Brock/Francis Debate on Christians and War

 
 
Proposition:
The N.T. teaches a Christian is not to take the life of another human being, even in war.

Affirm: Nelta Brock
Deny: Dennis (Skip) Francis

Hello Dennis, moderators and those who might read this affirmative.

Defined words:

The powers that be.....the civil government

Christian.....he who has been added to the body of Christ, by Christ

War.......that which the civil government is involved in at any given time 
with/against another nation

New Testament.........our guide in living for Jesus

Pacifist......one who is against war

Conscientious Objector......one who refuses to participate in war.

What is not under consideration in this debate is whether the government has a 
God-given right to wage carnal warfare. It does....per Rom.13.  God allows the 
civil government to control/punish the unruly. We as Christians must obey he 
demands of the civil government so long as those demands do not conflict with 
our Father's. For instance, a Christian must stop at a red light. That does not 
conflict with God's law.  However, there is a limit to obedience to the civil 
government and that is when the civil government's demands of a Christians is 
something that God condemns.

What this subject all boils down to is this: What is the purpose of a Christian on 
this earth? I think we both would agree that the purpose of a Christian is to live as 
a pilgrim who is simply passing through this physical time "giving his body a 
living sacrifice unto God."

The follower of Christ is the light of the world, the salt of the earth. This is a 
different purpose than those in the world. The Christian is to show the 
world...Jesus. That is his purpose, as Jesus lives through him. Jesus told the 
apostles to "Go into ALL the world...making disciples.." Sometimes we think the 
U.S. is God's chosen nation. When, in fact, He has no chosen nation today, not the 
U.S., not Germany....none, except the *nation* of believers who make up the 
body of Christ. Included in this nation are people from all over the world who are 
in the body of Christ. That means when there is a war no doubt there are 
Christians on both sides...as was the case of US Civil War....where Christians 
killed Christians.

My question is: Is it wrong for a Christian to kill another Christian?  Is it wrong 
for a Christian to kill an unbeliever, forever taking from him his chance to find 
Jesus. Must he forever exist in hell because his chance was taken from him.....by a 
Christian?

According to Church History it seems that all Christians refused to participate in 
war until about the fourth or fifth century, when some of the *Church Fathers* 
decided it was NOT right for a Christian to refuse to go to war. Many of the 
members of the Church of Christ were mainly pacifists or COs until WW1 until 
the government came out against those who taught against going to war. One 
Church of Christ college was closed for such teaching. After that war the number 
of Christians who were against going to war changed drastically....and little was 
said among them about that subject. Today Christians are usually not willing to 
discuss this subject openly...fear of persecution, perhaps?

Christianity and the world have conflicting interests. John 18:36, "My kingdom is 
not of this world. If My kingdom was of this world, My servants would fight...."

2 Tim. 2:4, a good soldier of Jesus Christ is discussed: "No one engaged in 
warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who 
inlisted him. 

2 Cor. 10:3-4, "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God 
for pulling down strongholds.."

What is the primary function of all Christians on this earth? It is to try to save the 
sinner...bringing him to Christ Jesus. Any command that would make void the 
command to preach the gospel to ALL men must be thrown out. (Acts 5:29) All 
the world is included in the commission addressed in Matt. 28:19, "Go therefore 
and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them......." Any law that binds on 
Christians the going out and killing others goes against the great commission from 
our Lord. 

What is the character of the Christian?:

1) Christians must follow the golden Rule. Matt. 7:12, "Therefore whatever you 
want men to do you do also to them...."

2) Christian love does no ill to any man. Rom. 13:8, 10, Matt. 5:44,
"Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, and pray for those who spitefully 
use you and persecute you..." While a Christian is facing his enemy with a 
gun...does he pray for him before he kills him, while he is killing him or after he 
is dead? A Christian going to war is not returning good for evil.

3) Christ's example and teaching does not condone going to war. His purpose was 
to reconcile the sinner to the Father. " The Son of man came not to destroy men's 
lives but to save them." Luke 9:55,56. Never did He suggest that he came to kill 
the sinner. No, not to kill but to heal.

He had no dealings with the civil government except to teach the paying of 
taxes...render unto Caesar what is Caesar's and unto God what is God's. Notice he 
didn't tell the government what to do with His taxes.  That simply did not interest 
Him.

4) Vengeance must be left to God. "Vengeance is mine. I will repay."

Something that must be kept in mind is that a Christian's character (developed by 
the Spirit) does not change. He is always in the Christian community. He does not 
allow himself to go to war and become a killer, thus laying aside his Christian 
character until the war is over. War develops killers. The Spiritual Community 
develops lovers.

I am looking forward to Dennis' first rebuttal.

Nelta