Immanuel Bulletin Series:
Of all the duties and powers given to governments, the most fundamental one is the responsibility to protect their citizens from harm and violence. This makes it necessary for governments forcefully to restrain and hinder the violent and criminal actions and intentions of any one who would take advantage of the weakness of its private citizens. To protect those dependent on it, governments pass laws with stiff penalties designed to deter the wicked from such actions and to punish the wicked when they injure others. To enforce these laws, governments exercise their authority forcefully through police forces, court systems, prisons, and various punishments, even including capital punishment for some criminals. If this were not done, society might well become as it was in the days before the flood, “The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence” (Genesis 6:11). Law and order is government’s first mandate.
Of all the powers and authorities given to governments to protect their citizens, the most fearful and awesome is the authority to wage just wars. This power must not be used lightly. Rather, it must be exercised carefully by governments who take seriously their duty to protect the people under their care. Dangers after all may come not only from wicked individuals within, but also from dangerous foreign states or groups without. Our government must protect us from all dangers “foreign and domestic.”
The need to remain constantly vigilant will always be present in this world. James speaks of personal disagreements when he asks, “Where do wars and fights come from among you?” His answer, however, is universal and points to the fallen nature of all mankind, “Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war” (James 4:1-2).
What is true of people as individuals is true also, perhaps especially, of people in groups. The lust for power and for material benefits is strong and leads to all sorts of competitions and struggles, even to the waging of wars among nations and rulers of nations. Our world is deeply divided by race and language, culture and religion. Within our world there is a wide disparity between first and third world countries, between “have” and “have not” nations, and this will never change. Indeed, one of the signs of the coming end of time is the prevalence of “wars and rumors of wars” in this world (cf. Matthew 24:6). Our world is and will remain a dangerous and volatile place. What a comfort to know that the Lord sits in the heavens and has final control even over nations! (cf. Psalm 2)
This does not mean that wars are ever desirable. They are among the most apparent evidences that we live in a world horribly gone wrong. They surely must be resisted whenever possible. Some Christians have even asserted that the proper stance for the child of God is pacifism, a principled opposition to all war and a personal refusal to engage in any violence, even when provoked or attacked. They base this position on words from the Sermon on the Mount, “I tell you do not resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also” (Matthew 5:39).
We certainly agree that individual consciences must not be coerced, even in important public matters. But what applies to an individual and warns against personal actions, does not necessarily apply to all authority. I cannot lock up felons in my basement! Paul clearly teaches that “the powers that exist are appointed by God” and “do not bear the sword in vain” (Romans 13:1,4). This extends to waging wars that are needed to protect that nation. The Augsburg Confession says that we “teach that lawful civil ordinances are good works of God, and that it is right for Christians to bear civil office,…to engage in just wars, to serve as soldiers…" (Article XVI, Of Civil Affairs). We thank God for leaders and a citizenry willing to make this difficult decision, when necessary!
This authority to wage war, however, has not always been used wisely and properly. History is filled with reports of wrong wars, selfish wars, greedy wars, wars of aggression. Therefore we must pray diligently that our leaders be filled with a great measure of discernment and wisdom, so that they might use this "terrible swift sword" wisely and well. We cannot accept a timidity that will never confront and oppose evils that threaten our nation, for then security is lost. Nor can we accept an overly aggressive stance that eagerly seeks out wars, for then peace and security are lost. In our democracy, we have a duty to assess as wisely as we are able our national policies concerning war and peace. We will certainly acknowledge that those in authority have much information not available to us and we will desire to trust their judgment. But such trust will have its limits. We need much wisdom in choosing leaders who will both seek peace and keep us secure. God grant us that wisdom and such leaders!