Ethics of War Pt.2

Ethics of War – Pt.2

One Sunday in my then parish in Vermont (the suburb of Melbourne – not the US State) I gave as a children's talk the story of David and Goliath. Straight after the service a lady came up to me brim full of anger and told me in no uncertain terms that she did not bring her children to church to have them hear war glorified.

I was astonished. Foolish me, I had not kept abreast of politics and the new 'political correctness'. I just told Bible stories in the belief that if God had them recorded in the Bible then there was something we could learn from them (OK I didn't tell the David and Bathsheeba story to children – but I did to teenagers).

This lady's reaction was symptomatic of the endemic failing in humanity in every age – that people judge the Bible by their standards rather than letting the Bible be the judge of their standards.

Does the Bible glorify war? No! Not in the least, but it does praise virtue that is shown in war. That is a very different thing!

In David's case in facing down Goliath, it was courage, resourcefulness and above all trust in God. When all the seasoned warriors of his people were retreating in fear from the challenge to do single combat with the giant Goliath, David volunteered. His resourcefulness in utilising speed, agility and a long range weapon (his sling) is most remarkable. His trust in God is his supreme virtue. He sees Goliath's challenge as the Philistines gods against their God. The challenge must be accepted.

Since their God is the one true God, victory is assured. The story bears out that David's faith was proved correct.

Perhaps modern people's problem is being too simplistic. The Bible is both more subtle and more precise. More consistently moral yet more realistic in its view of the world. So in various aspects it depicts both sides of the coin so to speak. Take these for example:

The Bible does not even envisage the possibility of people being pacifists, yet extols the virtues of seeking peace: “Blessed are the peacemakers” etc.

On one hand God goes (to use a modern phrase) absolutely ballistic against war crimes and also only slightly less 'ballistic' against people who start wars just to expand their borders.

On the other hand, God raises up military leaders for the ancient Israelites when they are in need, He gives military prowess and strength. He advises their military leaders on tactics to defeat invading enemies. He even miraculously causes mysterious mass deaths in an invading Assyrian army, causing them to withdraw.

The Bible says God hates violence and murder. So the description of evil people: “Their feet rush into sin; they are swift to shed innocent blood. They pursue evil schemes; acts of violence mark their ways.” (Isaiah 59:7) and even stronger words :

“The Lord examines the righteous, but the wicked, those who love violence, he hates with a passion.” (Psalm 11:5)

Yet military people figure among his favourites, with abundant examples from Joshua through to the soldiers in Jesus day.

We even find God miraculously healing Na'aman – Not only is Na'aman a successful army commander but a foreigner who has actually been fighting against the Israelites.

Again on the meta-question of warfare we see two sides. On one side an example where at one stage God apparently sets up a situation where there will be continued conflict so that the fledgling Israelite nation will have trained soldiers: “These are the nations the Lord left to test all those Israelites who had not experienced any of the wars in Canaan (he did this only to teach warfare to the descendants of the Israelites who had not had previous battle experience):” (Joshua 3:1,2)

On the other he depicts one of the blessings of heaven being an end to war “They will beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war any more.” (Isaiah 2:4)

Even from this small selection one can see how easy it is for people who come to the Bible with pre-conceived ideas to selectively present quotes to bolster these ideas. The real world is is more complicated than their model. God is perhaps the ultimate realist. He knows exactly how the world is and how fallen human nature operates. He manages to have an absolute moral being and yet take in reality and the 'big picture' to show the way his sort of people should act.

Both the jingoistic warmongers of the past and the PC anti-war / anti-military advocates of the present are only looking at half the picture.

War is terrible, but sometimes less terrible than letting evil go unopposed.

War is terrible, but evil people will force it on good people until it is made a thing of the past in Heaven. So as the saying goes “seek peace and prepare for war”.

Next Week : Is all Violence Bad ... ?