War in the Bible and Terrorism in the Twenty-First Century

War in the Bible and Terrorism in the Twenty-First Century

The subject of war has always been a topic of debate, but since the attacks on September 11th in the United States, the subject has become more highly debated as a matter of immediate security. As humans coexisting in a world of many different agendas and ideals, we must find the best solution which affirms the right to life and to freedom. As believers, we must find the way of which our Lord commands us, and then accept the duty to which we are called.

There are many examples of war in His specific revelation to His people, the Bible, to which we turn our attention. These stories are to be examined to shed light on current situations, but one must keep in mind the differences between the world in which the Hebrew people lived, and the modern times in which we find ourselves. All factors, such a differing methods of communication and weaponry, must be taken into account.

Overview of War in the OT

War was accepted as being part of the Hebrew world. The question was not “is war right”, but rather was “in which way is God commanding us to deal with it”. There are various stories represented in the Old Testament, however none of these may be taken out of context of the whole scripture. The war examples must be examined in light of the unchanging character of God, regardless of how an initial glance at the text could show otherwise.

The God of the the Hebrew people, Yahweh, is a holy god, and He carries out whatever means necessary to preserve His holiness.  His activity in the various wars the Israelite people enter into, are almost always a response to a people rebelling against Him. Even His chosen people are not immune to this.

Without a proper understanding of God’s holiness, the text could be misinterpreted as God not being a God of love or mercy. However, in the context of the grand narrative that is portrayed throughout the Old testament, God is continually forgiving and turning away His wrath. His mercy is even evident when He does release His wrath, because we can see that He is destroying a few as a means of preserving the ones who have not yet been enslaved by sin.

A New Testament reference, in John 15 verse 2, alludes to this. The author writes about a vine being pruned, and how the branches that do not bear fruit are cut off so that the whole vine may become more fruitful.  

Another characteristic of God that can be inferred from the war stories presented in the Old Testament, is his role as savior. "The greatness of Yahweh is described in terms of his role as Savior...the purpose of the victory is not the destruction of the enemy but the salvation of Yahweh's people." #

God has been described as the divine warrior, leading His people into battle, and possessing the only authority to set the terms of the battle. His people were never permitted to take more than what he allowed. As Hess stated, "the Bible prescribes for Israel neither a total ban on war not permission for the nation to fight however it wishes." #

In conclusion, “the Bible reflects a variety of reasons for war, but it does so with a moral tenor that ultimately recognizes battle as a necessary evil in the context of a great, cosmic struggle between good and evil.” #

Shalom by absorbing the violence

"The legacy of biblical monotheism is shalom, not violence" says Elmer Martens on page 33. # I would venture to say, there are many opposing view to this. However, I also believe these opposing views are based on taking stories out of context, not recognizing that apparent violence is actually a means in which God is using to establish His peace. This theme runs through the Bible and foreshadows what ultimately happens upon the cross.

"The cross both incorporates the message of peace and exhibits the method by which peace is made." # On the outside, even the cross has been criticized as being an act of violence, but again, ephesians 2:13-14 tells us “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility.” #

The peace which God brings must be “calibrated” as Martens says, with the means by which it is brought. In order to stop the spread of evil, God may take "drastic action to halt the downward spiral." # Again, the destruction we see from stories in the Bible must be interpreted in light of God’s holiness and desire for His people.

In application for modern times, it is necessary to notice how the Bible never teaches violence from personal vengeance. As believers, we aim to follow Christ’s example in absorbing violence, rather than instigating or allowing to perpetuate. We are promised peace in the eschaton, and in light of this “it is incumbent on God's people to work in the present toward this goal." #

In conclusion, "God's project, to restore shalom, involves God's ultimate offering of himself as the scapegoat, the ultimate absorber of human violence...sin-caused violence is intercepted by Jesus Christ. Shalom is the result, but it's purchase price is the total self-giving of the deity, the absorption of violence." #

Impulses toward Peace in a Country at War

Two questions we must ask ourselves, as encouraged by Daniel Carroll, are: who are we, and what are we to do.# As believers, our identity lies within Christ, and is therefore where we find what we are to do.

In the book of Isaiah, we see the prophet’s grief and anger regarding Judah’s leadership and arrogance in the context of their pact with the Egyptians. As the people of God, they wrongly took their focus off of God, separating them from their “divine warrior”, and leaving them with a “death sentence.”# "The prophetic evaluation of Judah's preparations for war is extremely negative... there is at the same time a word of hope for the people of God that lies beyond the affliction that would soon befall them."#

We see another foreshadow to a model king that will not make ungodly choices, but will rather “reign in righteousness.”#  In conclusion, "war is not God's final word: the promise of universal peace is a fundamental part of the text's eschatological hope." #

Modern Terrorism

For modern application, we must examine prevalent violence in our world. Terrorism has been defined as "the unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives."# We must recognize that terrorism is not so much a movement as it is an instrument, and the people who utilize it are considered terrorist. The next step is to categorize terrorist, either as criminals or enemies. They may represent an enemy, but it is not always the best option to pursue them in this way.

"If terrorist are simple criminals, then acting in a way that will lead to civilian deaths, even if unintentional, is morally impermissible."# However, sometimes they "may be more appropriately regarded as enemies, given the magnitude of the threat they represent... The fact that [destroying institutions that preserve civilian life] is their goal and that they have the capability of carrying it out is what makes them enemies." #

Conclusion

As followers of Christ, we must look to His instructions for how to deal with the idea of war. We can, and must, study the Bible to shed light on modern situations, both for establishing peace and for maintaining it. Our goal should be to defeat enemies and to establish credible institutions to maintain the order. As Tony Pfaff writes, "by enforcing laws, police maintain peace; by fighting was, soldiers establish it,"  we just need to be wary that the means of establishing and enforcing are appropriate.#

We have to take into account, that with modern advances with technology, communication, and weaponry, what could once be considered a potential threat has to be taken more seriously. If weapons are capable of mass destruction, the mere possession of them now has to now be seen as an actual act of aggression. Our role as shalom-bringers and peacekeepers, is to affirm human life, while following the Biblical example of destroying whatever remains a threat to this. At the end of the day, "as governments deal with terrorists in a way that is legal and just, it is vitally important for them to recognize and address the roots of opposition from which the terrorism springs." #