What Does God Say About War?
 The Case for Pacifism
In a time when the world is still divided by war and conflict, Christians have a duty and responsibility to think through the morality of the use of deadly force, especially when it comes to the issue of war. Many Christians are strict pacifists and lean heavily of the words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount:
 Matthew 5:38-41
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. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.
That sure sounds like a command for pacifism, doesn’t it? And Jesus also (in the very same sermon), affirms the Law written in the Old Testament:
Matthew 5:17-20
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Christian pacifists then point to a foundational teaching of the Old Testament, citing the command, “You shall not kill,” found in the Ten Commandments. So how can we, as Christians, ever justify the use of deadly force, even in times of war? Doesn’t action of this nature violate the fundamental teaching of Jesus and the Old Testament (which Jesus affirmed as well)?
You Shall Not Kill?
Well, let’s begin with a careful reading of the Scripture. “You shall not kill” is actually not a command found in the Bible. The command from scripture in the original language actually says “You shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13). The Hebrew word for ‘murder’ literally means “the intentional, premeditated killing of another person with malice.” Interestingly, most of us are familiar with this definition of murder, because it is reflected in the penal codes of our country. The Penal Code of California presents this definition of murder:
187. (a) Murder is the unlawful killing of a human being, or a fetus, with malice aforethought.
Malice is a form of evil intent that separates ‘murder’ from ‘killing’. Even today there are acceptable forms of killing that lack this kind of evil intent. These forms of killing exist as exceptions to the murder laws of the United States. In California, for example, it is actually legal (according to penal code sections 187, 196 and 197) to kill someone, so long as one of the following conditions are met:
A person kills someone accidentally
A person is trying to defend him or herself and prevent his or her own murder (self defense)
A person is trying to prevent someone from entering his or her house to commit some violent felony
A person is trying to prevent the murder of someone else (protecting an innocent)
In addition, there are exceptions for agents of the government, so long as one of the following conditions are met:
An agent of the court is carrying out a court order (the death penalty)
A police officer is acting to stop a fleeing felon who may escape to harm others
In all these situations, killing is actually LEGAL and justifiable, and these kinds of exceptions exist in the Penal Code of every state in America. Even those who don’t accept the existence of God or the authority of the Bible have no problem reasoning through the necessity for laws like this; laws that allow for deadly force to be used to accomplish some greater good. Even atheists would agree that laws like this are good and necessary. And I bet that Christian pacifists would also agree.
It’s interesting to note, however, that exceptions such as these are NOT the invention of modern humans. They are simply a reflection of ancient Biblical Law. The Bible is the source for our modern law and these exceptions come straight from the pages of scripture:
An accidental killing is not murder:
Exodus 21:12-13
Anyone who strikes a man and kills him shall surely be put to death. However, if he does not do it intentionally, but God lets it happen, he is to flee to a place I will designate.
Numbers 35:22-25
But if without hostility someone suddenly shoves another or throws something at him unintentionally or, without seeing him, drops a stone on him that could kill him, and he dies, then since he was not his enemy and he did not intend to harm him, the assembly must judge between him and the avenger of blood according to these regulations. The assembly must protect the one accused of murder from the avenger of blood and send him back to the city of refuge to which he fled.
A killing performed in self defense or in defense of one’s home is not murder:
Exodus 22:2
If a thief is caught breaking in and is struck so that he dies, the defender is not guilty of bloodshed
A killing performed in an attempt to save the life of an innocent person is not murder:
Exodus 2:11-12
One day, after Moses had grown up, he went out to where his own people were and watched them at their hard labor. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his own people. Glancing this way and that and seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. (God did not judge Moses as a murderer because he was protecting the life of the slave)
Genesis 14:14-16
When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained men born in his household and went in pursuit as far as Dan. During the night Abram divided his men to attack them and he routed them, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. He recovered all the goods and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people. (God did not judge Abram as a murderer because he was protecting the life of Lot)
Our modern laws regarding killing and murder, (the very laws that even atheists and Christian pacifists would fight to defend), are based on Biblical Laws that date back thousands of years!
Extending a Good Moral Principle
Now let’s just think about this philosophically for a minute. Look at just a couple of the exceptions to the murder law: the exceptions for self defense and for the defense of an innocent. Few of us would argue against these exceptions. None of us wants to be charged with murder just because we stopped some crazed attacker from trying to kill us or trying to kill one of our children, even if we had to use deadly force to accomplish our own defense. But what if there were TWO attackers trying to kill you? Would the exception still apply if deadly force had to be used to stop both of them? Would this still be legal and moral? Yes, it would. What if there were ten attackers? 100 attackers? 1,000 attackers? Would the mere number of attackers change the legal or moral question here? No. That’s why it is philosophically and theological viable for us to consider the notion of a “just war”. While many would simply see any war as mass murder, there are certain conditions under which war may be ‘justifiable’ in the same way that some killings are exceptions to the murder law. Of course, the burden for justification is VERY high and we can argue about whether or not this burden has been met all you want, depending on which war we are talking about. But I think it is fair and reasonable to say that the moral and legal conditions do exist to justify the use of deadly force, IF the conditions have been established.
The Real Cause of War
And I know that is a big “IF”! We need to stop for a minute and think about the true cause of war. Why does ANY war begin? Why would we EVER find ourselves considering war in the first place? If we are honest about this, we can usually point to some initial point of conflict that is simply the direct result of human sin. We all have an intuitive sense that evil exists in the world, and the Bible tells us where this evil lives:
Romans 3:10-18
There is none righteous, not even one; there is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God; all have turned aside, together they have become useless; there is none who does good, there is not even one. Their throat is an open grave, with their tongues they keep deceiving; the poison of asps is under their lips, whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood, destruction and misery are in their paths, and the path of peace have they not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes.
The truth is that the world is filled with sinful people, and war is simply one of many results of sin. Now many people would argue that RELIGION is the cause of war. But to say that EVERY war has been fought on theological grounds is simply untrue. Given free reign, humans will find something to fight about. It may be about religion, but if not, it will be about some other ideology or simply about greed and power. While religion may be one excuse to go to war, it is only that: one excuse. But remember that there will always be SOME excuse. So, why do we find ourselves fighting? Think about it for a minute. It comes down to our very nature as greedy, prideful, power-hungry humans. And this nature is described perfectly in the scriptures:
James 4:1-2
What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. And you are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel.
So, let’s be straight about the cause of war. As Christians we are commended NOT to murder. We are also given several exceptions and allowed to KILL. If we do this however, we had better make sure that we are RESPONDING to sin, rather than being yet another SOURCE of sin.
So, What Does the Scripture Say?
And there are plenty of examples in the Scripture of ways in which God’s people have been commanded to respond to sin by engaging in war. The Old Testament is replete with examples of God ordering His people to go to battle with the nations around them:
1 Samuel 15:3
Now go and strike Amalek and utterly destroy all that he has, and do not spare him; but put to death both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.
Joshua 4:12-13
And the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh crossed over in battle array before the sons of Israel, just as Moses had spoken to them; about 40,000, equipped for war, crossed for battle before the LORD to the desert plains of Jericho.
Numbers 31:1-2
Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, "Take full vengeance for the sons of Israel on the Midianites; afterward you will be gathered to your people."
Deuteronomy 20:15-17
Thus you shall do to all the cities that are very far from you, which are not of the cities of these nations nearby. Only in the cities of these peoples that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, you shall not leave alive anything that breathes. But you shall utterly destroy them, the Hittite and the Amorite, the Canaanite and the Perizzite, the Hivite and the Jebusite, as the LORD your God has commanded you…
Wow, that sounds pretty brutal. Why would God command all of this? Is he commanding murder? Not from His perspective. But he is commanding his people to kill. The difference is that God (being omniscient) knew these surrounding nations perfectly. He knew their hearts and he knew their future if they were allowed to exist near the nation of Israel. He knew they would seek Israel’s destruction (gee, things don’t sound like they’ve changed all that much)! God has that kind of knowledge:
Isaiah 55:9
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.
God knew that the nations that surrounded Israel would eventually lead them away from God and seek the destruction of Israel as a nation:
Deuteronomy 20:17-18
But you shall utterly destroy them, the Hittite and the Amorite, the Canaanite and the Perizzite, the Hivite and the Jebusite, as the LORD your God has commanded you in order that they may not teach you to do according to all their detestable things which they have done for their gods, so that you would sin against the LORD your God.
Deuteronomy 9:4-5
Do not say in your heart when the LORD your God has driven them out before you, 'Because of my righteousness the LORD has brought me in to possess this land,' but it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD is dispossessing them before you.
In essence, God is commanding the Israelites to act here in self defense. Knowing the future and every possible twist of time and action, He alone knew that the Israelites would have to use deadly force to protect themselves, so he authorized the military action.
But there is another exception to the murder law that God also invokes, using war as a tool. If you remember, we talked about the right that an agent of the court has to carry out a legal order of the court. One such order is the death penalty for those who have committed the worst of crimes. When agents of the court kill someone who has been found guilty of one such crime, they are not then charged themselves with murder. This is an exception, and one we have already discussed. As it turns out, God has also invoked this exception when judging what the Bible calls ‘wickedness’. Just as we might condemn a man to the death penalty for something wicked that he has done, God does the same thing. Think about it for a minute. If there is a God, is He not the supreme judge of wickedness?
Some people argue that God is just an invention of the ancient Jews to justify their desire for war, but don’t think for a minute that God only uses war to judge NON-Israelites. God is FAIR, and He is not the invention of the Jews. He often uses war to judge the wickedness of his own people, just as he uses war to judge the wickedness of other nations. When his own people had turned from Him and from doing what was right, He utilized war as an agent of fair and just punishment:
Jeremiah 5:15-17
“Behold, I am bringing a nation against you from afar, O house of Israel,” declares the LORD. “It is an enduring nation, it is an ancient nation, a nation whose language you do not know, nor can you understand what they say. Their quiver is like an open grave, all of them are mighty men. And they will devour your harvest and your food; they will devour your sons and your daughters; they will devour your flocks and your herds; they will devour your vines and your fig trees; they will demolish with the sword your fortified cities in which you trust.”
Why would God punish people (even His own people) in this way? Because without justice, mercy is meaningless. When we don’t punish the assailant in a case, we in turn end up punishing the victim and the victim’s family, who are crying for justice. And this would be yet another sin that WE are now committing. To NOT punish evil is to commit yet another evil:
James 4:17
Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.
In the end, justice requires that we judge evil. And in our lives here on earth, God has given us the institution of GOVERNMENT to do just that; punish those who do what is wrong:
Romans 13:1-4
Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore he who resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. 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; 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 upon the one who practices evil.
The Bible clearly teaches that God utilizes war to protect and defend the innocent and to punish the wicked. The Bible is also clear that God has given the institution of government the right and authority to do the very same thing. It is from this reasoning that we can see that there is a theological basis for governments to go to war, but once again, the criteria is limited and the standard is very high. But before we get to all of that, let’s take a look at the Life of Jesus and see if we can learn something about what God says about war.
So What Would Jesus DO?
Many Christian pacifists cite the words of Jesus and make the argument that Jesus would never condone ANY kind of use of deadly force, even the obvious exceptions to murder allowed by the Old Testament Law. They would typically cite these verses:
Luke 6:27-31
“But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.”
But I do think it’s important for us to interpret Jesus’ words in light of his entire life, not just a particular sermon. It’s the LIFE of Jesus that helps us to understand how he feels about the just use of deadly force. Really examine this. If you look at the life of Jesus you will notice that he seems very comfortable with both the notion of self defense and aggressive action:
 Jesus Believed That There Were Some Causes That Called for Aggressive Action
Jesus was quick to act aggressively to DEFEND what He believed was right:
John 2:13-16
When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, "Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!"
 Jesus Called for the Use of the Sword
Remember that in Biblical times, the only ‘sidearms’ available to people for their own protection were knives or swords. Today’s equivalent weapons would be pistols and automatic rifles. Jesus told his disciples to arm themselves with swords:
Luke 22:36
He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.”
Why would he say this? At the very least, he is calling his disciples to prepare themselves for their own defense. And the sword (an instrument that can be used to kill someone) is evidently allowable in the eyes of Jesus.
 Jesus Never Condemned the Life, Calling or Duty of Soldiers
It is this understanding of the appropriate use of force that gives Jesus a proper perspective on the role of soldiers. Maybe that’s why Jesus never commented negatively on any soldier he ever came in contact with. Here’s a good example:
Luke 3:12-14
Tax collectors also came to be baptized. "Teacher," they asked, "what should we do?" "Don't collect any more than you are required to," he told them. Then some soldiers asked him, "And what should we do?" He replied, "Don't extort money and don't accuse people falsely-be content with your pay."
Jesus had a great opportunity to tell these soldiers that they should disarm and become pacifists, but he didn’t do it! Heck, this would have been a great opportunity for Jesus to begin an entire SERMON on the topic of pacifism and the evil of war, but he also didn’t do that! In fact, there were times in Jesus’ life where he commended soldiers (men who made a living waging wars)!
Matthew 8:5-12
When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. "Lord," he said, "my servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering." Jesus said to him, "I will go and heal him." The centurion replied, "Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, "I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
 Jesus Agreed with the Father’s Perspective on War
We already know how God feels about war as we have described from his actions and commandments found in the Old Testament. We also know that God does not change:
Malachi 3:6
“I the LORD do not change”
James 1:17-18
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
Keep this in mind as you read these passages:
John 10:30
“I and the Father are one.”
John 14:9-10
Jesus answered: “Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.”
John 14:24
“These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.”
1 John 5:6-7
This is the one who came by water and blood-Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.
Jesus and the God the Father are in perfect agreement about EVERYTHING. When one talks, the other is talking. When one acts, the other is acting. They are in harmony. So whatever God says about war in the Old Testament is still true about war in the New Testament. Jesus feels the same way about war that God does, because He IS God.
 Jesus is Himself a Warrior
With that in mind, it’s much easier to understand and accept the way that Jesus is then depicted in the Book of Revelation, where he is described as a warrior at the end times:
Revelation 19:11-21
I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, "Come, gather together for the great supper of God, so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and mighty men, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, small and great." Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the rider on the horse and his army. But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. The rest of them were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.
So, is this Jesus the pacifist that some would like us to accept? If we, as Christians, as to model our lives after the life of Christ and be imitators of Jesus (Ephesians 5:1), then we will also find ourselves embracing the view of war that Jesus clearly demonstrated in his actions in the New Testament. While it is true that HE never resisted those who would eventually put him on the cross, this effort on the part of Jesus was a unique and specific action designed to accomplish the Salvation that all of us so desperately need. It was not evidence of his pacifism, for if this was true, all the examples I’ve given you from his life and from the scripture would make no sense at all.
So, How Should Christians Respond?
Disciples of Jesus have asked this question for generations. While the vast majority of Christians DO believe that there are times when it is appropriate to go to war, they have struggled throughout the ages to understand WHEN exactly God would honor such action. And clearly Christians have made their share of mistakes in this regard. Augustine (354 - 430) and Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) struggled to formulate what is now called the “Just War Theory”. They were simply trying their best to understand when it would be morally right to engage in military action based on the teaching of the Bible. As a result, several principles have evolved through the ages that can help us understand how we, as Christians, are to respond to the idea and reality of war. Let’s take a look at some guidelines that Christians might follow as they think about the notion of war:
Everything Must Begin With Prayer
For the Christian, no thought of entering into war can begin without our first consulting God to ask him for wisdom on the part of our leaders, mercy for our enemies and peace for all those involved:
1 Timothy 2:1-4
I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
Matthew 5:43-46
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.
Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Prayer is a powerful weapon, even before we resort to the weapons of war:
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.
Peace Must Be Pursued FIRST
Even before we ever consider the option of war, we must pursue the path of peace. For me, this is where Jesus’ teaching from the Sermon on the Mount has its context. Jesus calls us to turn the other cheek, and resist the impulse to strike back. But let’s think about this for a minute. If our goal is to commit the least sin possible, are we accomplishing this if we ignore an atrocity of evil that is about to be inflicted upon an innocent? If we fail to stop evil when we can, are we not then committing evil (James 4:17)? Are Jesus’ commands in the Sermon on the Mount license for us to sit still and allow the harm of others? Or did God also give us the wisdom to do what we can to be at peace, while recognizing that there may be times when we will have to act in order to avoid sinning as James so clearly described and as Paul wrote as well:
Romans 12:18
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
‘IF’ it is possible. It seems clear from this passage in scripture that there may be times when it is not. But it is also clear from God’s Word that we are to strive for peace and do everything we can to preserve it:
Psalm 34:14
Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it
The challenge, of course, is to know when we simply MUST act to the extent that we can (“as far as it depends on you”) to stop evil. First we must use diplomacy and negotiation, but when that path reaches its end, it is time to love those that hate us by containing their activity in a way that prevents them from harming the innocent. The protection of the innocent must be a primary motive for us as we consider war.
There Must Be A Moral Reason For War
Motive is incredibly important to God. War is the last line of defense to protect those that are threatened by evil aggressors. It is not to be used to advance our worldview or force our views. It is not to be used to exact revenge, or to harm or exploit those who disagree with us. War is justified when all else has failed and war is the only option to DEFEND those who are threatened by the deadly force of an evil aggressor.
Proverbs 16:2
All a man's ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the LORD.
But unfortunately, there WILL be times when war is the only way:
Ecclesiastes 3:8
…a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.
So it’s important for us to have God’s Holy motives in mind as we begin to contemplate the act of war:
Revelation 19:11-12
I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war.
If You Can’t Win, Don’t Begin
But beyond this, we also need to make sure that our actions are within our means (“as far as it depends on you”). We need to know with certainty, BEFORE WE BEGIN TO ACT, that we can accomplish our goals:
Luke 14:31-33
“Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace.”
Why is this so important? Because it is tragic enough to have to kill, even to accomplish what we would consider a greater goal, but if we DO end up killing people and then FAIL to accomplish the goal, we have simply become another source of evil, and that is something that will not please God.
War Should Not Cause More Evil Than It Eliminates
To decide to kill to accomplish a greater good is a very difficult thing to have to choose. But when we have certainty that our actions will eliminate more evil than they create, the choice is a little easier. For this reason we must be very wise about how we proceed:
Psalm 7:3-5
O LORD my God, if I have done this and there is guilt on my hands — if I have done evil to him who is at peace with me or without cause have robbed my foe — then let my enemy pursue and overtake me; let him trample my life to the ground and make me sleep in the dust.
Even in the midst of war, we must always seek to minimize the aggression needed to accomplish the goal:
Deuteronomy 20:10-12
When you march up to attack a city, make its people an offer of peace. If they accept and open their gates, all the people in it shall be subject to forced labor and shall work for you. If they refuse to make peace and they engage you in battle, lay siege to that city.
 Wisdom and Counsel Must Be Sought Before Acting in War
This may sound simplistic, but the worst decisions are those that are made without the depth and variety of opinions from all sides of the issue. The best decisions are then possible once we have the wisdom of others to support our choices:
Proverbs 20:18
Make plans by seeking advice; if you wage war, obtain guidance.
Proverbs 24:6
…for waging war you need guidance, and for victory many advisers.
 War Should be Waged by Legitimate Governments
God has given us the institution of government for a reason. Governments have the responsibility of protecting the innocent and punishing those who do wrong. We are not to act as individuals and take matters into our own hands. We must patiently trust the government for matters such as these:
|
Civilian Casualties Should Be Minimized 
Prisoners of War Must Be Treated Justly 
We Must Support One Another 
And Ultimately, We Must Trust God