As a priest, I have often sought wisdom and guidance from the Scriptures regarding various aspects of human life. One such area that has always been complex and controversial is the Biblical viewpoint on killing in war. As we seek answers, it’s important to consider the numerous wars mentioned in the Bible. From wars of conquest (Joshua 1:6), civil wars (2 Samuel 3:1), to even a war in heaven (Revelation 12:7), the Bible does not shy away from the harsh realities of war. It is an inescapable truth that wars are accompanied by killings and we all are aware that murder is a sin (Exodus 20:13). But are the killings during wartime also synonymous with sin?
In order to understand, we should acknowledge that not all killing in wartime is a sin – there have indeed been instances when God Himself demanded wars to be waged. God directed the ancient Israelites to possess the Promised Land and revealed Himself to Joshua as “commander of the army of the Lord”—a man of war (Joshua 5:14). The battle against Ai was orchestrated by God (Joshua 8:1–2). Saul was directed by God to “go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy all that belongs to them” (1 Samuel 15:3). David’s victory over the Philistines was attained by adhering to God’s battle strategy (2 Samuel 5:23–25). Since God never asks us to sin, the killings in war under His command cannot be equated with murder.
However, that does not shield one from the effects of war. Despite aspiring to build the temple, God forbade David to do so, desiring a man of peace for the task as David was a warrior and had shed blood (1 Chronicles 28:3).
Today, no nation is directly commanded by God to engage in warfare as it once was in the times of Joshua, Saul, and David. But wars persist as part of this fallen world. The Bible does not condemn a soldier following orders on the battlefield. Jesus Himself commended a centurion’s faith in Matthew 8:10, and Cornelius, another centurion was saved in Acts 10. These acts suggest that being a soldier, in itself, is not a sin.
Interestingly, when soldiers approached John the Baptist in the Jordan River and asked what they must do, John did not deny them their military duties. Instead, he said, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay” (Luke 3:14). Similarly, Paul used the soldier’s life as a spiritual metaphor (1 Corinthians 9:7 and 2 Timothy 2:3), indicating the spiritual merits of soldiering is acknowledged in the Scriptures.
The realities of war are grim and viewed as part of our cursed world, with justifiable bloodshed in some cases. While it is a personal decision for a Christian to join the military, killing an enemy combatant in warfare, according to the Bible, is not inherently sinful. Remember, there is indeed a time and season for everything, including war (Ecclesiastes 3:8).
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