THE BIBLE AGAINST WAR
by Rev. Amos Dresser
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Section 1 |
“To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” – Isaiah 8:20.
“Search the scriptures.” – John 5:39.
“Search the scriptures.” A blessed requirement. How seldom obeyed. Many occasionally read the scriptures; how few who search them. Hence, so little is known of their precious treasures. They contain choice gems not found on the surface, and the deeper the mine the more valuable the gold. Time is not lost in searching the scriptures.
In commenting on these passages, it will be my object, by example, to give what I consider the best method of obeying the text. That is to take a given subject and, carefully comparing passage with passage, find the teachings of the whole Bible on that point. Let us then search the scriptures and learn God’s will on the subject of WAR and PEACE. There are may who think God once sanctioned war, and urge that “whatever may be the teachings of the gospel, it cannot be denied that the Old Testament justifies war, and as the Bible never sanctions what is wrong, it follows that war cannot be a malum in se.” Hence, on the part of some, the peace injunctions of the gospel are so explained as to make them null and void, while others reject the Old Testament, because, as they say, it does not harmonize with the New. It is therefore meet we should search the scriptures, Old and New, and the soul that searches them panting for the knowledge of God will be fed. They testify of the Faithful and True Witness, and He testifies of war. Hear ye Him.
By war I do not mean simply the taking of human life, for though it is true that the annihilation of capital punishment annihilates war, yet it is not true that to authorize capital punishment authorizes war. We find the punishment of death inflicted on the blasphemer, the murderer, the slaveholder, the incorrigibly disobedient child, the parent who gave his children to Moloch (the god of war), on the adulterer, the incestuous, the sodomite, the bestial, the wizard, the witch, the enticer to idolatry, the idolater, etc. See Leviticus 20, 24:11-17; Exodus 21:16; Deuteronomy 21:18-21, 13:6, 13:10, 17:2-5; Numbers 15:32-36; etc. But it would be altogether a misnomer to apply the term war to the execution of this sentence. More will be said of this as we proceed.
Nor do I mean by war simple self-defense, for whatever may be the teachings of Christ relative to nonresistance, impulsive self-defense differs widely from war. “Self-defense is independent of law. It knows no law. It springs from the tempestuous urgency of the moment, which brooks neither circumspection nor delay. Define it, give it law, circumscribe it by a code, invest it with form, refine it by punctilio, and it becomes the duel. And modern war, with its innumerable rules and regulations, its limitations and refinements, is the duel of nations… War is a public armed contest between nations in order to establish justice between them.” – Sumner.[9]
“A contest between nations or states carried on by force.” – Webster.[10]
Carried on according to military tactics, maxims, and customs, under military discipline – this is the technical and legitimate sense of the term war. As thus defined …
Does the Bible Sanction War?
In attempting to answer this question, I would by way of introduction premise that the Bible is a faithful record of facts. It often records as a matter of history what it by no means sanctions. For example, the evangelist gives a correct account of the crucifixion of Christ, saying nothing at the time condemning it. Are we therefore to conclude that heaven approves of this deed of infamy? By wicked hands He was crucified and slain.
Much depends on the state
of heart for the right
interpretation of the bible.
The Bible is often quoted to sustain slavery, intemperance, licentiousness, and nearly every sin committed in Christendom; and certain states of mind might possibly see a justification of these crimes in the passages quoted. But Christ spoke to the Jews “in parables because they seeing, saw not, … their heart was waxed gross, their ears were dull of hearing, their eyes they had closed,” etc. They had no love for the truth, and the Savior spoke in a manner designed and calculated to develop the true state of their hearts. The lover of truth, by searching, is made to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. The lover of sin, by his caviling, is left to bring to light that love of sin. Hence the tippler quotes, “Drink no longer water, but a little wine for thy stomach’s sake, and for thine often infirmities.” The slaveholder or his apologist with an air of triumph, repeats, “Of them shall ye buy bondmen and bondmaids, and they shall be your possession forever!” The lover of war brandishes his sword as he gives you his authority for its use, by quoting, “Thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them.” So Saul “verily thought he ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.” But the difficulty was in his persecuting heart. The scales fell from his eyes the moment love entered his heart. When converted, he opened and alleged from scripture that Jesus was the Christ. The same book that before declared the ‘Nazarene’ to be an imposter was now full of the proof of his Messiahship. Was the blame in the book, or in the heart that interpreted it? “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.” At the same time it is cheerfully admitted that there are …
Passages not easily
understood without
careful examination.
For example, Deuteronomy 7:2 reads, “Thou shalt smite them and utterly destroy them, thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor show mercy unto them,” which appears to be directly at variance with Luke 6:27‑36: “Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, bless them which curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you. … Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.”
So in Deuteronomy 17:14-15 the Lord directs, “When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein, and shalt say, ‘I will set a king over me like as all the nations that are about me,’ thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee whom the Lord thy God shall choose,” etc. And when the time comes, and a king is demanded, Jehovah selects the man, and directs the prophet to anoint him (see 1 Samuel 8 and 9), yet in Hosea 13:11, He says, “I gave thee a king in mine anger, and took him away in my wrath.” Again in Deuteronomy 24:1-4, instructions are given for “putting away” wives, yet in Malachi 2:16 God says, “He hateth putting away,” and in Matthew 5:32, Christ forbids it “saving for the cause of fornication.” In Mark 10:2-12, a full explanation is given. These cases will serve to show the importance of careful investigation.
Especially is this true of our English translation. Far be it from me to do anything to prejudice the mind against our valuable translation. Yet the translators were uninspired men, liable to err. They had not the light upon many moral subjects by which to interpret various passages, nor had they the advantages for ascertaining the true meaning, which now, in the progress of literature and science, everywhere abound. It is therefore by no means arrogant to suppose that improvements may be made. For illustration, I will cite only one case out of the many that might be mentioned. “To sit on my right hand and on my left is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.” – Matthew 20:23. (See context.) Upon which Dr. Barnes,[11] in his valuable notes, makes the following criticism. “The translation of this place evidently does not express the sense of the original. The translation expresses the idea that Jesus has nothing to do in bestowing rewards on his followers. This is at variance with the uniform testimony of the scriptures. (See Matthew 25:31-40 and John 5:22.) The correct translation of the passage would be, ‘To sit on my right hand and on my left is not mine to give, except to those for whom it is prepared of my father,’ etc.”
Hence I have given what is supposed to be a correct translation of various passages where the original is more expressive than our present version, which, it is to be remembered, was made at a time when war, slavery, and many other gross immoralities were thought by the mass of the church to be consistent with Christianity. But it is not the peace man alone who meets with difficult passages. Nay, verily, it is much more difficult to explain away the passages which teach peace than those which are thought to teach war.
Again I premise that if in any respect the Old Testament apparently clashes with the New, in that case the gospel is to be our guide, as we are Christians and not Jews. But I say apparently, for as God is the author of each there can be no real clashing. Prof. Finney is explicit on this point. “There cannot be a difference between the spirit of the Old and New Testaments, or between the spirit of the law and the gospel, unless God has changed and unless Christ has undertaken to make void the law through faith, which cannot be.” – Skel. Lect. On Theol. p. 242.[12]
But the gospel is denominated “the gospel of peace.” – Ephesians 6:15. In the New Testament, God is everywhere spoken of as a “God of Peace.” – Romans 15:33, 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 13:20; etc.
The types and shadows of the
old testament all prefigure
a dispensation of peace.
For example, a palace is to be built for the King of kings and Lord of lords. It is to be hallowed by the presence of Jehovah, and his name is to be called upon in it, “that all the people of the earth may know that Jehovah is God. None else – that his name may be magnified forever, saying, ‘The Lord of hosts is the God of Israel – a God to Israel.’” It is to shadow forth his true character, and in many particulars to foreshadow the dispensation of the Spirit. Its builder, in many respects is to be a type of the great Architect of the gospel temple. In speaking of this, God says to David, “Thou hast shed blood abundantly, and made great wars; thou shalt not build a house unto my name, because thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in my sight. Behold, a son shall be born to you who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies round about, for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness unto Israel in his days. He shall build a house for my name, and he shall be my son, and I will be his father.” – 1 Chronicles 22:8-10. The meaning of the name Solomon is peace. His name shall be Peace! An appropriate name, truly, for the Son of the God of peace – who was especially “raised up” to erect this wonderful edifice so quietly made “that there was neither hammer, axe, nor any tool of iron heard in the house while it was in building.” Is all this without a meaning?
The names by which the
messiah is designated in
the Old Testament show
that the gospel was to be
a dispensation of peace.
Names in the Bible are significant. That is, men and things are known by their names. Hence Prince of Peace is the name given by the prophets to the foretold Messiah. – Isaiah 9:6. So in Genesis 49:10, Jacob, in prophetic blessing of his sons, says, “The scepter shall not depart from Judah nor a law-giver from between his feet, until Shiloh come.” The meaning of Shiloh is “Peace Maker.” Hence, says Scott,[13] “All allow that the Messiah was intended, who was sent into the world as the promised seed to be the ‘Prince of Peace.’” Henry[14] translates it, “That Peaceable and Prosperous One, or the Savior.” Though in the primary sense the term may apply to his making peace between God and man, yet it is equally true that He makes peace between man and man. This is further evident from the fact that …
the prophets everywhere
characterize the reign of
Christ as a reign of peace
among men.
For example, “He shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people, and they shall beat their swords into plow-shares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation; neither shall they learn war any more.” – Isaiah 2:4. “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem. Behold thy King cometh unto thee. He is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle-bow shall be cut off. And he shall speak peace unto the heathen, and his dominion shall be from sea to sea and from the rivers to the ends of the earth.” – Zechariah 9:9. “But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah, and will save them by the Lord their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen.” – Hosea 1:7. “And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground; and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth, and will make them to lie down safely.” – Hosea 2:18. Implying that there is no safety in implements of war, and to this the bloody history of the world says, “Amen.”
“Save them by the Lord … and not by the sword.” Mark the antithesis. Those saved by the Lord are not saved by the sword. The Lord never appointed the sword for protection or safety.
This is no ephemeral affair, for “of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.” – Isaiah 9:6-7. And yet there is neither anarchy nor confusion, for “With righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth. He shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins. The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall feed, their young ones shall lie down together, and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand upon the cockatrice’s den. They shall not hurt or destroy in my entire holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” – Isaiah 11:4-9.
Here is no “rapine, murder, and death.” They shall lie down safely. None shall hurt nor destroy. For God shall be their refuge and strength. ►► We are not to wait for these things till there are no wolves, leopards, and lions. The power of the gospel is to be felt in subduing the wild and ravening nature of these ferocious animals. That this can be done is now being fully illustrated by the happy labors of that angel of mercy, Miss Dix[15], in our prisons and insane hospitals. It was illustrated in the case of William Penn,[16] by the Moravians, and by the early Christians. It has been illustrated whenever and wherever Christianity has been exhibited in its purity and power.
… and the nations who hear his rebuke “Learn war no more.” Hence the messengers of heaven sent to announce his birth shouted, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth Peace. Among men, benevolence!” The huge gates of Janus that for seven hundred years had been open to the chariot of war, now creaked upon their rusty hinges, for all was peace. O, what an hour was that! The reign of grace had commenced, and good will among men was inscribed on the banner of the throng, as they shouted, “Behold thy King cometh unto thee, meek, sitting upon an ass and a colt, the foal of an ass. Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” Then the inaugural, how sublime! “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake… Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets. I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. The law says, ‘Thou shalt not murder.’ I say, thou shalt indulge in no passion that leads to murder. The law says, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ I say, resist not evil, but howsoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. Ye have heard that it hath been said, ‘Thou shalt love thy neighbor and hate thine enemy.’ But I say unto you, love your enemies. Bless them who curse you. Do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who despitefully use you and persecute you, that ye may be the sons of your Father in Heaven. For if ye love them that love you, what grace have ye, for sinners do even the same. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.” – Matthew 5 and Luke 6, Greek.
Enemies were conquered
by the gospel.
Such are the teachings of the Lawgiver in the dispensation of peace. He found extreme cases, and his principles were severely tested. Did his practice correspond with his teachings, and did He succeed in subduing enmity? Yes, and enemies were made friends. “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. When we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his son.” – Romans 5:8-10. He died for us, and in the agonies of death, cried, “Father, forgive them.” “And you that were sometime alienated, and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled.” – Colossians 1:21.
Glory to God! The plan is not a failure! By example Christ has shown us how to convert enemies into friends, and has left this as our peculiar work. “For this is grace, if a man, for conscience toward God, endures grief, suffering wrongfully. For what is the honor if having sinned, ye suffer for it, and take it patiently? But if ye suffer for doing good, and take it patiently, this is grace from God. ►► For to this were ye called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example that ye shall follow his steps. (A glorious example! A blessed calling! O, that it was better understood, and more generally followed!) Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth; who when He was reviled, reviled not again. When He suffered, He threatened not, but committed Himself to Him who judgeth righteously, who his ownself bore our sins in his own body to the tree, that we being dead to sin should live unto righteousness, by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray, but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Keeper of your souls.” – 1 Peter 2:19-25, Greek.
Hence says Jesus, “Behold I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves. Be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to the councils, and in their synagogues, they will scourge you, and ye shall be brought before Rulers and Kings on my account for a testimony to them, and the gentiles.” – Matthew 10:16-18. “And it shall turn to you for a testimony.” – Luke 21:13. “Be not at all terrified, by your adversaries, for unto you it is graciously given in the behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake.” – Philippians 1:28-29, and thereby have a blessed opportunity to bear testimony as to the peculiar power of the gospel and show that returning good for evil is as “the fragrance the bruised flower yields to him who tramples on it.” In these trying circumstances “let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father in heaven.” “ Ye shall be betrayed both by parents and brethren, and relatives and friends, and they shall put some of you to death, and ye shall be hated by all men for my name’s sake, but there shall not a hair of your head perish. By patient enduring preserve your souls.” – Luke 21:14-19. “These things I command you, that ye love one another. If the world hates you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love its own but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, the servant is not greater than his Lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you… But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of me. Ye also are to bear witness, because from the beginning ye are with me.” – John 15:17-27. “‘Peace go with you. As the Father hath sent me, even so I send you.’ And having said this, He inspired them, and said, ‘Receive ye the Holy Ghost.’” – John 20:21-22.
The apostles were set apart to
this work by solemn prayer.
O how responsible our calling, and in view of such responsibility, how impressive the ordaining prayer! “Holy Father, keep, through thine own name, those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one as we are… I have given them thy word, and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldst take them out of the world, but that thou shouldst keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Consecrate them to thy truth. Thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, so have I sent them into the world. I consecrate myself for them, that they also may be consecrated to the truth. I pray not for these alone, but for them also who shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one, as thou, Father, in me, and I in thee, that they all may be one in us; that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And I have given to them the glory which thou hast given to me, that they may be one as we are one; I in them and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them as thou hast loved me.” – John 17:11-23.
Then, with such a trust and such promises, how appropriate are the instructions of the apostle. “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trials which are to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you, but rejoice in proportion as ye are partakers in Christ’s sufferings, that when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye are reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye because the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you. By them He is blasphemed, by you He is glorified.” – 1 Peter 4:12 etc.
The mission was fulfilled
and the commission was
renewed by the apostles.
Such was the light by which Jesus Christ illumined this dark world, and such the work entrusted to us. The apostles, true to their calling, reflected the same light and signed over the same commission to their successors. “The servant of the Lord must not fight, but be gentle towards all, patiently enduring evil, skillful in teaching, by meekness instructing the opposers, peradventure God may give them repentance unto the exact knowledge of the truth, and so they shall recover[17] from the snare of the devil, having been led captive by him into his will.” – 2 Timothy 2:24-26, Greek.
“Recompense to no man evil for evil. Take special pains to do things which commend themselves to the consciences of all. If it be possible, so much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves but rather give place unto wrath, for it is written, ‘Avenging is mine, I will repay,’ saith the Lord. Therefore, if thine enemy hunger, feed him, and if he thirst, give him drink, for in so doing, thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” – Romans 12:17-21. “Why do ye not rather take wrong? Why do ye not suffer yourselves to be defrauded?” – 1 Corinthians 6:7. “I will very gladly spend and be spent for you, though the more abundantly I love you the less I be loved.” – 2 Corinthians 12:15. “Even unto this present hour we both hunger and thirst and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling place, and labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it; being defamed, we entreat; we have become as the filth of the world – the offscouring of all things unto this day.” – 1 Corinthians 4:11-13. “Of the Jews, five times received I forty stripes save one, thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned,” – 2 Corinthians 11:24-25, says Paul, yet when at Caesar’s judgment seat, instead of suing for redress, his forgiving plea is, “Not that I had aught to accuse my nation of.” “So also they stoned Stephen, while he, calling upon God, said, ‘Lord Jesus receive my spirit,’ and he kneeled down and with a loud voice cried, ‘Lord, lay not this sin to their charge,’ and when he had said this he fell asleep.” – Acts 7:59-60. Amid a shower of stones, “he fell asleep.” Ah, this is grace! Do we see anything like it in war?
[9] Sumner, Charles. “The True Grandeur of Nations,” an oration given July 4th, 1845.
[10] Webster, Noah. Dictionary of the English Language.
[11] Barnes, Albert. Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Gospels. New York: Harper, 1840.
[12] Finney, Charles. Skeletons of a Course of Theological Lectures. Oberlin, Ohio: James Steele, 1840.
[13] Thomas Scott (1747-1821) was an English clergyman and author of The Force of Truth and Commentary on the Bible.
[14] Matthew Henry (1662-1714) was an English clergyman and author of Exposition of the Old and New Testaments.
[15] Dorothea Dix (1802-1887) was a philanthropist who campaigned for the welfare of prisoners, the insane, and the poor.
[16] William Penn (1644-1718) was the Quaker founder of Pennsylvania. His religious and political views effectively exiled him from British society and were an inspiration for the U. S. Constitution.
[17] “Recover.” Greek, “Become sober,” or “awake from a drunken fit,” implying that those who fight become intoxicated with rage or excitement, and in that state are ensnared by Satan, and taken alive by him into his will. Can anything be more expressive or truthful?