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VOLUME 25, NUMBER 12                             March 23, 2003

CAN ANY GOOD THING
COME FROM WAR?

Anti war protesters are fond of saying that war never accomplished any good thing. This article is not about our war in Iraq. It is not a political endorsement or condemnation of our President who has sent our forces into Iraq. This article is written for the simple purpose of examining the assertion so often made by these anti war protesters. Is war ever a good thing? Does any good thing ever come from war?

It would be foolish for anyone to deny the horrors of war. In war people scream in pain and die horrible deaths. War brings fear, physical disability and handicap, and financial poverty. In war innocent people get hurt and die. Often war is hardest on the aged and the young, people who cannot protect themselves.

But this alone, as horrible as it is, does not answer the question. Sometimes blessings can come from horror. God is able to bring good even out of the evil men do. When evil men crucified the Son of God, God used that as a means of bringing about the opportunity for all men to be saved. However, we must be careful with this reasoning too. The Bible gives us no right to do evil that good may come, or to continue in sin that grace may abound (Romans 3:8; 6:1).

So let’s look at this question from God’s point of view. Let’s turn to the pages of God’s holy writ -- the Bible.

I. God has commanded war in some cases. God commanded the Israelites to go to war against the people who lived in the promised land (Exodus 23:31). From time to time God commanded other wars also. Why would God command an action from which no good thing can come? If we believe in a good, benevolent God, we must also believe that the things he commands have some good, benevolent purpose. So we are safe in concluding that sometimes, some good can come from war.

II. Biblical characters have benefited from war.
A. Lot was captured in a war, but was rescued when his uncle Abraham went to war (Genesis 14). Try to convince Lot that no good thing ever came from war.
B. Again, the promise of a land for the children of Israel was fulfilled through war (Exodus 23:31). So the children of Israel received some good thing from war.

III. God used war to punish evil nations. This is not only true of the inhabitants of the promised land; it is true of other nations as well.
A. The Amalekites were punished by God, at his command, through war (1 Samuel 15:1-3).
B. Israel itself (the 10 northern tribes) was taken into captivity as a punishment from God (2 Kings 17:9-18).
C. Judah was carried into Babylonian captivity because of their sin (2 Kings 24 & 25).
D. It is a good thing for God to punish evildoers. At times that good thing was accomplished by war. So yes, good things can come from war.

IV. God has authorized people in our world to wage war. God has not given blanket authorization for war. The Bible does not endorse all wars. But God has given his sanction for men, at certain times, for certain purposes, to wage war.
A. Romans 13:1-5 gives divine sanction for governments to bear the sword, a tool and implement of war.
B. According to these verses, a government has the responsibility (not just the right) to use the sword to punish evil doers and support those who do well (see also 1 Peter 13-15).
C. From these verses it is obvious that governments have the responsibility and the right to use force to bring about an end to oppression, to protect the weak from the depredations of the strong, and to establish and keep law and order.

CONCLUSION
God thinks good things can come from war. God has used war to bring about good things. God has given man the power and authority to wage war for good purposes, to bring about good things.
Whatever we think of the war we face now, let us pray that God will bring about good things, that peace will be restored soon, and that God will be glorified in all things.

Family Bulletin Board

Remember in prayer and with cards, phone calls, or visits those who have chronic illnesses: Delsie Bishop, Reva Brewer, Ella Brumitt, Jamie Farmer, Francis Ferren, Elizabeth Fowler, Lola Mae Hamlett, Louise Hunt, & Savannah Green

EYG MEETING - Tuesday, March 25th, 6:45 to 8:00pm.

SIGN-UP SHEETS - Please check the bulletin board by the stairway. There are still empty spaces that need to be filled.

MARTHA MITCHELL – New Address:
3301 Henderson Mill Rd.
Apartment U1
Chambler, GA 30341

Dates to Remember:
Potluck – April 6
Daylight Savings (spring forward) – April 6th
Lectureship – May 16-18