THE CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE OF WAR - Part 2

II – IT IS A CHRISTIAN DUTY TO PROTECT THE INNOCENT

The Korean War began when North Korea invaded South Korea in 1950. The United States principally came to the aid of South Korea. In the same year, the United Nations threw their support behind the South Koreans and twenty-one other nations, along with Canada, formed a contingent to halt the Communist led aggression toward South Korea.

Canadians saw heavy action during the Korean War, but the Battle of Kapyong stands out as one of our soldiers' most intense experiences. On April 24, 1951, the 2^nd Battalion of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, along with other Commonwealth forces, defended the important Kapyong River valley during an all-out enemy attack. During the fight, 10 Canadians were killed and 23 wounded, but against all odds the Princess Pats had maintained their position and held back the enemy.

Thomas Aquinas was an Italian Dominican friar, Catholic priest, and Doctor of the Church. He was an immensely influential philosopher and theologian. The works for which he is best known are the Summa Theologiae and the Summa contra Gentiles.  In his Summa Part II, Question 40 he deals with the question of “just war” – or is war justified.  To be just, three things must be present according to Aquinas:

1. War is justified when a lawful civil authority deems it so.  It is not in the hands of individuals. “And as the care of the common weal is committed to those who are in authority, it is their business to watch over the common weal of the city, kingdom or province subject to them. And just as it is lawful for them to have recourse to the sword in defending that common weal against internal disturbances, when they punish evil-doers, according to the words of the Apostle (Rm. 13:4)”

2. Secondly, there must be a just and rightly cause for this aggressive response.  He refers to Augustine when he writes, “A just war is wont to be described as one that avenges wrongs, when a nation or state has to be punished, for refusing to make amends for the wrongs inflicted by its subjects, or to restore what it has seized unjustly."

3. Thirdly, he points to the heart.  What are the intentions of the heart?  Is it to advance good?  Is it to avoid further evil? “For it may happen that the war is declared by the legitimate authority, and for a just cause, and yet be rendered unlawful through a wicked intention.”

Romans 13:1–5 is clear:

¹ Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. ² Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. ³ For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. ⁴ For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. ⁵ Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.

God has made it quite clear that He has granted authority to the governing officials to take action against what is evil, to pursue what is good and administer justice.  The governing authority doesn’t have this option “for no reason”.  Legitimate government has the right to pursue evil doers, to restrain evil and bring violators to justice.