Theological Issues WAR & PEACE Trinity International University © John Stevenson, 2009

Session Objectives Survey the historical attitudes of Christian leaders and theologians regarding the issue of War and Peace Do an exercise in biblical and systematic theology dealing with two significant biblical texts on the Kingdom of God Critically and imaginatively interact with some historical positions on War and Peace from a theological perspective.

Session Objectives Consider the meaning of salvation and how it relates to Christian discipleship and to the church Examine the life of Bonhoeffer and give their own answer to whether he was a Christian revolutionary, and in what sense.

Francis of Assisi Lord, make me an instrument of your peace, Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy;

Francis of Assisi O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Romans 13:1-2 Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.

What was the historical context in which Paul gave this teaching? Slavery Dictatorship Taxation without Representation Religious Persecution

Read Romans 13:1-7 and answer the following: How should Christians relate to government? What is the theological basis for the ethical imperatives in this text? How does Romans 13:1-5 square with Jesus’ teachings on nonviolence in Matthew 5:38-42?

Romans 13:1-2 Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. Resisting Authority Resisting God =

Romans 13:3-4 For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; 4 for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.

No Fear of Authority Fear of Authority Do what is good.If you do what is evil You will have praise from the same You have reason to be afraid Authority is a minister of God to you for good Authority is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath upon the one who practices evil

Romans 13:5-7 Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. 7 Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.

Romans 12 Personal responsibility. Romans 13 Government responsibility. Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice (12:1-2). Be in subjection to the governing authorities (13:1). Never pay back evil for evil (12:17). “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord (12:19). Government does not bear the sword for nothing; it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath upon the one who practices evil (13:4).

Romans 12 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (12:21). Romans 13 Rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil (13:3). How are we to do this? Vengeance belongs to the Lord and we are to give up our desire for vengeance against those who do wrong against us By being subject to the governing authorities whose duty it is to be an avenger against the evil-doer.

1 Peter 2:13-14 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, 14 or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right.

Break into groups & discuss your homework assignment: To what conclusions did you come? –Is violence sometimes a “Christian” response? –What are the limits to such violence? What Christians/Theologians did you portray and why did you choose them? What were the strong points in each argument?

Pick one of the papers from your group and have two other students act out the two parts of the dialogue:

What insights did you gain from this exercise? What were the specific problems with which you had to deal? Which Biblical texts were the most relevant? How did your view of War and Peace relate to your theology of the Kingdom of God?

Just War Theory Are there good and valid reasons for a nation going to war? What are they?

Just War Theory A Just Cause: This would involve defending either your own country or coming to the defense of someone else who was being attacked. Thus there must be a wrong that is suffered in order for a war to take place.

Just War Theory A Just Cause. A Right Intention: The desire for peace should be the ultimate goal of war. Furthermore, the peace that is established after the war ought to be better than the peace that would have prevailed had the war not been fought.

Just War Theory A Just Cause. A Right Intention. A Reasonable Chance of Success: It is considered to be wrong to go to war when the result will be certain catastrophe. Jesus alluded to this in Luke 14:31-32 when he described a king preparing to meet another king in battle sits down and asks whether he is strong enough to win the battle.

Just War Theory A Just Cause. A Right Intention. A Reasonable Chance of Success. The End is Proportional to the Means used to Achieve it: You don’t use a bazooka to swat a fly.

Just War Theory A Just Cause. A Right Intention. A Reasonable Chance of Success. The End is Proportional to the Means used to Achieve it. A Last Resort: War should only be used when all other means have been exhausted. We are to pursue peace will all men (Romans 14:19; Hebrews 12:14).

Just War Theory A Just Cause. A Right Intention. A Reasonable Chance of Success. The End is Proportional to the Means used to Achieve it. A Last Resort. A Legitimate Authority: That authority has been given to leaders of nations.

Just War Theory A Just Cause. A Right Intention. A Reasonable Chance of Success. The End is Proportional to the Means used to Achieve it. A Last Resort. A Legitimate Authority. A Distinction between Combatants versus Non-combatants.

Just War Theory Public Declaration: Combatants should give fair warning and the opportunity for avoidance by peaceful means.

Just War Theory Public Declaration. Treatment of Prisoners: Combatants are through capture rendered noncombatants

Discuss and come to a consensus on the proper Christian response to: The attack on Pearl Harbor. The Viet Nam War. The 9/11 terrorist attacks. The current occupation of Iraq.