Does God say war is a sin? Last week in his column George Valko challenged the “pro-life” Christians with a difficult question. How they can be so adamantly opposed to abortion and yet support a war? Doesn’t God say war is a sin? How can these two views ever go hand-in-hand?

War is an armed conflict between nations or factions within a nation. War is the method with which nations are sometimes “forced” to use in order to protect their citizens, but are they committing a sin in the process?

With so many questions, where could we find some answers? Since Christians believe the Bible is the word of God, let’s take it from the shelf, dust it off and examine what it says.

In Romans 13 in the New Testament, the text clearly says that governments exist to maintain order.

“Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.” (Romans 13:1)

Governments have to exist because there is evil in the world. If all people loved each other unselfishly and worked together instead of for selfish ambition, then governments would not be necessary. Unfortunately, this is not the case.

So, what exactly is the role of the government? Is it to simply make sure our highways are intact, our mail gets where it needs to go and our schools educate children? Well, all of these goals are certainly noble, but the government’s ultimate purpose is to protect the people of the nation. This includes maintaining internal order and protecting the borders from outside threats as well.

“For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.” (Romans 13:3)

Governments have not only the right, but the responsibility to protect citizens from evil. Evil can not go on ignored and unpunished.

“But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.” (Romans 13:4b)

This means the government has the right to fulfill its purpose as protector by waging war — if necessary.

This is the distinction between individuals aborting babies or murdering one another and governments killing enemies in the midst of war. Individuals are commanded not to murder to fulfill their desires or “needs,” but governments are permitted to wage war.

Imagine that you are hired by a family to baby-sit for their children. Your role and responsibility is to watch and protect the children. Now imagine a large dog suddenly runs over and intends to harm the children in your care. It is not only your right, but job to do whatever you must do to protect the children. Now, if those same children were to wander over to a friendly, harmless dog and start kicking it or throwing stones at it, your job and responsibility would be to stop the kids and discipline them for acting foolishly according to their own desires. Governments have a different role than citizens, just as the baby-sitter has a different responsibility than the kids.

Times of war pervade history. In fact, war is the common theme in humanity. This is because although times change, human nature does not. Evil existed in ancient Babylon, as it did in Nazi Germany, as it does today in many places throughout the world. History is often measured in the time and duration of wars.

Clearly, when a nation commits to war, it is a grave decision. A just war is a war that is motivated for the protection of innocent people from tyranny. A leader who commits his country to war bears the huge responsibility of being accountable for the motives of war. Power can be a burden it seems.

Sometime issues that look like opposites really are not. Is war the opposite of peace?

There is an ancient Roman expression “Epitoma Rei Militaris,” which means “If you want peace, prepare for war.” Sometimes a season of war must be endured to establish peace. Ideally, that season would never exist, or be short instead of a long winter of discontent and suffering. But, when winter ends, we can be grateful for the hope and peace spring brings.

E-mail comments to Amanda at [email protected].