Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

With all the different views and opinions flying about the war in Iraq, I thought it might be appropriate to take into consideration what the early (1st through 3rd century) Christians believed about war. Their view seems to be different from both the anti- and pro-war approaches being taken right now. I believe this will help us as disciples to make sure that we have a godly view not only of this war, but of war in general. It's definitely helped me to have a more godly perspective!

According to the evidence of the ancient manuscripts, the early Christians believed that war was morally wrong. They literally followed Jesus' commandments to "love your enemies" and "turn the other cheek." They would not join the army after becoming Christians, even if ordered to do so. But if a man was already a soldier when he became a Christian, the church did not require him to resign, since the Romans did not normally allow a soldier to leave the army until his time of service was completed. He was only required to agree never to use the sword against anyone.

However, the early Christians did follow Paul's urging in 1 Timothy 2:1-2 "that supplications, prayers, intercessions and thanksgiving be made for all men--for kings and for all those in authority." They did not protest against Roman wars, knowing that this was the duty of worldly government. They supported their king, as per Romans 13:1: "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God." (Of course, we are not under a king, but in a democracy which is by, of and for the people. So it is our civil duty to influence the actions of our government. To what extent, is a question of individual conscience.) Instead of physically fighting for their country, they fought spiritually for it, as described in Ephesians 6:12: "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

Other Biblical passages cited by the early Christians in their writings about war included:

MATTHEW 5:38-39 - "You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also."

MATTHEW 5:44-45 - "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."

MATTHEW 26:52 - "Put your sword back in its place," Jesus said to him, "for all who draw the sword will die by the sword."

JOHN 18:36 - Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place."

ROMANS 12:17-21 - Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary:

"If your enemy is hungry, feed him;

if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.

In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

1 CORINTHIANS 4:12 - We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it;

1 CORINTHIANS 6:1-8 - If any of you has a dispute with another, dare he take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, appoint as judges even men of little account in the church! I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? But instead, one brother goes to law against another--and this in front of unbelievers! The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers.

2 CORINTHIANS 10:3-4 - For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

Here are some early Christian writings regarding war:

ORIGEN - "We are urged 'to help the king with all our might, to work with him in the preservation of justice, to fight for him, and if he requires it to fight under him, or to lead an army along with him.' Our answer is that we do, when occasion requires, give help to our kings, but in a divine way, 'putting on the whole armor of God.' We do this in obedience to the injunction of the apostle, 'I urge therefore, first of all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions and thanksgiving be made for all men--for kings and for all those in authority' [1 Tim 2:1-2]. The more anyone excels in holiness, the more effective is his help to kings, even more than is given by soldiers who go out to fight and slay as many of the enemy as they can.

To those enemies of our faith who would require us to bear arms for the empire and to slay men, we reply, 'Do not the priests who attend [your gods] ...keep their hands free from blood, so that they may offer the appointed sacrifices to your gods with hands unstained and free from human blood? Even when war is upon you, you never enlist the priests in the army. If, then, that is a praiseworthy custom, how much more so that while others are engaged in battle, [Christians] too should engage as the priests and ministers of God, keeping their hands pure...

By our prayers we vanquish all demons who stir up war... In this way, we are much more helpful to the kings than those who go into the field to fight for them... And none fight better for the king than we do. Indeed, we refuse to fight under him, even if he demands it. But we do fight on his behalf, forming a special army--an army of righteousness--by offering our prayers to God."

ORIGEN -"Nowhere does He teach that it is right for His own disciples to offer violence to anyone, however wicked. For He deemed the killing of any individual to be against His laws, which were divine in origin."

TERTULLIAN - "Can it be lawful to make an occupation of the sword, when the Lord proclaims that 'he who uses the sword shall perish by the sword'? [Matt 26:52] And shall the son of peace take part in battle, when it does not become him even to sue at law? Shall he apply the chain, the prison, the torture, and the punishment, when he is not the avenger of his own wrongs?" [1 Cor 6:1-8]

CYPRIAN - "The whole world is wet with mutual blood. Murder, which is admitted to be a crime when it is committed by an individual, is called a virtue when it is committed wholesale. Impunity is claimed for the wicked deeds [of war], not because they are guiltless, but because the cruelty is perpetrated on a grand scale."

JUSTIN MARTYR - "We who formerly murdered one another now refrain from making war upon our enemies."

ARNOBIUS - "We have learned from His teaching and His laws that evil should not be repaid with evil [Rom 12:17]. That it is better to suffer wrong than to inflict it. And that our own blood should be shed rather than to stain our hands and our conscience with that of another. As a result, an ungrateful world has now for a long period been enjoying a benefit from Christ. For by His means the rage of savage ferocity has been softened, and the world has begun to withhold hostile hands from the blood of a fellow creature."

In Him,

Amy Haight

Orlando, FL