Is War Ever Right?

Our nation celebrates, morns, and remembers the fallen of our military on May 26, 2014. As a Veteran of the U.S. Army, I have a profound respect for every person who has put on the uniform of the United States of America military. So often, people question whether or not if it is right to go to war. Protesters line the streets of our cities to protest war.  The question is: Is war ever right?

What is war?:  According to the Webster’s Dictionary, war is:  “a state or period of fighting between countries or groups.  A situation in which people or groups compete with or fight against each other.  An organized effort by a government or other large organization to stop or defeat something that is viewed as dangerous or bad.”

There are many different types of wars:  War on drugs.  War on drinking and driving.  War on smoking.  Military wars. And on the list goes.  Each war is supposed to bring about a solution for the betterment or the protection of society as a whole. 

Ecclesiastes 3:8 Solomon said, "There is a time for war and a time for peace." According to Solomon, war is the right thing at times. The Bible tells of the times where God has commanded a war. When you look at the great heroes of the faith in Hebrews 11 there are a number of great leaders who stood out during a time of war: Joshua, David, Gideon, and Samson. Throughout the Old Testament, there were times in which war was the only option or a God directive.

Our nation has fought in many wars: From the Revolutionary War to the Civil War to World War 1 to World War 2 to the Korean War to Vietnam War to Iraq War to Afghanistan War. The call to war isn’t an easy decision to make, nor is it easy for families to let go of their sons and daughters to go fight them.

The United States is not the only nation who goes to war or is in a war.  As I write this article, Ukraine is in a bitter battle to keep their sovereignty.  Central African Republic is in a civil war. Egypt is dealing unrest. Nigeria is in war against Islamist militants. Sudan is in war against rebel groups and south Sudan is in a civil war.

Where you have people who want to control, manipulate or has a deep-seated hatred for others, you will have wars where blood is shed, people die, and nations go at it against each other.  I have seen firsthand protesters declaring their own war with those who have gone to war against another nation.  The protestor’s war may not shed blood or claim a life, but the desire to protest against someone else is still defined as a war. 

Is there any biblical precedence for declaring a war that sheds blood and takes lives?  Is there any justification for declaring war to stop dictators or to defend the innocent from oppression?  Is there any logic to the desire to stop the spread of evil by using force?  What would be some biblical reasons to go to war?:

To liberate a nation from dictatorship: God told Joshua to wipe out the Midianites, because they were very oppressive and evil. One of the evil practices they did was to throw babies into the fire.

In Numbers 32, God got very upset the Gadites and Reubenites tribes in Israel because they would not go to war. Moses says to these two tribes, "What are you going to do? Just sit here while the rest of your brothers go to war? Aren't you going to participate?" God became very anger and swore an oath: “Because they have not followed me wholeheartedly, not one of the men twenty years old or more who came up out of Egypt will see the land I promised Abraham.” Numbers 32:10b-11

 To defend innocent people: John Stewart Mills said, “A man who has nothing which he is willing to fight for, nothing which he cares about more than his personal safety, is a miserable creature who has no chance of being free.” Proverbs 21:15 “When justice is done it brings joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers.”

To stop the spread of evil: The Bible is very clear that God has authorized the government to enforce the law and punish offenders. Romans 13:4 “...He is God's servant, an agent of justice to bring punishment on the wrongdoers."

Remember, Be God Controlled,

Brian