Bible Questions "Is War Wrong"

Title: Bible Questions "Is War Wrong"

Understanding the Bible's Stance on Warfare

I. Introduction

A. Common misinterpretation of Exodus 20:13

B. Definition of the Hebrew word for "kill"

C. God's commands to go to war in the Old Testament

II. War and the Old Testament

A. God commanding Israelites to go to war (1 Samuel 15:3; Joshua 4:13)

B. Death penalty for various crimes (Exodus 21:12, 15; 22:19; Leviticus 20:11)

C. War as a necessary evil in a sinful world (Romans 3:10-18)

III. God's Commands for War in the Old Testament

A. Vengeance on the Midianites (Numbers 31:2)

B. Destruction of enemy cities (Deuteronomy 20:16-17)

C. War against the Amalekites (1 Samuel 15:18)

IV. Jesus and War

A. Agreement between Jesus and the Father (John 10:30)

B. God's unchanging nature (Malachi 3:6; James 1:17)

C. The Second Coming of Christ (Revelation 19:11-21)

V. War as a Necessary Evil

A. The need to confront evil in the world

B. The consequences of not confronting evil (e.g., Hitler, American Civil War)

C. War as a result of sin (Romans 3:10-18)

VI. War and Peace in a Sinful World

A. A time for war and peace (Ecclesiastes 3:8)

B. Christian response to war and government authority (Romans 13:1-4; 1 Peter 2:17)

C. Praying for wisdom, safety, and peace (Philippians 4:6-7)

VII. Conclusion

A. War is a tragic but sometimes necessary response to evil

B. Christians should seek peace but also submit to God-ordained authority

C. Praying for our leaders, military, and civilians is crucial during times of conflict

Introduction:

Turn to Exodus 20:13

Title: Bible Questions: Is War Wrong?

Exodus 20:13 “13 Thou shalt not kill.”

Some people make the mistake of reading what the Bible says in Exodus 20:13, "Thou shalt not kill," and then seeking to apply this command to war and they’ll say that war is wrong.

What if someone breaks into your house tonight and threatens to kill you and your family.

Would it be wrong of you to defend yourself? Is it wrong to kill someone in that situation?

Is War always wrong? Is defending yourself, even if it mean the death of another person wrong?

(Prayer)

the Hebrew word “Kill” in Exodus literally means "the intentional, premeditated killing of another person with malice; murder."

What does God say about war:

Sometimes God often ordered the Israelites to go to war with other nations:

1 Samuel 15:3 “3 Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.”

Joshua 4:13-14 “13 About forty thousand prepared for war passed over before the Lord unto battle, to the plains of Jericho. 14 On that day the Lord magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life.”

God ordered the death penalty for numerous crimes:

Exodus 21:12 “12 He that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death.”

21:15 “15 And he that smiteth his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death.”

22:19 “19 Whosoever lieth with a beast shall surely be put to death.”

Leviticus 20:11 “11 And the man that lieth with his father’s wife hath uncovered his father’s nakedness: both of them shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.”

So, God is not against killing in all circumstances, but 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 to the innocent is by going to war.

Reminder: Our nation was born out of a war.

We wouldn’t be here with the freedoms of religion we have if it wasn’t for some men & women who stood up to evil and fought with their lives.

So War is never a good thing, but sometimes it is a necessary thing.

Still not convinced?

In the Old Testament, God ordered the Israelites to "Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites" (Numbers 31:2).

Deuteronomy 20:16-17 declares, "But of the cities of these people, which the LORD thy God doth give thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth: But thou shalt utterly destroy them...as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee."

Also, 1 Samuel 15:18 says, "And the LORD sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed."

David said that God taught him how to war: Psalm 144:1 “1 Blessed be the Lord my strength, Which teacheth my hands to war, And my fingers to fight:”

Obviously, God is not against all war.

At the same time God did not allow David to build the temple because he was a bloody man:

1 Chron 28:3 “3 But God said unto me, Thou shalt not build an house for my name, because thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood.”

So obviously God does not desire war, but he allows it so that people can defend themselves.

In a world filled with evil people, sometimes war is necessary to prevent even greater evil.

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 Himself will go to war:

Revelation 17:14 “14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.”

Revelation 19:11-21 (Read if time) describes the ultimate war with Christ, the conquering commander who judges and makes war "in righteousness" (v. 11). It's going to be bloody (v. 13) and gory. The birds will eat the flesh of all those who oppose Him (v. 17-18). He has no compassion upon His enemies, whom He will conquer completely and consign to a "lake of fire burning with brimstone" (v. 20).

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 war is necessary to prevent even greater evil.

If Hitler had not been defeated by World War II, how many more millions would have been killed? If the American Civil War had not been fought, how much longer would African-Americans have had to suffer as slaves?

Quote: It’s better to be a warrior in a garden, than a gardener in a war”

War is a terrible thing. Some wars are more "just" than others, but war is always the result of sin (Romans 3:10-18). At the same time, Ecclesiastes 3:8 declares, "A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace."

In a world filled with sin, hatred, and evil (Romans 3:10-18), war is inevitable.

Christians should not desire war, we are to desire peace and do everything we can to make peace.

Matthew 5:9 “9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”

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 conflicts, and praying for a minimum of casualties among civilians on both sides (Phil 4:6-7 “6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Conclusion:

Death & War was never God’s intention.

But because of sin, their are evil people. And those evil people may try to take your lives.

I believe you have a God-given right to defend yourself.

I believe a nation has a right to defend itself.