I.                  I.   The Gospel of John Lennon (GOJL):  “All you need is love”

Have you ever talked to someone who argues against war by quoting some of the following scriptures (paraphrased)?

II.               II.   Understanding the Context of Scripture

In order to properly counter the above argument, we must understand the full context of scripture.

A.     Accurate interpretation relies on the totality of scripture

1.      Linguistics

To accurately understand the meaning of words, we often need to go back to the original languages.  For example, our Bibles use the word “love”, which has several forms in Greek—each with different meanings.

2.      Historical and Cultural issues 

There is often a historical or cultural context that must be understood in order to gain the proper meaning.  For instance, in Matthew 7:10 when Jesus refers to a “snake” He is actually referring to Leviticus 11:9 where an instruction is given about what kinds of sea creatures are fit for eating.

3.      Literal vs. figurative expressions

Some illustrations in the Bible are to be taken literally; others are figurative.  For instance, when Jesus says to cut off your hand if it causes you to sin, this is an example of a figurative illustration.

B.     How to resolve inconsistencies and contradictions

1.       Use the specific to clarify the general  (Ex20:13 vs. Ex21:12)

The commandment “Thou shalt not kill” (KJV Ex20:13) is a general command.  Exodus 21:12 goes on to describe the penalty for one who takes another’s life.  This appears to contradict Ex20:13, but instead what we have is a more specific scripture shedding light on a general instruction.  We should always use specific examples to clarify the general. When we interpret scripture this way, all the apparent contradictions are easily explained.

C.     Understanding the audience

Scriptures are given to different audiences.  Understanding the meaning of a passage requires understanding the audience.

 

III.           Scriptures assign different roles to different audiences

A.     Individuals

1.      Role is to Refrain from evil

All the scriptures given above in “The Gospel of John Lennon (GOJL)” are examples of scriptures given to individuals.  This should clear up the apparent contradiction:  as individuals, we should love one another; we should turn the other cheek; we shouldn’t repay evil for evil.  However, as we’ll see below, God has a different set of instructions for other audiences. 

B.     The Church

1.      Role is to Restrain evil (2Cor10:3-5, 2Cor6:7)

These passages are clearly given to the church, not to individuals.  Notice how the tone and the instructions are different from the instructions given to us as individuals.  The church is involved in warfare of its own; but it does not war according to the world; that is, the weapon of the church is the Word of God.  The church uses the truth to wage war against evil.

C.     Government

1.        Role is to Remove evil (Rom 13:1-7)

Government is set up by God to protect good and punish evil.  God clearly reserves the use of the “sword” for government in order to administer justice.  This brings up several valid questions that will be addressed below, such as “How can we be obedient to a government that is set up by fallible man?”  Or “What about evil governments?”  We will see that scripture is clear about all these questions.

So now we can reconcile how there can still be war, yet we can still love one another and turn the other cheek.  The argument of the GOJL now appears very shallow, in light of the full context of scripture. 

IV.           God’s Plan for Government

A.     We should submit to government (Rom 13:1)

1.      Unless it goes against God’s laws (Acts 5:29, Daniel 6)

2.      Jesus did  (John 19:11, Matthew 22:17-21, Matthew 26:52)

Remarkably, even though Jesus lived under a regime that was oppressive to Jews, he never spoke out against the government in a political sense.  Instead, he gives many examples of how we should submit to government.

3.      John the Baptist did  (Luke 3:14)

In this passage, the Roman soldiers ask John the Baptist what they must do.  He instructs them not to abuse their power and to be content with their pay.  If John the Baptist opposed government, he wouldn’t have given this instruction.

An interesting side observation:  those in the anti-war movement who argue for turning the other cheek and loving one another are quick to point out how the Bible supports that point of view (although out of context); yet, these same people tend to be staunchly opposed to or skeptical of our government—which clearly goes against Jesus’ teaching. This is just another example of how people who probably don’t even believe in the Bible will just use certain passages as it is convenient for them.

B.     God ordained government--even bad ones  (Daniel 2:21, 4:17)

Remember that God gave power to rulers like Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar, and Pilate (John 19:11). So here we seein these passages in Daniel that even the bad governments have been set up—and will be removed—by God. 

C.       God uses government to administer justice  (Gen 9:6, Rom13:4)

God clearly reserves the administering of justice to government.  This is not a responsibility of the church, nor is it a responsibility of an individual.  See also Romans 12:18-19 which admonishes the individual not to administer justice himself.

V.               God’s Plan for Peace

A.     God loves peace (Isaiah 2:4)

1.      We should be peacemakers (Rom12:18)

B.     God uses war to bring about peace (Isaiah 1:21-28)

1.      Yes, God is a God of peace, but he is also a God of justice.

2.      The Bible contains many examples of Godly men used to wage war, such as Moses, Joshua, Samson, David.

C.     War will continue (Matt 24:6,7)

1.      Because of man’s sinful nature (Rom 3:23)

D.     God will ultimately bring about peace on the heels of the ultimate war

1.      There will be no lasting peace established through man, but God will establish everlasting peace.  (Rev 17:14, Rev 11:15)

E.     God’s grace still saves in peacetime and in war

We should not lose sight of the salvation message.  Regardless of peace or war, God’s grace is still a free gift for all who acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  There is still time for every unbeliever, and God’s grace still saves.

When we rely on the Bible as the basis for our morality, it becomes quite clear how we should think about war and peace.  Even without making specific references to the current war in Iraq, armed with the above scriptural references, it should become clear how God gives scripture to different audiences, so that individuals, the church, and government are all given different roles in combating evil.  When we examine scripture in its proper context, it becomes obvious that God has established government to administer His justice.  There is no contradiction, therefore, to the teachings of Jesus, which instruct us as individuals to refrain from evil, to turn the other cheek, and to love one another.  However, let us not forget the salvation message.  Let us not argue for the sake of argument; but rather use this Biblical perspective so we can be better witnesses for Jesus Christ.

 Bible Verses Used

John 13:34 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

Matthew 5:9  "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Matthew 5:39   "But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.  ⁴⁴   "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

Exodus 20:13  Thou shalt not kill.

Romans 12  ¹⁷   Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. ¹⁸   If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.

Matthew 26:52   Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword.
Matthew 7 ¹⁰   "Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he?

Leviticus 11 ⁹   'These you may eat, whatever is in the water: all that have fins and scales, those in the water, in the seas or in the rivers, you may eat.

Exodus 20:13  Thou shalt not kill. Exodus 21:12 "He who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death.

2 Corinthians 10 ³   For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh,  ⁴   for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. ⁵   We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.

2 Corinthians 6 ¹   And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain-- ³   giving no cause for offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited,⁷   in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left,

Romans 13 ¹   Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.
²   Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.
³   For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same;
⁴   for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.
⁵   Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience' sake.
⁶   For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing.
⁷   Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.

Acts 5 ²⁹   But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men.”

Daniel 6 ¹⁰   Now when Daniel knew that the document was signed, he entered his house (now in his roof chamber he had windows open toward Jerusalem); and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously.

John 19 ¹¹   Jesus answered, "You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above; for this reason he who delivered Me to you has the greater sin."

Luke 3 ¹⁴   Some soldiers were questioning him, saying, "And what about us, what shall we do?" And he said to them, "Do not take money from anyone by force, or accuse anyone falsely, and be content with your wages."

Daniel 2 ²¹   "It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men  And knowledge to men of understanding”

Daniel 4  ¹⁷    "This sentence is by the decree of the angelic watchers  And the decision is a command of the holy ones, In order that the living may know That the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind, And bestows it on whom He wishes And sets over it the lowliest of men."

Genesis 9
⁶   
       "Whoever sheds man's blood,
          By man his blood shall be shed,
          For in the image of God
          He made man.

Isaiah 2
⁴   
       And He will judge between the nations,
          And will render decisions for many peoples;
          And they will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.
          Nation will not lift up sword against nation,
          And never again will they learn war.

Romans 12
¹⁸   If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.

Isaiah 1  ²¹   How the faithful city has become a harlot,
          She who was full of justice!
          Righteousness once lodged in her,
          But now murderers.
²²   Your silver has become dross,
          Your drink diluted with water.
²³   Your rulers are rebels
          And companions of thieves;
          Everyone loves a bribe
          And chases after rewards.
          They do not defend the orphan,
          Nor does the widow's plea come before them.
²⁴   Therefore the Lord GOD of hosts,
          The Mighty One of Israel, declares,
          "Ah, I will be relieved of My adversaries
          And avenge Myself on My foes.
²⁵    "I will also turn My hand against you,
          And will smelt away your dross as with lye
          And will remove all your alloy.
²⁶    "Then I will restore your judges as at the first,
          And your counselors as at the beginning;
          After that you will be called the city of righteousness,
          A faithful city."
²⁷   Zion will be redeemed with justice
          And her repentant ones with righteousness.
²⁸   But transgressors and sinners will be crushed together,
          And those who forsake the LORD will come to an end.

Matthew 24
⁶   "You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end.
⁷   "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes.

Romans 3
²⁰   because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.

Revelation 17
¹⁴   "These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful."

Revelation 11
¹⁵   Then the seventh angel sounded; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever."