First of all, what about the fifth commandment? If God is telling us if it is a sin to kill, then is God against those who wage war? Acc

So, given the fact that there have been approximately 14,531 wars since 360 B.C. we can assume war will always be a part of our world and it is an issue that is not going to go away any time soon. So if we are to live in a world that is likely to include warfare how should we conduct ourselves in order to be in alignment with God? There are so many ways that war touches us. Some people will be involved as soldiers, some as families of those who serve in the military, and still others it will be as our citizens. A great deal of responsibility and authority has been delegated to our fighting soldiers and the leaders of our nation. So it is important for each of us to understand our individual obligations and to support those people in whose care we are put in.

Since God has provided war as a tool for the world, when is it a just cause for mankind to wage war? It is for our leadership to decide this, with whom God has provided for our care and to maintain order with his authority. According to Steve Horst in his paper delivered at the November Religion Colloquium at Indiana Wesleyan University, he discusses Thomas Aquinas in his 13th century, “just war theory.” This theory aligns itself with what God would expect of a responsible leadership or government. He writes that war must be defensive and only in response to an act of aggression. A war must intend to secure a fair peace for all parties – not for revenge, economic exploitation, or ethnic cleansing. It must be a last resort after all other efforts to resolve have been exhausted. Civilians must be cared for and safeguarded and the defeated are to be shown mercy. Pastor Timothy R. Scott in his short paper titled, “Pastor Offers A Christian Perspective Of War” quotes St. Augustine’s Just War Doctrine in order to help illustrate this perspective of war. He writes, “The just war is to be fought under authority of the state and is limited to its goal of restoration of justice or the preservation of peace.” Scott then refers us to Romans 13:4, “…the government is an avenger of that which is evil.” The religious authorities in these writings sup

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