With all that is going on in the world at present, war is on many people’s minds. War is a terrible thing, showing the worst excesses of sinful man. On the website worldpopulationreview.com, we read that there are currently 12 different countries involved in war, civil war, drug wars and terrorist insurgencies.
We have a 78-page booklet entitled, “Should You Fight in War?” This is a thorough exposition well worth reading, or re-reading, showing that it is not the way that man should behave, ever! On pages 17 and 20, we read under the heading “THE CHRISTIAN DUTY—TODAY!” the following:
“True Christians need to understand that they must already have God’s attitude toward peace and war, knowing that PEACE, not WAR, will be the reality of the future world under God’s rule. They must lead by their good example TODAY, showing others that we can live the way to peace and avoid the way to war.
“Clearly, we cannot participate in war—neither in a literal sense, nor in the sense of advocating war with our lips, or even entertaining thoughts of war. Rather, we have to bring ‘every thought’ into captivity to the obedience of Christ (compare 2 Corinthians 10:5). That is, we must be sure that our thoughts conform to Christ’s thoughts, and if we think thoughts of war, rather than peace, we must eradicate those thoughts from our minds.”
There is also a section in the same booklet, titled, “Killing in War Breaks the Ten Commandments,” which should be pretty obvious to a true Christian. Unfortunately, there are those in mainstream Christianity who think otherwise; for example, a lay Anglican theologian and Associate Tutor in Doctrine wrote:
“Because the cause of war is sin it is never legitimate for Christians to precipitate warfare. It is not right for Christians to attack other people, or other nations, as part of an army out of a desire to kill them or to take what they possess. Down the centuries there have been Christians who would go further than this and say that Christians must never go to war for any cause at all. However, this has not been the majority Christian view. The majority view has been that although Christians may not start a war as a result of sinful desire, they may nevertheless engage in warfare. As Article XXXVII of the Church of England’s Thirty-Nine Articles puts it, ‘It is lawful for Christian men, at the command of the Magistrate, to wear weapons, and to serve in the wars’” (our emphasis by underlining).
In Matthew 26:51-52 we read:
“And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.But Jesus said to him, ‘Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.’”
Here, Jesus, as He was being arrested, made the telling comment that “all who take the sword will perish by the sword,” which certainly rules out fighting in war.
From the earliest dawn of civilization, men have fought and waged war. The Bible is replete with example after example of such conflicts. And, of course, it shows no sign of diminishing. How seriously do we take our calling? Is our Christian faith just a hobby or a Way of Life to which we are fully committed?
Older members may well recall that Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong (the late Pastor-General of the now defunct Worldwide Church of God) stated a number of times that he wondered whether even 50% of the Church “got it” (that is, thoroughly understand and live by every Word of God supporting the Church in its God-given responsibilities). Some used to be amazed that he would say that. They thought that he had made a mistake by saying that. In a sense, he did, as it appears from what has happened since his death in 1986 that not even 50% “got it”. A much smaller percentage, it seems, have stayed with the Truth. But there will still be tares growing with the wheat in the Church of God today as the Bible reveals.
However, the point of this Q&A is a reminder that the war that true Christians ARE currently involved in is very real! It is not with physical weapons, military operations or armed struggles that we contend with as our focus, but spiritual warfare that will decide our eternal future.
This warfare is spiritual. We have been warned about this over many decades and many reading this Q&A will be very familiar with the knowledge of the forthcoming persecution that will increase in intensity the nearer we get to the time of trouble as set out in Matthew 24:21:
“For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.”
From what is happening in the world today, it must be obvious for those with eyes to see that we are rapidly heading towards the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord and the return of Jesus Christ, and it will happen with God’s perfect timing.
Jesus revealed to His disciples that persecutions would be coming, as they were then, and will be in the near future, as Matthew 10:22 shows:
“And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.”
There may be those in the Church who may think or say that we’ve heard all this before, but history shows us that some did not make it to the end. Therefore, we all still have to be on our spiritual toes to make completely sure to God that we will stay loyal and faithful to Him and to our Calling. Some won’t make it, and let us ensure that we are not among that number.
1 Corinthians 10:12 is very instructive: “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”
This is talking about vigilance and ongoing self-examination, and all of us have to be careful that we stay on the straight and narrow path without deviation. We are to have a continuous, active watchfulness about the Way of Life we have chosen and must not be shaken or moved away from God’s Way.
Psalm 16:8 sums this up perfectly: ”I have set the LORD always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.”
And Philippians 1:6 complements this view: “… being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Matthew 24:13 gives us knowledge of what it will take to be in the Kingdom of God: “But he who endures to the end shall be saved.”
The forces that we are to be well aware of are shown in Ephesians 6:12:
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
Our enemies, the ones that we are at war with, are the dark, demonic forces of Satan and His demons as they influence this world with their evil manipulative powers.
We read further about the source of our problems in 1 Peter 5:8-9:
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.”
Jesus told the Jews the Truth about Satan the devil in John 8:44:
“You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.”
On the other hand, Titus 1:2 explains: “… in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began.”
The difference on just this one issue of Truth between God and Satan is stark.
We read in 2 Corinthians 10:4: “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds…”
When the apostle Paul mentions “the weapons of our warfare,” he doesn’t point to the usual normal physical items that they would have had at their disposal 2,000 years ago but the spiritual sources that God makes available to His people – “divine tools that have the strength to break down barriers and strongholds,” as one commentator put it. Carnal signifies the ways of man but the people of God rely on God Himself Who will help and guide us through the most difficult of times.
We don’t want to be in the position that Jesus outlined in Matthew 7:23: “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”
What is the answer? How do we succeed?
We know that in the Millennium, there will not be war as we read in Isaiah 2:4: “He shall judge between the nations, And rebuke many people; They shall beat their swords into plowshares, And their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, Neither shall they learn war anymore.”
That is the future to look forward to, but in the meantime, what do we do? We touched on Ephesians 6:12 showing who we are fighting against but the whole passage of Ephesians 6:10-18 reveals the whole armor of God which is for our protection:
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
“Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints…”
We know that at this time, the broadcasting of Satan will be increasing as he sees his time is running out. Many members have illness, sickness, serious health concerns and these can lead to discouragement and depression, maybe even questioning our calling at times. We have to hang on to our love of God the Father and Jesus Christ, keeping them at the centre of our lives, pray, study and trust in Him Who is able to bring us through our own individual problems and concerns.
Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong made these comments about true spirituality, which is a state that we must be seeking unless our religion is a hobby. If it is a hobby, these words won’t count, but if our Christianity is a Way of Life, these words should remind us of our commitment. He said, as stated in The Good News, in the June/July 84 edition:
“The spiritual mind is the surrendered, yielded mind. It is the mind that has given up all wanting its own way. It is the mind that has been conquered in its rebellion against God.
“It is the mind that, henceforth, is willing to obey God no matter what the cost, and that continually studies God’s Word, not to argue and strive and corner others, but to learn more of God’s will, and to walk in it!”
Our baptism was symbolic of our decision to put God first in our lives, no matter what the circumstances. For those of us who have been Church members for many years, do we still feel the same today? We accepted the condition to love God more than anyone or anything else – with all of our heart, with all our soul and with all of our mind. This is the greatest commandment of all. Does it have first priority in our lives? And after that, does the second great commandment – loving neighbour as ourselves – have priority in our lives?
The good news, which must now be just around the corner, can be found in Revelation 12:12 where we read: “Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.” This shows a time, possibly yet future, when Satan will be cast out of heaven to the earth and when he will persecute the Church as we read in verses 13-17. However, the Church will be protected and we may very well be near that time now.
Finally, and most importantly, we must stress that in spite of all the messages in magazines, booklets, Q&A’s, sermons and sermonettes that have been made available over many decades, many have fallen away and detached themselves from the One Who is able to protect and provide for us.
We read in 2 Thessalonians 2:3: “Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition…”
There is a falling away to come; the Bible says so, and so it will happen. Let us not be among that number and let us take heed of the fact that Satan is at war with all of God’s people, trying to deny them a position in the Family of God for eternity.
We have been warned many times about this, and this is the latest admonition in a long line of previous warnings.
The question asked in this Q&A was: “Are Christians currently involved in war?” We hope that we have answered that question. We are at war spiritually which will affect our future eternal life. Let us make the most of this incredible opportunity that God has afforded us and win this war!
Lead Writer: Brian Gale (United Kingdom)