For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.
–Romans 13:3-4
It is estimated that in the past 5000 years, mankind has fought over 14,000 wars. Wars today have become increasingly more devastating in terms of their widespread impact. Nuclear weapons have heralded a new possibility, creating what some call human omnipotence, where mankind with nuclear weapons controls its own destiny.
But is war ever the will of God? Does God who says, thou shalt not kill, and love your enemies, accept war? Is war ever within the will of God? Well, to answer that question, we have to go to the Scriptures and see what He has to say.
Today’s passage, for example, seems to indicate there is a God-appointed role within government to uphold justice against evildoers and, at times, “bear the sword” meaning carry out deadly force against those who are evildoers. Now that doesn’t mean it’s okay for a government to begin arbitrary wars, but only wars that are focused on carrying out justice against evil.
So yes, war is sometimes in the will of God.
GOD APPOINTS THE GOVERNMENT TO CARRY OUT JUSTICE AGAINST EVILDOERS.
