War is not part of God’s good plan for humanity. Within creation, everything was “very good”, including the relationships between man, woman and God, but the effects of the Fall in Genesis 3 were quickly felt; it is just one chapter later that Cain murders Abel. The first war comes in Genesis 14, when an alliance of kings attacks Sodom and takes Lot prisoner, and Abraham fights to rescue him.

War is a fact of life within the Bible; sometimes God even led his people into battle as ‘The Lord of Hosts’; at other times, God uses warfare as an instrument of judgement, including against Israel. Within the New Testament, we encounter various centurions and soldiers. Some are cruel but others are commended, such as Cornelius, without condemnation for being a soldier.

Christians normally take one of two positions around warfare: pacifism and just war theory. Pacifists point to the words of Jesus, such as in Matthew 5: “If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.” When Peter cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant, he told him: “Put your sword back in its place, for all who draw the sword will die by the sword” (Matthew 26:52).

‘Just war’ is not a Biblical phrase, but was coined by Augustine and developed by Thomas Aquinas: it applies Biblical principles to conflict, recognising the gravity of warfare. Paul talks in Romans 13 about how governing authorities are allowed the use of force to punish wrong-doing. We are to love our enemies, but that doesn’t mean that law and order do not exist: they are part of the way God has set up the world.

In Romans 12, Paul writes, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Sometimes there will be conflict, not provoked by our own country. It may come in self-defence, or as we seek to ‘love our neighbour’. It should be a last resort, after diplomatic avenues have been exhausted. In the Old Testament the Israelite armies were told to make an offer of peace before attacking. Peace is always the aim, both in diplomacy and in battle. Augustine said: ‘We go to war in order that we may have peace.’

The Bible looks ahead to a day where evil will be overcome with good and war will be overcome by peace. Swords will be beaten into ploughshares, spears into pruning hooks, and weapons won’t be needed any more. “Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore” (Micah 4:3). Death itself will be destroyed, and we will worship the God who is himself the Prince of Peace.