Onward, Christian Soldier? by Pastor Walter Snyder Q: The news is full of suggestions about fighting with Iraq; now North Korea seems to be an even greater threat. May---and should---a Christian plan, wage, or support a war? A: Pacifism and militarism have both tried to use Scripture to support their positions. Christians must balance the fullness of the Biblical message in making a decision about fighting. The specific command from God (Exodus 20:13) says, "You shall not murder." The word may also mean to cause death through carelessness or negligence and the general idea is that no one is supposed to bring about the death of another---especially through intentional action. Yet this verse sits among others that command fighting, violence, and death to others, so unless God contradicts Himself, there must be something more involved. This "something more" involves government acting as God's agent in carrying out His will. Temporal authorities are empowered by God to combat evil within and without, as the Lord says through Paul in Romans 13: "For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. (vv. 3-4)" Certain groups have said that this is fine, let the government do its things and let the Christian receive its protection from evil. However, leave the decisions and the fighting to non-Christians who don't know God's Word. Others encourage their members to completely ignore their national governments or even to actively resist them when war is threatened or waged. Lutherans generally stay away from such positions. War is, according to our understanding of God's Word, a true "necessary evil." And since we encourage honest and active participation in civil matters, when, where, and how to fight is something with which we must wrestle. This didn't start with the Lutherans, either. Early Christianity found many converts among Roman soldiery. Some converted and then deserted, not wanting to disobey God through their leaders' orders. Others stayed in the military, fighting unless commanded to engage in immoral behavior. Some of these later faced persecution because pagan leaders couldn't understand that those believing in a "foreign" god could remain loyal to Roman rule. Even prior to the public ministry of Christ, John the Baptist dealt with soldiers who came to confess their sins. He didn't urge them to quit the military but to serve honorably: "Soldiers also asked him, 'And we, what shall we do?' And he said to them, 'Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.' (Luke 3:14)" Martin Luther was one of many Christians who counseled warriors unsure of or worried about their salvation. He gave such comfort to Assa von Kram, a ducal counselor and professional soldier, that von Kram urged him to put his words into writing to benefit of others. From this grew the tract ~Whether Soldiers, Too, Can Be Saved~. A summary of this writing is a summary of classic Christian teaching on the topic. When paired with his earlier ~Temporal Authority: To What Extent It Should Be Obeyed~, Luther covers the whole of military and governmental service. First, he states that rebellion against ones own government is rebellion against God. Luther would rather they continue an evil rule that be overthrown since their rule can only harm bodies, not souls while revolution harms those who wage it. Next, he allows for wars of self-defense and for conflict between "equals" among nations. However, he reminds the soldier to trust not in the justness of the cause but in God, since the government may not honestly depict the situation. Finally, he also says that soldiers may fight against their own people when the people are in rebellion---but that they must carefully examine the causes. Likewise, the rulers are only to use violence as a final resort. After examining various situations and circumstances, Luther allowed that soldiers, as all others, can be saved by the grace of God in Christ. He used examples of how God used both pagan and believing armies to work His will. Yet soldiers shouldn't blindly follow leaders into the fight. The idea of "just war" clearly shows in this work: "If you know for sure that he is wrong, then you should fear God rather than men, [Acts 5:29], and you should neither fight nor serve, for you cannot have a good conscience before God." Furthermore, the godly soldier is one whose conscience and thoughts are filled both with the promises of God and the knowledge of hell and the devil. To have such ideas constantly in mind keeps the soldier from blocking out God's commandments and becoming a law unto himself and, eventually, both a war criminal and an eternally condemned sinner. The work closes by urging the soldier to pray for obedience both to the rulers and, especially, to God, for forgiveness, and for strength to do what is right. Scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from ~The Holy Bible, English Standard Version~, © 2001 by Crossway Bibles. Ask the Pastor, © 2002 by Walter P. Snyder. It may be reproduced in totality, including this disclaimer, by anyone, provided that no profit is generated by said republication and redistribution. Translations into other languages should similarly note the United States and any appropriate international copyrights, as well as God's Scriptural injunctions concerning the property of others. Walter Snyder is the pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Emma, Missouri and coauthor of the book "What Do Lutherans Believe."