Western Heights Baptist Church
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  • ocean floor

      • Matthew 5:1–12ESV

  • Way Maker
  • Graves Into Gardens
  • The Old Rugged Cross
  • Background to passage: this is a passage gives governments legitimacy in the world. This is definitely not the only time OT or NT that God has clearly stated his authority is the necessary authority for any national action. It does give us an overarching view of a government’s role in the world and the Christians role toward the government, although not comprehensive. Gov is only God’s servant, good gov or bad gov to accomplish his will.
    Things get complicated for gov and Christians when war comes into the equation. Now is not really the best time for systematic theology, but better late than never. Christians over history have developed thoughtful principles for how believers should think and act regarding war. I will make some comments about the current war with Iran, but I want to teach of to think as we look back in history upon and forward upon future wars.
    When is it OK to go to war? How do we fight if we go? What happens when war happens?
    Romans 13:1–4 ESV
    1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.
    Opening illustration: Obi-Wan: "I must admit, without the clones, it would not have been a victory." Yoda: "Victory? Victory, you say? Master Obi-Wan, not a victory. The shroud of the Dark Side has fallen. Begun, the Clone War has." “Peace should be the object of your desire; war should be waged only as a necessity, so that God may deliver us from necessity and preserve us in peace.” — Augustine, (417 AD) “Those who wage war justly aim at peace; hence even in war they seek to avoid evil and secure a good peace.” — Thomas Aquinas (1271 AD)
    Main thought: I want to think for a few minutes on what godly, thoughtful men for hundreds of years have put time into that Christians may be obedient to God, submissive to their governing authorities, and loving to their neighbors and enemies.
    I do this in hope that you will see the greatest good as people knowing the Prince of Peace, but also that you might be able to examine current events Christianly simply on politics (although I realize that every war is political) or personal opinion (I realize that everybody has one).

    1) When is it justified to go to war?

    Explanation: Know that the bible does not condemn all war. For the believer, one may not know all the actions or knowledge behind the scenes, therefore possibly go to war that he doesn’t know is not just, but there are principles to help us. All war is “bad.” It’s just that some war may be a necessary/lesser evil to restrain greater evil or protect life. As someone said to me this week, war is always political. This is true and necessary because of one of the requirements of when it is justifiable to to go war.
    This is the beginning of the idea of restraint of evil in men that we must exercise during restraint of evil in gov.
    Argumentation: biblical support for the necessity of war
    OT instruction to go to battle, strategy for battle, which people to kill or keep alive.
    David said that the Lord prepared his hands for battle.
    Ecclesiastes says there is a time for war.
    John the Baptist told soldiers to be content with their wages.
    Jesus commended the faith of the centurion with a paralyzed servant,
    Cornelius was called a devout man who feared God,
    Paul used imagery of soldiers for instruction and gave legitimacy to pagan governments and defined their purpose including the punishment of evildoers.
    The bible also permits self-defense and the defense of neighbors and the weak or oppressed.
    Illustration: Phil Hopkins, chair of Gateway’s Missions and Intercultural Studies Department, and associate editor of the “IRAN: Journal of the British Institute of Persian Studies,” encourages Christians here to make sure their conclusions regarding the war are well informed.
    “History indicates that the war could hurt Christians in Iran. I personally think the war will hurt Christianity in Iran,” said Hopkins, who ministered for nearly 20 years with Iranians while a professor in Turkey, Armenia and the United Kingdom. “Christianity has increased spiritually and numerically in Iran, especially among the Muslim population.
    “I am concerned the war will change this and that Christianity will again be seen as a foreign religion and decrease spiritually and numerically in Iran, as America is considered a Christian nation,” he said. “What America does often in the minds of Iranians represents Christianity.”
    Application: Here are the most agreed upon tenets of when you can go to/fight in a war:
    There must be a just cause - defense against aggression, protection of the innocent, restoration of justice. Revenge, pride, or gain are not just causes
    There must be a legitimate authority - a lawful government. Private citizens, militias, areas within a country, terrorist factions are not legitimate authorities
    There must be right intention - final aim is justice and peace. To use war as a covering or facade for other goals is not just.
    War must be a last resort - all other means of settling the conflict must be exhausted. Diplomatic and peaceful options at resolution must be undertaken first.
    There must be a probability of success - there must not be the cost of human life without any likelihood of success. Hopeless causes should rule out war.
    Proportionality - the good expected from the war should outweigh the expected harm.
    I like history, but I am not versed enough on lots of wars to quote primary sources and so called “experts.” We don’t have time. Always know that the winners always write the history. However, these principles can help us evaluate the French and Indian war, the Revolutionary war, the Civil war, WW I & II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, Russia/Ukraine war, Israel/Hamas war, India/Pakistan war, Iran, and the next ten wars to come after this one.

    2) How do you fight rightly if you go to war?

    Explanation: Another component that we must look at is: if the war is justified/righteous, how then does a Christian carry it out personally, and how should governments (Christian or Non-Christian) engage in warfare in a manner that is righteous whether they know it or not.
    Illustration: I watched an early response from the exiled shah of Iran in which he made a plea for protection for the citizens of Iran. He assumed that all people in Iran are targets.
    Application: Again, these are the most agreed upon tenets of how to fight
    Combat must be limited to military personnel and military targets. Civilians and non-combatants (children, medical workers, humanitarian aid, prisoners) are not be targeted.
    Proportionality - you don’t drop a nuclear weapon on a nation that only possesses small arms. The force used should not exceed what is necessary to accomplish the military objective.
    Military necessity - actions taken must only be for military objectives. The taking of children, destruction of infrastructure that endangers innocent as leverage is not just.
    Using evil means is not just - torture, massacre, rape, burning cities, genocide, excessive pain infliction (certain weapons) are never justified.
    One complication is that modern means of warfare is now creating issues that governments, military, and believers have never had to deal with previously. Now you can fly a drone from half a world away, hit a target as small as a house, and not really know with absolute assurance of who is inside. A child is just as dead if you shot him with a rifle.

    3) Are there guidelines for after the war is over?

    Explanation: Outside of explicit revelation from God through his prophet as they did in the OT, there are principles for how to act after a war is over. These align with principles of righteousness, loving your neighbor, justice, and peace.
    Illustration: Marshall Plan of 1948
    Application: These are the general guidelines for post-war activities
    Seek restoration not revenge.
    Protect and rebuild communities
    Hold wrongdoers accountable
    Aim for reconciliation and lasting peace

    4) Action for such a time as this

    Explanation: Knowing about what makes a war just from a Christian perspective is different from whether a war seems to violate international law, if one exists. It is separate from forms of government or religious underpinnings or lack thereof. It is different from a question of constitutionality. It is different from the question of the Christianity of a leader or lack thereof. It is different than the polling of a people in a state or nation. As a general rule it crosses national lines and cultures and is based in moral considerations for human beings.
    So under the freedom of our own conscience and these principles we can discern the justice of military action, even under the possibility that we may disagree on one or more of these principles and to what degree.
    Let us:
    Pray for the glory of Christ. Christianity is advancing in Iran and we should desire that men and women come to know the only Giver of true and lasting peace.
    Pray for the Iranian people, and especially the Iranian Christians. This definitely has the potential to heighten persecution for believers. “There will be a new major wave of persecution for Christians,” Hormoz Shariat, the founder of Iran Alive Ministries said. “Because the government of Iran is afraid of Christians. They know Christianity is growing very fast. They feel endangered by Christians, and they will try their best to stop this growth of Christians.” Iran’s government “will be very brutal,” Shariat said. “Many Christians will be arrested. Many will die like never before. This wave of persecution, if the government stays, is going to be wide and it’s going to be very ugly for Christians and non-Christians.”
    Pray for missionaries that are in Iran and surrounding nations.
    Pray for the triumph over evil. Pray that evil men and the violence and oppression the propagate will come to an end.
    Pray for our national leaders, military personnel and their chaplains
    Pray for a swift end to conflict.
    Support ministries that are actively at work in the region and that will be ministering to refugees and administering humanitarian aid when possible.
    We do live in a democracy, therefore we have the power to hold accountable our representatives as to how they conduct themselves in relation to their power, influence, and duty during these times of conflict.
    Closing illustration: in closing, I want to quote Jesus
    Matthew 24:4–14 ESV
    4 And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. 9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. 10 And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
    Recap

      • Romans 13:1–4ESV

      • Matthew 24:4–14ESV

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Western Heights Baptist Church
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