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Most people, regardless of their religious persuasion, would likely agree that a more peaceful world, with less killing, including war, is the end goal.
Secular humanists once taught that the world was becoming a better place. Then came the horrors of World War I and World War II, shattering the idea of human progress without God.
The teachings of Jesus do center on love, kindness, and peace. However, Jesus never explicitly commanded an end to all war. In fact, He foretold that wars and rumors of wars would continue (Matthew 24:6-13). The reality of conflict in a fallen world did not surprise our Lord.
War is devastating. It destroys lives, entire cities, uproots families, and often leaves nations in financial ruin. Yet within Christian thought and historical teachings, war has not been dismissed altogether. Early Church Father Augustine of Hippo popularized the Just War theory, seeking to define when war could be morally justified under God’s sovereignty.
The Reformers, John Calvin and Martin Luther, built on Augustine’s teachings. Both understood the Greatest Commandment as a standard: war could be justified when defending one’s homeland and neighbor. In their view, warfare was not always a product of evil intent but could serve as a providential act of God, a tool of judgment, or a means of fulfilling His divine will.
We must always remember that life is precious, and every human being is made in the image of God, regardless of their beliefs. It is not a coincidence that intentional murder is forbidden in the Ten Commandments. So, how should Christians react to war?
Pacifism, though well-intended, is a relatively modern idea in Christianity and was not widespread among the Early Church. The biblical reality is that the world is broken. Evil exists, and God often restrains it through legitimate authority, law enforcement, and the military.
The Scriptures are clear that governments are ordained by the will of God, mainly to enforce law and order. Romans 13:4 affirms this: “For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.”
As does Colossians 1:16-17, “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”
During World War II, Southern Baptist pastor George W. Truett stated that war would only truly end if Jesus Christ Himself sat at the negotiation table. His frequent warning of “Christ or Chaos” resonated deeply then and still holds weight today.
True and lasting peace will not come until Christ returns for His sheep. In the meantime, Christians are called to live out the Greatest Commandment and fulfill the Great Commission, shining the light of Christ in a dark and violent world.
Pacifists should be respected for their sincerity. However, so should those Christians who take seriously the command to protect the innocent and stand against evil.
Warfare is not a new topic within the faith; the Old Testament is filled with battles ordained by God. Ecclesiastes 3:8 reminds us there is “a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.”
War, in God’s plan, has a distinct purpose, much like famines or storms do in life.
Ultimately, we must echo the wisdom of Truett: peace will never come unless Christ is at the center of every human endeavor. And in this fallen world, that day will not fully arrive until the Lord returns.
