“When you go out to war against your enemies…” Deuteronomy 20.1

The Law of God was given in a context in which war was imminent, inevitable, and virtually continuous. Thus, war is not inherently evil; otherwise, God would not have taught His people to prepare for taking life on such a scale. Sometimes, God wanted His people to know, it is necessary to go to war against neighboring countries, during which wars, we might expect, lives will be spent and taken.

Not much has changed since Biblical times. War is still continuous, at least, somewhere in the world. And given the “war on terror” it’s also imminent and inevitable. Or so it seems.

It is not my purpose here to restate traditional “just war” theory as Christians have articulated this over the years. I simply want to affirm the teaching of God’s Law that, under certain circumstances, when the restoration or preservation of justice requires, war may be necessary.

I would, however, like to point out other “life-saving” measures spelled out in the Law of God that should be taken into consideration when a just war is to be engaged.

First, we should note that the concerns of family take priority over the concerns of the state. Newlyweds must not be sent to war (Deut. 20.7; 24.5). They are to be free of martial duties for a period of one year in order to establish their marriages and, hopefully, the beginnings of a family.

Similarly, those who have undertaken significant new ventures in building a home – which houses a family – or starting a business – which serves the family and the community – are also to be exempt, so that they can be free to pursue justice and neighbor-love on a different “front” (Deut. 20.5-7).

In times of war those who are fearful of dying should not be sent to engage in it, lest their fear jeopardize the safety and lives of those who fight with them (Deut. 20.8).

When a just war is to be engaged, moreover, means must be employed (a) to secure the repentance and surrender of the offending opponent before acts of war actually begin, and (b) to preserve the natural resources of the opponent, since they will be necessary for future rebuilding (Deut. 20.10, 11, 19, 20).

Christians must be on the front lines of promoting policies that support life as God intends it, whether these relate to the conduct of war, the punishment of criminals, the protection of the unborn, or any other issues that concern the ability and duty of human beings to love God and their neighbors as their reason for being.

Justice requires that we seek God’s will for the preservation and betterment of human life, and, while His will is revealed throughout the Scriptures, the beginnings of His concerns are to be found in the Law of God. We must not allow the holy and righteous and good teaching of God’s Law (Rom. 7.12) to be neglected or ignored, lest we have only our own opinions to stand on when it comes to waging the war for life in our day.

T. M. Moore

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