WAR in the Bible

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Christina

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"What does the Bible say about war?" Many people make the mistake of believing the Bible says, “You shall not kill,” and seek to apply this command to war. However, the Bible actually says, “You shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13). The Hebrew word literally means “the intentional, premeditated killing of another person with malice.” God often ordered the Israelites to go to war with other nations (1 Samuel 15:3; Joshua 4:13). God ordered the death penalty for numerous crimes (Exodus 21:12; 21:15; 22:19; Leviticus 20:11). So, God is not against killing in all circumstances, but rather only murder. War is never a good thing, but sometimes it is a necessary thing. In a world filled with sinful people (Romans 3:10-18), war is inevitable. Sometimes the only way to keep sinful people from doing great harm is by going to war with them.War is a terrible thing! War is always the result of sin (Romans 3:10-18). In the Old Testament, God ordered the Israelites to: “Take vengeance on the Midianites for the Israelites” (Numbers 31:2). See also Deuteronomy 20:16-17, “However, in the cities of the nations the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, do not leave alive anything that breathes. Completely destroy them--the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites--as the LORD your God has commanded you.” Exodus 17:16 proclaims, “He said, "For hands were lifted up to the throne of the LORD. The LORD will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation." Also, 1 Samuel 15:18, “Go and completely destroy those wicked people, the Amalekites; make war on them until you have wiped them out.” So, obviously God is not against all war. Jesus is always in perfect agreement with the Father (John 10:30), so we cannot argue that war was only God’s will in the Old Testament. God does not change (Malachi 3:6; James 1:17).Jesus’ Second Coming also is exceedingly violent. Revelation 19:11-21 proclaims, “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, "Come, gather together for the great supper of God, so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and mighty men, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, small and great." Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the rider on the horse and his army. But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. The rest of them were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.”It is an error to say that God never supports a war. Jesus is not a pacifist. In a world filled with evil people, sometimes a war is necessary to prevent even greater evil. If Hitler had not been defeated by World War II, how many more millions of Jews would have been killed? If the Civil War had not been fought, how much longer would African Americans have had to suffer as slaves? We must all remember to base our beliefs of the Bible, not on our emotions (2 Timothy 3:16-17).Ecclesiastes 3:8 declares, “there is…a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. In a world filled with sin, hatred, and evil (Romans 3:10-18), war is inevitable. Some wars are more “just” than others, but all wars are ultimately the result of sin. Christians should not desire war, but neither are Christians to oppose the government God has placed in authority over them (Romans 13:1-4; 1 Peter 2:17). The most important thing we can be doing in a time of war is to be praying for godly wisdom for our leaders, praying for the safety of our military, praying for quick resolution to the conflict, and praying for minimum casualties – on both sides of the conflict (Philippians 4:6-7).
 

treeoflife

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I do not believe Christians should enter, willingly or unwillinging, into warfare for or against another nation.
Mark 13:7-9When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains. "You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them.
We, Christians, Jesus says, will hear of wars and rumors of wars. He says that we should "not be alarmed." I find it rather difficult, to be in such a state that I could be taken off my guard, that there is a war... if I am in fact inlisting for the very purpose of going to war. Furthermore, on that, I do not believe that I can obey Jesus by "not being alarmed," and decide to enlist in said war. Rather, I am going to not be alarmed... I will not concern myself with the wars of this world.Finally, Jesus instructs us, Christians, to be on our guard, and that we will be handed over to LOCAL COUNCILS, flogged, and the like for His sake. While nation is against nation, and kingdom is against kingdom... Jesus shows the other side of the coin. He shows us what will be happening to us Christians. If I am fighting, for a nation, in a war... I find it difficult that I should be handed over to local councils at such a time as this. Jesus seperates the two--those fighting in wars, and us Christians who, in these times, are delivered up to local councils (not in wars).Jesus with the New Covenant, brought a new purpose--The Gospel. This is our ministry. And about wars, we are to not be concerned. The world will do it's thing, and we will do ours. It is a mistake for a Christian to willingly give him or herself over to the ministers of this world, to issue physical justice for or against another nation. I can't see it any other way. Jesus teaches us a NEW WAY, a life in the Spirit, and I do not believe that Christians should become entangled with such things as military. Once you've made yourself subject to this master... you are now under his authority to do and will as he pleases.
The most important thing we can be doing in a time of war is to be praying for godly wisdom for our leaders, praying for the safety of our military, praying for quick resolution to the conflict, and praying for minimum casualties – on both sides of the conflict
Amen
 

Christina

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You are taking that verse not be alarmed out of context the subject of the chapter is what are the signs of the End there will be wars and rumors of wars do not be alarmed that is to be afraid or concerned these things MUST come to pass
 

Jake99

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Thou shall not kill means what it says and learn war no more is part of that directive. No lines on the map and no dividing of the land prevents wars from ever happening.
 

Christina

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(Jake99;55116)
Thou shall not kill means what it says and learn war no more is part of that directive. No lines on the map and no dividing of the land prevents wars from ever happening.
Wrong it means thou shall not commit murder. A little deeper study will prove this.
 

Jordan

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Thou shall not kill means what it says and learn war no more is part of that directive. No lines on the map and no dividing of the land prevents wars from ever happening.
Wrong it means thou shall not commit murder. A little deeper study will prove this.I agree with you Kriss. Although the word murder is very limited in the bible...Matthew 19:18 - He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
 

Christina

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I could also add this Jake99 Matthew 10:34-35 – “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.”The majority of Christians believe that Jesus came to bring peace. Many feel it is their Christian duty to spread “love” and “peace,” because “that’s what Jesus did.While this is true in part he also has another purpose. He reveals He came to bring “a sword” and set “at variance” (Greek: make apart, sunder, alienate) family members.He will seperate the wheat from the chaff
 

Jake99

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The Messiah fights wars with words smiting nations and judging judges, and teaches to love your enemy. Learn war no more is a concept this world has not yet understood. By what authority is mankind allowed to kill a human being? Wars are fought over land that was not supposed to be divided or have lines of possession drawn upon it. If mankind continues to sin they will continue to war and kill its that simple.
 

Jordan

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The Messiah fights wars with words smiting nations and judging judges, and teaches to love your enemy. Learn war no more is a concept this world has not yet understood. By what authority is mankind allowed to kill a human being? Wars are fought over land that was not supposed to be divided or have lines of possession drawn upon it. If mankind continues to sin they will continue to war and kill its that simple.
Luke 22:35 - And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing.Luke 22:36 - Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.By which authority... Christ, the Son of God. He allowed them to buy a sword for Self-Defense.Ecclesiastes 3:3 - A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;Ecclesiastes 3:8 - A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
 

Jake99

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I have no problem with weapons of self defense or for hunting its the weapons of war that I stand against. Murder, adultry, theft and lying are all a result of using the complicating governing system that the bible prohibits.
 

followerofchrist

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I have no problem with weapons of self defense or for hunting its the weapons of war that I stand against. Murder, adultry, theft and lying are all a result of using the complicating governing system that the bible prohibits.
If you kill in self defense your still killing. You said yourself NO KILLING (AKA no wars)But as far as dividing land goes, God gave control over land to multiple men in the OT.
 

HammerStone

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By what authority is mankind allowed to kill a human being?
The Almighty's authority.Genesis 9:6
Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.
And elsewhere.The fact of the matter is, Thou shalt not kill specifically relates to lying in wait and murdering.