Christians and war

Should Adventists Engage in Combat? What is the Church’s Position?

For centuries, the Christian church has reflected on the issue of war and the Christian attitude toward it. Unfortunately, I am not sure if I can give a specific answer to your questions, but allow me to present some points for consideration:

1. War as a Constant Social Phenomenon: Given that the phenomenon of sin is part of the human experience, war, to some extent, will characterize social life and relationships between nations (Matt 24:6). Humans are always under the threat or reality of war; absolute world peace is a utopia, as human history clearly demonstrates.
   
2. War is Always Evil: We must also recognize that there is no such thing as a just war. Only God, who is All-Powerful and All-Loving, can define and actually initiate a war that results in lasting peace. Christian attempts to define the conditions under which it would be right for Christians to participate in war are merely called traditions of war. It provides guidelines that may be useful for Christians, but its usefulness is weakened by giving the impression that, under certain circumstances, war might be morally or religiously justifiable. The church should insist at all times on the evil nature of human wars.
3. Promotes Peace and Reconciliation: The constancy of wars compels the church to think about how to relate to this social evil. In this particular environment, the main function of the church is to promote and support peace and reconciliation (cf. Matt 5:9). This is how the church fights against war, an endless task in a world of rebellion and aggression. The church should always be willing to serve both sides involved in a potential or actual conflict, in an attempt to prevent or end it.
4. Provides Guidance to Church Members: We must also recognize that, in some cases, the participation of ‘members’ of the church in war is inevitable, compelling them individually to reflect on how they should relate to this phenomenon. It is the church’s responsibility to provide guidance so that they can determine what to do as Christians. We should promote non-combatant status among members based on the biblical teaching of the value of human life. Members who do not wish to participate in war, no matter the cost, should find spiritual and emotional support in the church to remain faithful to their calling. It is the church’s responsibility to promote, among church members who for some reason must join the military, the importance of obedience to God. Loyalty to God must surpass obedience to humans. When service in the military may result in open conflict with religious convictions, Christ and His church expect loyalty to Him. We should be willing to dialogue with government officials in an effort to secure for our members the right to practice their religious convictions while in the military.
5. Members Must Determine the Extent of Their Involvement: The extent of an individual church member’s involvement in war is a matter between them and God. Although the church should never give the impression that certain wars are justifiable and therefore correct, it must recognize that, in some situations, church members may feel they are choosing the lesser evil and that this may require their involvement in defensive war. In such cases, church members may benefit from examining the principles of just war, without concluding that war itself or their involvement is morally justifiable.

Among the principles of just war that might be useful to them, we suggest the following: (1) the ultimate purpose is peace; (2) war was the last resort; (3) violence will be limited to combatants; and (4) the minimal use of force necessary for victory. These elements establish some parameters that will help make war less inhumane and try to respect Jesus’ call to love our enemies (Matt 5:44). For now, we envision a future where there will be no more wars (Isa 2:3, 4).

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