Just Wars – Killing in the Name of Love

[Stan]

Nations claim His banner, but Jesus offered a different weapon—love. by Charles Mills Bible-preaching Christians tend to maintain the seemingly off-the-wall concept that God will fight their wars for them. They may have developed this idea from verses such as: “The Lord will fight for you: you need only to be still.” (Exodus 14:14, NIV)...

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[JoeErwin]

A principle that is fundamental to Christianity and many other religions and codes of ethics is "treat others as you wish to be treated." This seems to be a good basis for not starting fights or wars, yet many wars have been waged over religious disputes. Often, it seems, these wars have been to impose one set of beliefs on people who believe something different or to resist such imposition. Rather often, the differences are just cultural. Sometimes religious differences are merely used as a way of motivating people to coalesce into a fighting force to promote power or gain territory. When my country (USA) asked me (TOLD me) to serve in the military, I agreed to do so--although I really had no choice. As an SDA, however, I was able to assert my status as an objector to war as a means of solving problems. So, I trained and served as a medic. I was fortunate not to have to participate in combat, although I would have done so if that had been my assignment. Instead, I simply worked on a surgical and intensive care ward in a functioning military hospital in Heidelberg, Germany. More than 60 years later, I still object to violence as a means of solving disputes, but I am aware that violence is sometimes an essential response to counter unacceptable actions of others.