War and Peace

Understanding Christianity on War and Peace

• The Sixth Commandment ‘You shall not murder’ (Exodus 20:13) expresses a basic Christian principle against killing.

• The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) contains teachings on peace, such as ‘Blessed are the peacemakers’ and ‘Turn the other cheek’.

• Early Christians were often pacifist, based on the example of Jesus’ peaceful life and teachings.

Scriptural Evidence about War and Peace

• In the Old Testament, God sometimes called the Israelites to wage war, such as in the Battle of Jericho (Joshua 6).

• Jesus stopped Peter from using violence to prevent his arrest (Matthew 26:52), saying ‘all who draw the sword will die by the sword’.

• Paul’s Letter to the Romans (12:18) encourages Christians to ‘live peacefully with all’.

Christian Views on Warfare and Peace Making

• The traditional Just War Theory, shaped by theologians like St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas, outlines criteria for when war might be morally permissible.

• Conscientious objectors refuse military service due to moral or religious reasons, often citing Christian teachings on peace.

• Many Christians engage in nonviolent protest and activism to promote peace, following in the steps of figures like Martin Luther King Jr.

Theological Perspectives on War and Peace

• Liberation theology often includes a firm stance against militarism and violence, as it contributes to oppression and injustice.

• Some Christians interpret the biblical concept of ‘God’s Kingdom’ as a state of divine peace to actively strive for in the present.

• Various Christian apocalyptic and prophetic texts, like Revelation, present visions of a future universal peace under God’s reign.