Can Christians become a part of war? This is a question Christians often ponder. But when this discussion comes up, you'll often find that every Christian has a different opinion about it. It is, therefore, safe to say, that not all Christians will have the same point of view in this matter, and we have to be respectful of that.
The Three Views on Christian Participation in War
There are generally three views on the participation of Christians in war. These are activism, pacifism, and selectivism. Activism is when Christians participate in a war their government enters. Pacificism is when Christians do not participate in any war, especially when there's killing involved. Selectivism, on the other hand, is when Christians participate in what they believe are just wars.
Activist View
Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. – Romans 13:1-2
There are Christians who believe that disobeying a government that God ordained is a sign of disobedience to God as well. Nonetheless, it is also important to point out that the Bible doesn't support total activism. What if you believe that your government's stand is wrong? Will you still fight for them? The only measure is to check if the government's goal contradicts the moral laws of God. If the government asks you to kill an innocent life and you know that is contrary to God's commandment, then you certainly should not do that.
Let me cite one perfect example here. Desmand Doss joined the U.S. Army in 1942 and fought in World War II. He was one of the 431 soldiers who received a Congressional Medal of Honor. Would you believe that Doss refused to bear any weapon? He successfully rescued 75 of his comrades without killing an enemy. His only weapons were his Bible and his faith. At first, his comrades disrespected his beliefs and mocked him. But after rescuing them, he received new found respect from his comrades, as well as the entire country. The famous movie "Hacksaw Ridge" is based on his story.
Pacifist View
Pacifists hold on to the Lord's commandment that we should not murder. They also promote strongly Matthew 5:39, which says, "But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also."
This means that they believe vengeance and violence are not the way to go.
There are some pacifists who simply believe that all wars are influenced by greed.
Selectivist View
The selectivist view is based on what they call a "just war". However, what a just war amounts to is a matter of debate, and often can only be defined by man - there is no mention of specifically what a "just war" would be in the Bible.
At a very basic level, selectivists will believe that a war is just and necessary if it is to defend the innocent, that it is fought for the cause of justice, and it is fought in a just way.
Many Christians who believe this point to evidence in the Bible. In Genesis 14, Abraham's war was an example of fighting against unjust oppressors. There are also instances when God used war to fight evil nations.
Should a Christian support war?
There is really no blanket correct answer to this one, as the topic is very broad to define in black-and-white. However, what you must remember is that God is also a warrior. His angels are also warriors. In Revelation 12, the archangel Michael will fight Satan. Clearly, this is something God had planned as well. At the end of the day, we have our moral values to hold on to, and we have the teachings of God to refer to. If you're someone caught in the middle of this issue or know someone who is, the best way to go about it is to pray, pray, and pray for wisdom and let God help with making the decision.
