Peace And War – A Baptist Message

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Part I: Introduction

It is the duty of Christians to seek peace with all men on principles of righteousness. In accordance with the spirit and teachings of Christ they should do all in their power to put an end to war.

The true remedy for the war spirit is the gospel of our Lord. The supreme need of the world is the acceptance of His teachings in all the affairs of men and nations, and the practical application of His law of love. Christian people throughout the world should pray for the reign of the Prince of Peace.

Part II: Defining Terms

1. What is the Biblical definition of War? A presence of conflict and violence that is both external and internal for a believer.

      • External / Physical War – Government | Neighbors, etc.
      • Internal / Spiritual War – Spiritual | Self

Who is our ultimate enemy? Satan is the ultimate enemy to God and His people.

      • Ephesians 6:11-12 – 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

War is a form of God’s judgment on people groups and nations. There will indeed be a day when God will redress all wrongs and judge men by what they have done (Rom. 2:1–11).

      • Romans 2:5-7 – But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. He will render to each one according to his works:

2. What is the Biblical definition of Peace? An Absence of War/Conflict

Shalom (Hebrew) – Eirene (Greek): Complete or Whole, In a state of completeness.

      • Job 5:24 – You shall know that your tent is at (Shalom) peace, and you shall inspect your fold and miss nothing.

As a verb: to bring Shalom, to make complete or restore.

      • Proverbs 16:7 – When a man’s ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace (Shalom) with him.

Legal Term – Peace is not primarily a feeling but a status between man and God. The scriptures use the term Justification to precede Peace. You cannot have peace with God without first being justified by God.

      • Romans 5:10 – For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.
      • Romans 5:1 – Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace (Eirene) with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

As a result, we can have confidence that our relationship with God is at peace, even when life itself is falling apart and we don’t have a “feeling” of peace. Important for assurance of salvation.

R.C. Sproul Quote, “Truth is too important to kill it in the streets for the sake of peace.” – Our witness should always be grounded in truth which leads to peace. Speaking the truth may not result in peace.

Part III: Orthodox Christian Views on War

1. Biblical Nonresistance

2. Preventive War

3. Christian Pacifism – Total rejection of all armed conflict AND any defensive use of force as well. Even to protect innocent lives. Stating that any participation is morally wrong.

Biblical justification:

      • Matthew 5:38–39 – You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.
      • Matthew 26:52 – Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword.

Historical Examples:

Early Example: It’s debatable, but some argue that the early church held a similar view to pacifism. For example, Justin Martyr writes, “we who were filled with war, and mutual slaughter, and every wickedness, have each through the whole earth changed our warlike weapons,—our swords into ploughshares, and our spears into implements of tillage,—and we cultivate piety…”

      • Matthew 24:16-21 – “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, 18 and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. 19 And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! 20 Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be.

Church historian Eusebius records that the Christians departed the city, “Christ having instructed them to leave Jerusalem and retire from it on account of the impending siege to reside for a while at Pella.” Josephus recounts this as well.

Modern example: Hacksaw Ridge | Desmond Doss | WWII Battle of Okinawa – Saved 75 men | Seventh-day Adventist | Medal of Honor |

Held by: Church of the Brethren, Quakers, and some Mennonites. (Seventh Day Adventists).

4. Just War – Holds that armed conflict may sometimes be necessary and the best option.

In order for war or a use of arms to be justified, several criteria must be satisfied.

    1. Must have a “Just Cause” – i.e. Force must be defensive, never offensive.
    2. Must have “Just intentions” – To produce a faire and lasting peace for all parties. (Others focussed.)
    3. Must be a “Last resort” – All other means of settling conflict have failed.
    4. Must have a reasonable chance of success and a realistic hope that the conflict will lead to a greater lasting peace.

Biblical Justification:

      • Ecclesiastes 3:8 – a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.
      • Psalm 144:1 – Blessed be the LORD, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle;
      • Deuteronomy 20:1-4 – “When you go out to war against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and an army larger than your own, you shall not be afraid of them, for the LORD your God is with you, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. 2 And when you draw near to the battle, the priest shall come forward and speak to the people 3 and shall say to them, ‘Hear, O Israel, today you are drawing near for battle against your enemies: let not your heart faint. Do not fear or panic or be in dread of them, 4 for the LORD your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.’
      • Proverbs 24:6 “Surely you need guidance to wage war, and victory is won through many advisers.”

Historical Examples: Early church fathers, St Augustine, In the 4th century, argued for an early form of “Just War”, which has influenced the church ever since. He believed that the only just reason to go to war was the desire for peace. “We do not seek peace in order to be at war, but we go to war that we may have peace. Be peaceful, therefore, in warring, so that you may vanquish those whom you war against, and bring them to the prosperity of peace.” – Augustine

Held by: Most major denominations. Lutherans, Presbyterians, Catholics, Methods, and Baptists.

Part IV: The True Remedy to War

The Reign of the Prince of Peace

Where Israel failed in being reconciled to their enemies, God would send His son to make an everlasting covenant with His people to right all wrongs and bring everlasting peace (Shalom).

      • Isaiah 9:6 – For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Jesus’ peace is a gift.

      • John 14:27 – Peace I leave with you; my peace (Eirene) I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Justification by Faith is how we receive peace with God.

      • Romans 5:1 – Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus is our Peace (Eirene)

      • Ephesians 2:14-16 – For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. – God is the first cause / initiator of our peace.

The ultimate achievement of peace will not come by an international conference or a peace treaty but by the victorious reign of Christ.

      • Revelation 17:14 – They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.

Part V: Application

A Biblical Theme of Spiritual Warfare

Source of conflict: Starts with us.

      • James 4:1-4 – What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

Flesh Vs. Spirit: As Christians, our first war is not external, it’s against the flesh.

      • Galatians 5:16-17 – But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.

Put on the Whole Armor: We fight with truth, the gospel, prayer, and peace (Shalom).

      • Ephesians 6:13-18 – Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

Become a Peacemaker

As Jesus gives us His life as a peace offering when we were His enemies, So now we are to give our lives to others in peace.

      • Romans 5:10 – For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.
      • Colossians 1:19-20 – For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

Becoming a peacemaker takes a lot of work and intentionality. It’s not passive. It’s not just the absence of conflict, true peace requires taking what is broken and restoring that object to wholeness.

      • Matthew 5:9 – “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”

How can we become peacemakers in the following areas;

      • Your Home?
      • Your Church?
      • Your Work?
      • Your Community?
      • Your Country?
      • The World?

The true remedy for the war spirit is the gospel of our Lord. The supreme need of the world is the acceptance of His teachings in all the affairs of men and nations, and the practical application of His law of love. Christian people throughout the world should pray for the reign of the Prince of Peace.

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