
A topic of concern for many Christians is war and whether or not Christians should support certain wars or should enlist in their country’s military to fight in a war. A cursory reading of Scripture seems to present conflicting answers because at times God tells his people to fight and other times God tells his people to be peacemakers. However, when one reads Scripture through a salvation-historical lens, the answers to the questions about war become clearer.
Christians are allowed to go to war only if they join the military of a morally upright government that engages in war to rescue people and property. Christians may not fight to obtain or retain the land of Israel. The commands not to retaliate are for day-to-day life, not governments and war.
I will first treat God’s command to Israel to wage war against the inhabitants of Canaan for the purpose of obtaining the promised land (later known as Israel) before treating the topic of war in general.
I. War to Obtain and Retain the Promised Land
A. God’s Promise and Covenant That Abraham’s Descendants Will Inherit the Land of Canaan
Early in the book of Genesis, before any covenant had been made (other than God’s covenant to never flood the world again in Genesis 9:11–13), God promised Abram’s descendants the land of Canaan, which would later be called Israel:
“Now the LORD said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.’ . . . And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people that they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to go to the land of Canaan. . . . Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, ‘To your offspring I will give this land.’”
GENESIS 12:1, 5, 7, emphasis added
God repeats the promise in a covenant with Abram in Genesis 15:
“And he said to him, ‘I am the LORD who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land [Canaan] to possess.’”
“On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, ‘To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates.’”
GENESIS 15:7, 18
The promise was fulfilled in the book of Joshua where Israel goes throughout the land of Canaan waging war against the inhabitants, killing every man, woman, and child. Throughout the books of Judges and Kings (as well as Chronicles, which focuses on Judah), Israel continues to engage in warfare to defend and retain the land that God promised them.
B. Christians Are Abraham’s Descendants
A question that many Christians pose is, “should modern Christians wage war to take back the promised land that was given to Abram (later called Abraham) and his descendants since it was promised to Abram’s descendants before any covenant was given?” This is a legitimate question, especially in light of the New Testament which claims everyone who believes in Jesus is a descendant of Abraham:
“And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.”
“He [Abraham] received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised. . . .That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.”
GALATIANS 3:29; ROMANS 4:11–12, 16, emphasis added
C. Should Christians Wage War for the Promised Land?
Since all Christians are the descendants of Abraham, the question that naturally arises is “should we, modern Christians, wage war to obtain the promised land, the land of Canaan?”
No, Christians should not wage war for the purpose of obtaining and retaining the promised land, the land of Canaan, because the land of Canaan (also called the inheritance) was typologically predictive of the greater land Christians will inherit, which is the New Jerusalem and the entire cosmos, when Jesus returns and takes possession of it. Allow me to explain.
There are two passages that suggest the promise land was typologically predictive of something greater: Hebrew 11:8–16 and Romans 4:13. Let’s look at each in turn.
1. The Land Predicts the New Jerusalem (Hebrews 11:8–16)
Hebrews 11:8–16 states that while Abraham and Jacob lived in the promised land, they were looking forward to a city whose designer and builder is God (11:10). Later, the author of Hebrews says that none of Abraham’s descendants obtained the true promised land, but desired “a better country, that is a heavenly one,” and then clarifies that this heavenly country is a city:
“By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. . . . Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore. These [the descendants] all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.”
HEBREWS 11:8–16, emphasis added
The city to which Hebrews speaks and to which Abraham and his descendants looked forward is the New Jerusalem. Thus, the book of Hebrews understands the promised land as typologically predictive of a greater land or country that will come in the future. The promised land is predicting the final resting place of God’s people—the New Jerusalem.
2. The Land Predicts the Cosmos (Romans 4:13)
Paul also understands the promised land in a similar way in Romans 4:13:
“For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world [κόσμος] did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith.”
ROMANS 4:13, emphasis added
Did you notice that Paul says God promised Abraham and his offspring (who are those of faith, including all Christians) the world [κόσμος]. This is not an oversight on Paul’s part. Rather than using the expected word for “land” (γῆ), which is used in the Greek versions of Genesis 15:7, 18, Paul uses the word for “world” or “universe” (κόσμος). By using κόσμοςfor “land,” Paul is making an important hermeneutical move. Paul understands the promise to Abraham about inheriting the land of Canaan as typological. The land of Canaan is a type that prophetically predicts the greater antitype, which is the entire world or universe. Thus, Paul understands Abraham’s children, who are those of faith, as inheriting the entire world/universe. This is confirmed in Romans 8:16–17, which claims those of faith are fellow-heirs with Christ who will inherit the entire world.
3. Jesus Wages War on Behalf of His People
Because the promised land predicts God’s people as inheriting the entire universe alongside Jesus and predicts the New Jerusalem, the city of God, in which Christians will live, Christians should not wage war for the land of Canaanbecause that is not the home/country/land to which we look forward. Rather, we are awaiting the New Jerusalem and awaiting our inheritance of the entire universe alongside Christ. This inheritance is nearer than ever since Jesus ascended to the right hand of the Father.
Should, then, Christians wage war in order to hasten the coming of the New Jerusalem? Or should Christians wage war to take control of the entire planet? No, because Scripture says Jesus will wage that war on our behalf:
“Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. . . . And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.”
“And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea.And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them.”
REVELATION 19:11–15; 20:7–9 emphasis added
After Jesus defeats Satan and the people of the earth who align themselves with Satan, the New Jerusalem, the city of God, is ushered in and the saints take possession of the κόσμος.
What is important for this topic is who does the fighting in Revelation 19 and 20. Jesus is the only one who fights. God’s people are present at the battle, during the war, but they do not lift a finger. Rather, Jesus himself quickly and decisively destroys the enemy by himself.
Thus, Christians do not and should not wage war to obtain the land of Canaan since it predicts our actual inheritance; and Christians do not and should not wage war to obtain control of the entire world or to usher in the New Jerusalem since that is Jesus’ job.
II. Justifications for War
A. There Is a Right Time for War
The book of Ecclesiastes has one of the more famous sayings from the Bible made popular by the band The Byrds in their song “Turn! Turn! Turn!” that declares there is a right time for war:
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal . . . a time for war, and a time for peace.”
ECCLESIASTES 3:1–8, emphasis added
The author of Ecclesiastes is declaring that there is a right time for war. Since Ecclesiastes is about the fallen world in which we live, it is applicable to modern Christians. Ecclesiastes declares that some wars are just and right and needed, which gives allowance for Christians to both support and engage in war if it is the right time.
What Ecclesiastes does not disclose is when that right time is. For that, we must turn to other Scriptures.
B. Justified Wars in the Bible
Throughout Scripture a number of wars are recounted that are justified by the text and unrelated to the obtaining or retaining of the promised land. I will briefly review these to show that Scripture recognizes justifiable war, supporting the claim in Ecclesiastes 3:8 that there is a right time for war.
1. Abraham Rescues Lot (Gen 14)
While Abraham’s nephew, Lot, was dwelling in Sodom, Sodom was sacked and Lot, his family, and his possessions were taken captive (Gen 14:1–12). Upon hearing the news, Abraham took his forces and waged war against Chedorlaomer and the kings with him in order to rescue his nephew, his possessions, the women, and the people of Sodom (14:13–16).
The text of Genesis views the war Abraham waged against the kings who took Lot captive as justified because Abraham is blessed by Melchizedek immediately after the war (Gen 14:17–24).
2. Israel Rescues Their Captives (Num 21:1–3)
While Israel was travelling by the way of Atharim, the king of Arad, a Canaanite, attacked Israel unprovoked and took some of the people captive. The people sought God’s guidance and he gave the people his blessing to war against Arad, rescue the captives and destroy their cities (Num 21:1–3).
3. David Rescues His Wives and His People (1 Sam 30)
While living in Philistine country to avoid king Saul who was seeking David’s life, David and his men are sent back to Ziklag by Achish and the Philistine lords because they don’t want David participating in the battle against Israel (1 Sam 29). When they return to Ziklag, the town has been burned, David’s wives, the wives of David’s men, all the children, and their possessions have been taken (30:1–6).
David seeks the Lord and the Lord tells him to attack the Amalekites who raided his town and took his wives and the people captive (1 Sam 30:7–10). Thus, David and his men wage war against the Amalekites and kill all of them except 400 (30:16–20). Thus, the Lord gave David his blessing to wage war in order to recover the captives and stolen possessions.
The theme of rescuing is prominent in the justified wars of the Old Testament. God’s people do not provoke attack, yet their people and goods are stolen. God gives his blessing to wage war in order to rescue those who were taken captive and to punish those who dared attack.
C. God Has Given Government the Sword
In Romans 13:1–6, Paul reminds Christians that morally upright governments have been “instituted by God” (13:1; for my interpretation that Paul is speaking about morally upright governments in Romans 13, click HERE). God has also given them the sword to use:
“For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.”
ROMANS 13:4
Thus, morally upright governments have the blessing of God to use the sword to both punish individuals and to go to war and punish other countries or armies.
It is important to note that God nowhere allows the individual Christian to exact vengeance or to take justice into his own hand. Rather, he has instituted the government for this task (I’ll say more about this in the next section).
III. Christians as Peacemakers
The New Testament is explicitly clear that Christians (those who are disciples of Jesus, under the New Covenant, members of the church, and citizens of the kingdom of God through belief in Jesus) are to be merciful (Matt 5:7), peacemakers (Matt 5:9), avoid retaliation (Matt 5:38–42; Rom 12:19), love their enemies (Matt 5:43–47; Rom 12:14, 20–21), and so much more. Do the commands to be peacemakers, avoid retaliation, and love one’s enemies mean that Christians cannot go to war?
No, being a peacemaker, avoiding retaliation, etc. does not mean Christian cannot go to war. The above commands and others like them are for how Christians are to live their everyday lives. When a person seeks our harm, we Christians must love that person and not retaliate. When a brawl breaks out, we Christians must not participate, but seek peace amongst the brawlers. The above commands are not about wars and conflicts of that nature.
Interestingly, the New Testament never comments about whether or not Christians are allowed to join an army and engage in warfare as part of a military.
IV. Should Christians Go to War?
So, are Christians allowed to go to war and support war? Based on the above analysis of Scripture, Yes, Christians are allowed to go to war under the following conditions. First, Christians may only engage in war if it is with the government, that is, if it is with a government’s military. Because God has instituted and given the sword to governments, this is the only way for a Christians to engage in war.
Second, because Christians are only commanded to submit to morally upright governments in Romans 13:1 (see my article about that topic here), Christians should only join militaries that are part of a morally upright government.
Third, related to my second point, Christians may only engage in war when the reason is justifiable. Although there are no explicit statements in Scripture as to what constitutes a just war, the examples from above indicate that the war (1) cannot have been provoked or started by the military of which the Christian is a part (i.e., the other side must have started it) and (2) the war must be to rescue captives and possessions.
V. Concluding Thoughts
There is much to consider when it comes to war and whether or not a person should support a war or join and engage in warfare as part of a government military. For me, personally, I find it difficult to know the reasons behind most modern wars. To me, most wars are not as simple as rescuing captives and possessions. For this reason, I would caution Christians who desire to join the military. However, if an enemy has entered your country and is killing, taking captives, and taking your possessions, then I would have no qualms about taking up arms and would encourage Christian men to do so alongside of me.
I also recognize that there are a number of countries throughout the world where military service is mandatory. Most of these countries give their citizens an ‘out,’ but with some disadvantages. Unfortunately, not all governments give their citizens such an ‘out.’ Some countries will imprison those who refuse to join. For those forced to join and who do not think the war is justifiable, I would encourage you to take up a non-combative role if possible. If not, make your decision about what to do and have peace with it, knowing that if it is the wrong one, then the Lord will forgive you.