The 7th anniversary of the war in Iraq seems like an appropriate time to seriously look at and think through the morality of war. In Afghanistan and Iraq, war is dragging on at a pace even Aesop might question, and Christians have reignited the age-old debate on how we should address war. Traditionally, this debate has had only two sides: Just War and Pacifism. Recently, however, a new perspective has emerged called “Just Peacemaking.” In my article for RELEVANT magazine, I talk to experts from two sides—Just War and Just Peacemaking—about the morality of war.
Check out the full article, "Just War or Just Peace," in which I interview Dr. David Gushee and Dr. Daniel Heimbach. David Gushee is Distinguished University Professor of Christian Ethics at Mercer University, President of Evangelicals for Human Rights, and author of The Future of Faith in American Politics: The Public Witness of the Evangelical Center. Daniel Heimbach is Professor of Christian Ethics at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He served from 1989 to 1991 at the White House as Associate Director for Domestic Policy and Deputy Secretary of the Domestic Policy Council. Heimbach is credited for drafting the moral framework used by President George H.W. Bush for the 1991 Gulf War.
What are your thoughts on war and peace? Is it ever right to go to war? Should Christian leaders ever promote or endorse war?
Also, check out the RELEVANT Online Bonus with the full list of interview questions and answers.
Travis Mamone said:
I take the nonresistance route when it comes to war. I never understood why so many Evangelicals want to preserve marriage as God intended it to be, but hardly say anything about war. God originally intended us to live in peace, right? So why shouldn't we speak out against war?
Posted: March 19, 2010
Blake said:
God commanded us to love our enemies. I don't understand how killing them can be reconciled with that. We (Southern Baptists and conservative evangelicals) talk about the foolishness of preaching the Gospel and take seriously doing it and being "foolish," but are unwilling to be foolish in the other commands of scripture. If God commands us to preach and we take that seriously then we should take the command to love our enemies with the same seriousness and fervent effort. A lot of conservatives are doing the same kinds of hermeneutic gymnastics to avoid loving their enemies to justify fighting wars as liberals do for other parts of the Bible conservatives take literally.
Posted: March 19, 2010
Justin said:
Jonathan,
I answered your questions at my own place.
Posted: March 22, 2010
Justin said:
I can't embed a link like html, so it got eaten.
http://americancrackpot.blogspot.com/2010/03
Posted: March 22, 2010