WAR AND PEACE
SCRITURE:
Joel 3:9-10 (KJV) Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.
PROLOGUE
War is one of the most complex and troubling aspects of human existence, especially from a moral and theological perspective. It brings suffering, destruction, and death—yet at times, it seems to be a necessary response to evil. Throughout history, civilizations have sought to establish rules of civility to maintain peace, but when those rules are broken or when evil forces threaten them, war often becomes the last resort.
1. The Nature of a Peaceful, Non-Confrontational Man
A man who seeks peace is often regarded as wise, for it is the way of righteousness to pursue harmony and goodwill among all. Scripture teaches, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God" (Matthew 5:9).
The peaceful man recognizes that conflict leads to suffering and seeks alternatives—dialogue, diplomacy, or even personal sacrifice—to avoid violence.
However, peace cannot exist in a vacuum. It must be guarded, for evil does not respect peace. The same societies that promote civility must also enforce it, lest the strong oppress the weak. This paradox presents a dilemma: can a man remain truly peaceful when confronted with injustice, aggression, or the suffering of others?
If he refuses to act, is he complicit in allowing evil to spread?
2. The Justification of War
History demonstrates that war often arises when civility is no longer effective in restraining evil. Whether due to the ambitions of the wicked, the oppression of the weak, or the collapse of moral order, war is the inevitable response when all other means have failed.
From a biblical perspective, God has at times commanded or allowed war for the fulfillment of His purposes.
The conquest of Canaan, though brutal, was a divine judgment on nations steeped in depravity (Deuteronomy 9:4-5).
King David, a man after God's own heart, was a warrior, yet his hands were too stained with blood to build the Temple (1 Chronicles 22:8).
Even in the New Testament, spiritual warfare is a dominant theme, as Paul exhorts believers to "put on the whole armor of God" (Ephesians 6:11).
God's use of war suggests that it is sometimes necessary—not as an endorsement of violence but as a means of justice. In cases where civilizations have become irredeemably wicked, war serves as both punishment and purification.
3. The Suffering and Mystery of War
Despite its necessity in some cases, war remains difficult to comprehend. The loss of life, destruction of homes, and suffering of the innocent make it seem contrary to a good and just God.
So, why does He allow it?
Why does He sometimes command it?
One possible answer is that war, like all suffering, exists in a fallen world where human free will and sin have consequences.
God has given humanity the freedom to choose good or evil, and war is often the result of collective choices made by nations. While God may use war for His purposes, He does not take pleasure in suffering: "For I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live" (Ezekiel 33:11).
Yet, there is also an aspect of divine mystery. War often brings about radical shifts in history that lead to greater developments. It is through war that tyrannies have been overthrown, nations have been born, and people have been freed from oppression. The great empires of history—Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome—rose and fell through war, shaping the course of human civilization. Even in Scripture, the cross itself was a kind of battle—Christ waged war against sin and death, securing victory through His own suffering.
4. The Virtues That Arise in Wartime
Perhaps one of the most paradoxical aspects of war is that it often brings forth virtues that might otherwise remain hidden.
Among them:
• Bravery: The willingness to face overwhelming odds, not for personal gain but for a greater cause. This echoes biblical themes, such as David standing against Goliath (1 Samuel 17).
• Valor: A selfless commitment to fight despite fear. Gideon's 300 men displayed valor in their battle against the Midianites (Judges 7).
• Patriotism: The deep love of one's people and homeland, which can motivate acts of incredible sacrifice.
• Loyalty: A bond among soldiers, often stronger than any other, where they are willing to die for one another (John 15:13: "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.")
These virtues, though admirable, seem to emerge most clearly in war. This raises an unsettling question: does God allow war in part because it reveals qualities that might otherwise remain dormant?
5. War as a Test of the Human Soul
War exposes what is in the heart of man—both the capacity for cruelty and the capacity for heroism. Some become monstrous, reveling in destruction. Others rise to great heights of courage, self-sacrifice, and righteousness. War can either destroy a man’s soul or refine it.
The Book of Revelation presents Christ as both the Lamb and the Warrior-King. He first came in peace to redeem, but He will return as a conquering King (Revelation 19:11-16). This suggests that peace is the ideal, but when evil refuses to submit, war becomes necessary.
6. The Final Ultimate War: The Present Struggle Between Good and Evil
Rather than viewing the final war as a future, apocalyptic event, it is more accurate to see it as the present spiritual and moral battle in which we are all engaged. Every generation faces the choice to stand for righteousness or succumb to corruption. Isaiah’s vision of peace (swords into plowshares) represents times when truth and justice prevail, while the opposite transformation (plowshares into swords) acknowledges that periods of conflict will arise when evil must be confronted.
This view aligns with Christ’s teachings, where He declared, “I did not come to bring peace, but a sword” (Matthew 10:34), meaning that the gospel itself creates division in a world that resists God's truth. Paul further reinforces this by framing the Christian life as spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:10-18).
EPILOGUE
In this ultimate, ongoing war, believers are called to be both peacemakers and warriors—seeking peace but prepared to fight when necessary. The ultimate hope is that righteousness will prevail, but until then, the battle between good and evil continues, demanding courage, vigilance, and faithfulness.
Isaiah 2:4 (KJV) And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
Amen and Amen
