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I will never understand why humans fight war. There is enough to feed, clothe, and shelter everyone on earth comfortably. We don’t have to kill anyone to live. War is a product of human stupidity, greed, and narrowmindedness. It leaves nothing but destruction in its wake. It pollutes the air and waters and destroys the forests. War also destroys the earth’s most precious resource: the human resource. But above all that, war causes unthinkable human suffering and pain.
In the book of Isaiah, the prophet praises the Messiah of God who would “cause swords to break across the earth.” This is a symbolic way of saying that the Messiah would bring an end to wars. The prophet further tells us to “beat our spears into plowshares and our swords into pruning hooks.”
Christ the Messiah, then, has brought not only a message, but a commandment of peace. When the Roman soldiers came to arrest Jesus, Peter pulled out his sword to defend his Master, cutting the Roman guard on his ear. But Jesus told Peter to put away his sword, and in an even more amazing move, put forth His miracle-working hand and healed the soldier’s ear. Jesus told the Roman soldiers, “if my kingdom were of this world, my army would destroy you, but my Kingdom is not of this world.” Christians are not of this world. We belong to a higher kingdom: the kingdom of God which lasts forever.
As Christians, we are not supposed to fight wars. In my opinion, Christians should only fight when not fighting would be akin allowing evil to prevail or when not providing defense would be akin to self-destruction. Jesus commands us to be extremely peaceful: if a man slaps you on the right cheek, give him your left also, and if a man takes away your coat, give him your cloak also.”
Then why are so many Christian countries fight war? It’s because they have missed the message of Christ! As Christians, we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and the forces of darkness. Throughout history, ungodly people have blasphemed the name of Jesus by using Christianity as a banner. Christ never instructed us to invade, plunder, or enslave.
We must resolve to end warfare all around the world and restore peace, prosperity, and brotherhood to humanity. And we can only do that by understanding and adhering to the Message of Christ.
