War - what is it good for?

antiskeptic

Nick Park wrote: »

That's quite true. Government has a function. The church has a very different function.

I believe that, as a Christian, I am to have no part in violence. That means not participating in the military, and not voting for or enabling acts of war. It also means voting for governance that promotes peace and preserves life.

I am well aware that sometimes governments will behave very differently from how the Church of christ should behave.

In instituting government, God included the sword in it's armory. God saw fit to have government and saw fit that it would wield the sword at times.

All you say above doesn't deal with this element.

Disobedience to the teaching and example of Christ.

Could you comment on the suggestion that his urging us towards pacifism focuses on suppressing the sinful flesh, rather than suppressing our need for self-defence?

Government is God instituted. That doesn't mean that everything governments do is God-instituted or approved.

True, yet the sword lies within the armory of a government, and the verse indicates that it's being wielded can be a proper and appropriate act of government.

It is for you to decide whether or not the government is acting rightfully (or rightfully enough, on balance). If yes, then you can be that sword - since the sword-wielding government (and it's agents) is God-instituted. If not, not.

But you can't totally disassociate yourself from the responsibility of government, given instances where the sword wielding is appropriate.

I would prefer that the government did not do "dirty work" - but ultimately the Church should operate as a counter-cultural minority speaking prophetically as a conscience from the margins of society.

The question isn't what you prefer, the question is whether or not Governments action, including wielding the sword at times, can fall within God's remit in his instituting them.

If so, and you figure not to partake when evil is abroad then you are letting others do your dirty work - since it is dirty work God supposed needing doing when he instituted sword wielding government. If not, then not.

Counter cultural applies when you decide not to join in the fray when your nation is on the aggression-fueled warpath. Defending oneself and others against those who would want, being driven by evil motivations, to kill you isn't culturally driven. You have every right to survive.



So:

- God institution of sword wielding government, instituting thus, the potential for violent opposition to evil.

- pacifism confined to the suppression of own sinful flesh, not necessarily a total prohibition against violence.