April 2022
Dear Friends
The Archbishop of Canterbury has recently said that “war and
violence is never an answer”. But I am
not sure what justification this leader of our national church has for
rejecting the understanding that has been shared by Christians for centuries.
Of course war is always truly terrible and the immense
suffering of people on both sides of the current conflict is heart-rending. But if an invader begins to wreck your
country and inflict horrible suffering on your people, and if he won’t leave
when asked politely or pressured in other ways, I wonder what the Archbishop
thinks you should do?
From at least the 4th Century onwards Christians
have overwhelmingly agreed that defending the nation is a responsibility that
God has laid on each ruler or government, and that going to war will sometimes
be right. The wide-ranging tests of a
‘Just War’ have included:
1.
Will our action be defensive, rather than
aggressive?
2.
Is war the last resort in this situation?
3.
Will the means we use be in proportion to the
threat we face?
4.
Will we avoid targeting civilians?
I’ll leave you to discuss whether those questions have been
asked in recent conflicts, including those that our nation has been involved
in.
Jesus is the Prince of Peace and every war involves at least
one side (and often both) refusing to submit to his loving rule. Jesus is the Prince of Peace but he has
warned us that his kingdom will grow slowly as people, families
and nations - one by one - stop fighting against Him and accept his authority
in their lives.
For a world that gives up its resistance to Jesus, the end
is clear: “He will wipe every
tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or
pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:4)
But, while
evil continues in the world, being prepared to fight remains a tragic
necessity.
“Almighty
Father, whose will is to restore all things in your beloved Son, the King of
all: govern the hearts and minds of those in authority, and bring the families
of the nations, divided and torn apart by the ravages of sin, to be subject to
his just and gentle rule” (Prayer for
Remembrance Sunday)
Sincerely
Graham Burrows