The Pacifist Error

Some people, who call themselves Christians, make the mistake that God never wants them to fight in a war. They misread verses like Exodus 20:13 (BBE) which states, "Do not put anyone to death without cause."

As I've pointed out before, murder is the killing of a human without just cause. It's up to appointed judges to administer justice, as Deuteronomy 16:18 (BBE) prescribes. "You are to make judges and overseers in all your towns which the Lord your God gives you, for every tribe: and they are to be upright men, judging the people in righteousness."

Paul also affirms that governments and judges are put in place by God to deal with the unjust. Romans 13:3 and 4 (BBE) declares, "For rulers are not a cause of fear to the good work but to the evil. If you would have no fear of the authority, do good and you will have praise; For he is the servant of God to you for good. But if you do evil, have fear; for the sword is not in his hand for nothing: he is God's servant, making God's punishment come on the evil-doer."

War is also justified when rescuing captives. As Genesis 14:14 to 17 (BBE) describes, "And Abram, hearing that his brother's son had been made a prisoner, took a band of his trained men, three hundred and eighteen of them, sons of his house, and went after them as far as Dan And separating his forces by night, he overcame them, putting them to flight and going after them as far as Hobah, which is on the north side of Damascus. And he got back all the goods, and Lot, his brother's son, with his goods and the women and the people."

Some unlearned people figure that the Bible teaches genocide and that any one following its teachings is in favour of mass murder. This is false. The battles Israel fought were for that time only. Exodus 23:29 to 31 (BBE) shows that God let Israel drive out the Canaanites until they reached his prescribed borders. "I will not send them all out in one year, for fear that their land may become waste, and the beasts of the field be increased overmuch against you. Little by little I will send them away before you, till your numbers are increased and you take up your heritage in the land. I will let the limits of your land be from the Red Sea to the sea of the Philistines, and from the waste land to the river Euphrates: for I will give the people of those lands into your power; and you will send them out before you."

In fact, the only instruction for Israelite soldiers was listed in verses such as Numbers 31:19 (KJV) which says, "And do ye abide without the camp seven days: whosoever hath killed any person, and whosoever hath touched any slain, purify both yourselves and your captives on the third day, and on the seventh day."

I could write so much more on this topic alone. Instead, I'll save it for my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? Many people hear lies about God and reject the gospel because of ignorant teachers. May the Lord use the work of my hands to direct them to the lover of our souls.

On Thursday, I'll discuss why God is portrayed as male in the Bible.