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When discussing the Just War Theory, one cannot overlook perhaps the first individual who gave profound thought to this question--Augustine of Hippo, a renown theologian who lived from 354 to 430 C.E. Augustine considered that a true Christian could be both a soldier and one who devoutly served God, though he stated emphatically that rattling sabers should be a last resort. Augustine counseled that God okays the defense of one's homeland to insure peace and punish warmongers who would attack a God-fearing kingdom. 

Does this doctrine excuse adventuresome wars, or any conflict that arises out of selfishness and greed? Absolutely not. Consider the following verse: James 4:1-2, “What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. And you are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel.” 

In order for a modern-day war to be just, it must fall within certain guidelines. Vincent Ferraro, the Ruth C. Lawson Professor of International Politics, Mount Holyoke college lists the following guidelines:

* A just war can only be waged as a last resort. All non-violent options must be exhausted before the use of force can be justified.

* A war is just only if it is waged by a legitimate authority. Even just causes cannot be served by actions taken by individuals or groups who do not constitute an authority sanctioned by whatever the society and outsiders to the society deem legitimate.

* A just war can only be fought to redress a wrong suffered. For example, self-defense against an armed attack is always considered to be a just cause (although the justice of the cause is not sufficient). 

* A just war can only be fought with "right" intentions: the only permissible objective of a just war is to redress the injury.

* A war can only be just if it is fought with a reasonable chance of success. Deaths and injury incurred in a hopeless cause are not morally justifiable.

* The ultimate goal of a just war is to re-establish peace. More specifically, the peace established after the war must be preferable to the peace that would have prevailed if the war had not been fought.

* The violence used in the war must be proportional to the injury suffered. States are prohibited from using force not necessary to attain the limited objective of addressing the injury suffered.

* The weapons used in war must discriminate between combatants and non-combatants. Civilians are never permissible targets of war, and every effort must be taken to avoid killing civilians. The deaths of civilians are justified only if they are unavoidable victims of a deliberate attack on a military target. 

Most of all, Jesus taught that peace was the desired state of mankind. That is why leadership committed to Godliness should never resort to war until the issue is prayed over, in concert with those entrusted to the security of the state, in an environment of profound deliberation

"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."

(Joh 16:33 KJV)

January 02 2014 • 2 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Bruce Lyon Elder: Restoration Fellowship Assembly

The "Just War Theory" is a cleverly contrived rational to allow Christians to pick up a gun and kill the "enemy". Jesus said if you live by the sword you die by the sword. What Peter did in cutting off the high Priest's servant's ear in the garden was against everything that Jesus was going to shed his blood for all. Jesus never picked up a weapon of any kind to defend himself and we are to follow in his footsteps and follow his example. We are commanded to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. You cannot love you enemy by killing him for any reason including the "Just War rational". 
We are called out of this world, to be separate from it, in it but not of it. That means that we are not to be involved in it's political process or military or police forces. Any job that requires a Christian to carry a gun is not in accordance with what we have been commanded to be and do by our lord and savior Jesus.

Notice what Paul said:

Romans 8:32-39: He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifies. Who is he that condemns? It is the anointed one that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

As it is written, For Your sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in the anointed one Jesus our Lord.

We are to be and act as defenseless as Jesus and Paul was as they went about their commission. Both Jesus and Paul realized that nothing could happen to them unless God allowed it to happen.

Are we any different. Do we not rely on our God and our Father to surround us by angels to protect us and keep us safe. Do we not realize that the Creator of the entire Universe knows the number of hairs on our head. 

Luke 12:4 And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore.....

Notice that God takes into consideration every hair on our head, and if He is that involved with us individually to that degree do you not think that He will provide protection for those that are His. If He does allow one of His own to be hurt, or killed, in the end result we are undergoing these things in the lord Jesus and the end result if we hold fast is new age life with him in the coming new age in the anointed one Jesus. 

John 14:18: I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

So Jesus as our comforter says he will come unto us, he has our back so to speak, always.

Joh 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

Indeed that comforter is none other that Jesus, and he abides with us forever, as a result he has our back, with him as my paracletos I am safe and protected, unless he allows me to undergo persecution or even to be killed for him. Everything we do in this life should be for our lord and savior Jesus and his God and his Father, the one with whom we have to do.

January 02 2014 • 4 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report