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WAR
War is an intense armed conflict between states, governments,
societies, or paramilitary groups such as mercenaries, insurgents, and
militias. It is generally characterized by extreme violence, destruction, and
mortality, using regular or irregular military forces.
Violence was introduced into human experience by the archviolent
Satan. It erupted first in Cain and has been the common experience of man
ever since. Time magazine notes that in the last thirty-five centuries of
recorded history, only one year out of fifteen has been without war. Since
1900 almost 100 million men have died in 100 wars---compared with
3,845,000in the 19th
century.
 Is war an unmitigated moral evil, the ultimate expression of human
sinfulness?
 Or is war sometimes good, and peace sometimes a moral evil?
 Or war is always wrong, but sometimes the lesser of two evils?
WORLD VIEW
What Is a War?
A war is typically fought by a country or group of countries against an
opposing country or group with the aim of achieving an objective through
the use of force. Wars can also be fought within a country in the form of a
civil or revolutionary war.
Why Do Wars Happen?
There is rarely one single, clear cause of conflict and, ultimately, war. The
causes of a war are usually numerous and can often be intertwined in a
complicated way.
Eight Main Causes of War
1.Economic Gain -Often wars are caused by one country's wish to take
control of another country's wealth. Whatever the other reasons for a war
may be, there is very often an economic motive underlying most conflicts,
even if the stated aim of the war is presented to the public as something
more noble. (Historical examples of wars fought for economic gain:
Japanese Invasion of Manchuria (1931-1932) - Critically short of raw
materials to supply its industrial growth, Japan launched an invasion of the
Chinese province of Manchuria in 1931. Following the successful conquest,
the Japanese established the puppet state of Manchukuo.)
2. Territorial Gain - A country might decide that it needs more land, either
for living space, agricultural use, or other purposes. Territory can also be
used as “buffer zones” between two hostile enemies. (Historical examples
of wars fought for territorial gain: Mexican-American War (1846-1848) –
This war was fought following the annexation of Texas, with Mexico claiming
the land as their own. The U.S. eventually won and Texas went on to be
incorporated as a state.)
3. Religion - Religious conflicts often have very deep roots. They can lie
dormant for decades, only to re-emerge in a flash at a later date. Religious
wars can often be tied to other reasons for conflict, such as nationalism or
revenge for a perceived historical slight in the past. (Historical examples of
wars fought for religion: Greek War of Independence (1821–1829) - Fought
by Greek revolutionaries against the Ottoman Empire, this war had a large
religious element. This was particularly evident early on, with many
Christian Greeks seeing the conflict against the Muslim Turks as a holy war.)
4. Nationalism -Nationalism in this context essentially means attempting to
prove that your country is superior to another by violent subjugation. This
often takes the form of an invasion. Related to nationalism is imperialism,
which is built on the idea that conquering other countries is glorious and
brings honor and esteem to the conqueror. (Historical examples of wars
fought for nationalism: World War I (1914-1918) – Loyalty and patriotism
drew many countries into this conflict, which was the largest conflict that
the world had ever known at the time. Many Europeans believed in the
cultural, economic and military supremacy of their nation and this played a
major role in the war beginning and continuing.)
5. Revenge -Seeking to punish, redress a grievance, or simply strike back for
a perceived slight can often be a factor in the waging of war. Revenge also

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relates to nationalism, as the people of a country which has been wronged
are motivated to fight back by pride and spirit. (Historical examples of wars
fought for revenge: War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) – This war could be
seen as being partially motivated by revenge with the US striking back at Al
Qaeda for the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001.
The terrorist group were being given safe haven by the Taliban government
in Afghanistan, which prompted an American-led NATO invasion.
6. Civil War -These generally take place when there is sharp internal
disagreement within a country. The disagreement can be about who rules,
how the country should be run or the people's rights. These internal rifts
often turn into chasms that result in violent conflict between two or more
opposing groups. (American Civil War (1861-1865) - The American Civil War
was fought by the Union army and the Confederate army as a result of the
long-standing controversy over slavery.)
7. Revolutionary War -These occur when a large section of the population
of a country revolts against the individual or group that rules the country
because they are dissatisfied with their leadership. (Historical examples of
revolutionary wars: American Revolution (1775-1783) – The American
Revolution gave the 13 North American colonies independence from British
rule and established the United States of America.)
8. Defensive War -In the modern world, where military aggression is more
widely questioned, countries will often argue that they are fighting in a
purely defensive capacity against an aggressor, or potential aggressor, and
that their war is therefore a “just” war. These defensive wars can be
especially controversial when they are launched preemptively, the
argument essentially being that: “We are attacking them before they
inevitably attack us.” (Russian Invasion of Ukraine (2022) – In February 2022,
Russian troops invaded Ukraine in a major escalation of a conflict that had
begun in 2014. Russia's leader Vladimir Putin argued that the military action
was defensive in nature, with the aim being to demilitarize Ukraine, stop the
further expansion of NATO, and prevent an attack on Russia. These claims
have been widely disputed.
BIBLICAL VIEW
Christians view war differently. It could be viewed as right, wrong, or
depending on the situation. The following are some of the viewpoints of
Christian related to war:
Nonresistance or Pacifism
Under this, war is considered immoral because of ethical principles,
perhaps, by Scripture but primarily with philosophical reasonings. This view
is founded by the teachings and exemplary life of Jesus. He instructed, “Do
not resist an evil person” (Matthew 5:39) and urged to “Love your enemies,
do good to them” (Luke 6:35; Matthew 5:44).
For instance, if your nation is engaged in a warfare, you are guilty if you
participate, especially in killing. No matter what others may do for the sake
of saving the nation, you must never be involved with it. A pacifist (those
who view the involvement of war as immoral) has a great chance of having
this thought in mind: What if my nonparticipation leads to my nation being
conquered and losses its freedom? Am I not guilty?
Theory of Just War
War could be considered justifiable and the other way around. Not every
war in the Christian era is being a holy war which one side is righteous and
the other is unrighteous. Though most war is unjustifiable, there are still that
are.
Take this exemplary, soldiers are known participants of war. If you’re a
soldier who is in the battlefield with criminals, the reality is kill or be killed.
However, it is not the duty of soldier to kill but to bring about peace. Hence,
it is a justified killing and it does not equate to murder. A justified killing is
based on love and is a last resort.
This approach was culminated in a massive study The Law of War and Peace
which effectively introduced the theory into international law. The earlier
statements have been developed by contemporary advocate:

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1. Just Cause. Aggression is condemned; only defensive war is
legitimate.
2. Just Intention. The only legitimate intention is to secure a just
peace for all involved. Neither revenge nor conquest nor economic
gain nor ideological supremacy is justified.
3. Last Resort. War may be entered upon only when all negotiations
and compromise have been tried and failed.
4. Formal Declaration. Since the use of military force is the
prerogative of governments, not of private individuals, a state of
war must be officially declared by the highest authorities.
5. Limited Objectives. If the purpose is peace, then unconditional
surrender or the destruction of a nation's economic or political
institutions is an unwarranted objective.
6. Proportionate Means. The weaponry and the force used should be
limited to what is needed to repel the aggression and deter future
attacks, that is to say, to secure a just peace. Total or unlimited war
is ruled out.
7. Noncombatant Immunity. Since war is an official act of
government, only those who are officially agents of government
may fight, and individuals not actively contributing to the conflict
(including POWs and casualties as well as civilian,nonparticipants)
should be immune from attack.
Man's Responsibility for War
Given that war is one of the most terrible consequences of human
wickedness, humanity cannot blame God or Satan for it. Instead, man must
take responsibility for it. Conflict is unavoidable as a result of this immoral,
selfish mindset, and everyone is accountable to God for this sinful action.
God has chosen human as instruments both of His judgment and grace: civil
governments as the primary agents of His judgment, and the church as the
primary agent of His grace. So human government-whether family or state
or employer-is hobbled by its own finitude and fallenness. Nevertheless, it
is God's own instrument.
God’s Sovereignty
War might happen anytime and anywhere. Christians cannot hold and
control uncertainties during warfare. However, God is in sovereign control
and will bring his plans to a triumphant end. He won't slink off the stage of
time looking defeated. Whether under oppression or in freedom, His people
can rest in the confidence knowing justice and decency will ultimately
triumph.
Conclusion:
War should be avoided if possible, and should only be undertaken if all
efforts to resolve an issue by peaceful means have failed. Ambot
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