            Suggest value comes frommankind being created in image of God; apart from Him, hard to justify suchsanctity.

 

2. Does God place any bounds on thissanctity?

 

            Infinitevalue of human soul?

                        Maybe,but what happens when one human kills another?

            6th commandment: "thou shalt not kill"

                        notprohibition on all killing of humans

                        inconsistenteven with near context

           Hebrew word better translated "commit murder"

                        recognizedby most modern English versions:

                                    Moffatt,Smith‑Goodspeed, NEB, TEV, NASB, Berkeley, Ampl, Living, NIV plus OAB ofRSV and NSRB of KJV


            God certainly reserves right to put people todeath

                        e.g.,Ezkiel 18:4; Romans 6:23

 

Ezek 18:4 (NASU) [God speaking] Behold, all souls areMine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine. The soulwho sins will die.

 

Rom 6:23 (NASU) For the wages of sin is death, but thefree gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

3. Has God delegated such authority tohumans?

 

            Yes, earliest indication: Genesis 9:5‑6

 

Gen 9:5 (NASU) Surely I will require your lifeblood; fromevery beast I will require it. And from [every] man, from every man's brother Iwill require the life of man. 6 "Whoever sheds man's blood, By man hisblood shall be shed, For in the image of God He made man.

 

            God to demand accounting for human lifefrom humans

                        Shedblood of those who shed blood of others

                        Ambiguity:does God appoint men to kill murderers

                                    ordoes He say He will use men to kill them?

                        MosaicLaw solves this by clearly indicating men commanded to carry out death penalty.

 

           Exodus 21:12: intentional killing has death penalty

                       Notev 14: "take him from my altar & put him to death"

                       Othergrounds for death penalty in context:

                                   attackon parents (15)

                                   kidnapping(16)

                                   cursingparents (17)

                       Othergrounds elsewhere:

                                   cursingGod (Lev 24:16)

                                   idolatry(Ex 22:20)

                                   sorcery(Ex 22:18)

                                   spiritism(Lev 20:27)

                                   adultery(Lev 20:10)

                                   incest(Lev 20:11)

                                   homosexuality(Lev 20:13)

                                   bestiality(Ex 22:19)

                        Nota blank check

                                    Boundsinvolve wicked behavior

                                    Deathpenalty restricted to more heinous crimes

 


4. Is this authority restricted to OTIsrael?

 

            Not apparently given tochurch per se, in spite of some actions undertaken now & then in churchhistory.

            But note divine authority delegated togovernments:

                        Romans13:1‑7:

                                   Everyonemust submit to governing authorities

                                   Noauthority exists except established by God

                                   Rebellionagainst authority is rebellion against God's institution

                                   Govt.is God's servant, agent of wrath to punish wrongdoing

                                   Govt.does not bear sword for nothing

                        1Peter 2:13‑14:

                                   Submitfor Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men:

                                                e.g.,king, governors

                                   Theyare sent to punish those who do wrong,

                                               commendthose who do right

            Authority to put to deathgoes with government authority, whether established directly by God (OT Israel)or providentially by God (Gentile govts.).

            This authority is not absolute, and may be misusedby govt.

            Believers are right to resistgovt. when it commands what God forbids or forbids what God commands;  e.g., Acts 4:19‑20; 5:29

 

5. Does thisGod‑given authority extend beyond the bounds of police action withinone's country?

 

            Nobiblical reason to distinguish between invaders killing innocent people andrebels or thieves doing same.

                        e.g.,activities of David, Gideon fighting invaders at God's express command

            Therefore this authority certainly extends todefensive war.

 

6. Does this authority extend tooffensive warfare?

 

            Not as much information here in Scripture

            Deuteronomy 20 pictures warfare bothinside and outside Canaan, including siege warfare against enemies, which iscertainly offensive; but nothing here re/ causes of such a war.

            2 Samuel 10 pictures external warfare toredress insult to ambassadors.

            Deut 17 discourages king from multiplyinghorses, a major feature of military might.

            Amos 1‑2 pictures God's response to variousGentile nations' activities in waging war:

                        1:3‑ "threshing" Gilead (app atrocities)

                        1:6‑ taking captive & selling whole communities (into slavery)

                        1:9‑ selling communities & disregarding treaty

                        1:11‑ pursuing brother with sword, stifling compassion

                        1:13‑ ripping open pregnant women to extend territory

                        2:1‑ burning bones to lime (desecrating bodies?)

                        Forthese sins, God will bring destruction on them.

            Naturally it is no more rightfor a government to steal, murder or oppress than it is for indivduals to do so.

 

7. What isthe responsibility of Christian individuals to their government in regard towarfare?

 

            See Rom 13:1‑7 and 1 Pet 2:13‑14(above)

                        Submissionto government (so long as it is not asking you to disobey God).

            Thereare no statements in Scripture that speak against service in military:

                        e.g.,Jesus, John B., Luke speak favorably of various soldiers

                        (e.g.,Lk 3:14, Mt 8:5‑13, Ac 10:1‑4)

           JesusŐ remark about dying by sword (Mt 26:52) seems to be aboutresisting authorities by force (note remark about legions of angels).

           The nonresistance remarks in the Sermon on the Mount (Mt 5:38‑47)seem to be dealing with personal revenge rather than limits of governmental authority.

            As partial rulers in ourparticular form of government, we should naturally try to see that ourgovernment does the right thing, if possible.

 

8. What is a "just war"?

 

            Term developed over centuriesof study of Bible by Christians to try and work out under what conditions warfareis justifiable; common guidelines (see Payne & Payne, A Just Defense, p 42):

 

            1. Just cause

            2. Just intent

            3. Last resort

            4. A formal declaration

            5. Limited objectives

            6. Proportionate means

            7. Noncombatant immunity

            8. Reasonable hope for success

 

Summary

 

            Haven't solved all problems, but all problems willnot be solved until our Lord returns!

       

            Ifall countries believed in and practiced defensive warfare only, there would beno wars.

       

            Godhas given governments the responsibility to protect the righteous from thewicked, and this may sometimes involve warfare.

       

            Toadvocate that our government practice pacifism either internally or externallywould be to hand over millions of (relatively) innocent people to oppressionand death.  For unsaved people,such death would be ultimate disaster.