What the Bible Says About War

    As a Christian there seems to be an unclear line as to whether or not we should participate in the wars of the world. Some sides argue that Jesus teaches us to love our neighbors and to turn the other cheek when they wrong us. Others point out that if we did not stand up we would not be able to exercise our freedoms and may be forced to compromise our beliefs.
    As it reads in Ecclesiastes 3:8: [There is] a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. Some wars are inevitable. We choose to fight them or submit our freedoms to governments who hold no intention of respecting them. Sometimes, this is not the most appealing choice to be forced to make, but we must make it nonetheless.
    Luke 17:3 says: So watch yourselves. If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them.
    In this passage I believe Jesus is telling us that we must forgive our neighbor, but we also must not sway in our faith. Some believe that if those who do wrong are not opposed or punished they will likely do wrong again, but Jesus teaches that although we must rebuke their wrongs we must forgive those who repent from them. There are plenty of confusing passages in the bible that seem to contradict each other when it comes to the topic of war.
    Matthew 26:56 tells us: "Put your sword back in its place," Jesus said to him, "for all who draw the sword will die by the sword." However, in the same book it reads in 10:34: "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword."
    As Christian's we may be looking for a direct passage where the bible either condemns war or promotes it. I believe you cannot be so straightforward about such a varying topic. It comes down to what wars you are fighting. If you are fighting for the Lord, defending your faith and striving to complete His will you must carry on. Timothy 6:12 reads, "Fight the good fight of the faith." In this way we can be sure that Jesus is not willing to compromise his views and the word of Matthew 10:34 is true.
    Consequently, not all wars have this goal in mind. Some are fought to gain more land, more power or to promote certain leaders or world views that will soon fall away. In these instances, we must be weary to pick up our sword, and we must heed the word of Matthew 26:56.
    In the end not everyone will agree upon when a fight is just and reasonable. In this way we must respect the view of others as Romans chapter 14 teaches us to do. "Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put a stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister." -Romans 14:13
    Let us, "Give back to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's" -Mark 12:17 for, "We must obey God rather than men." Acts 5:29

    -Katherine Rose