Join the new world

One only has to think back to the early 17th century during the Thirty Years’ War in Europe or the Crusades during the 11th to 15th centuries to remember the devastating effect religious wars had on people. The use of religion to justify fighting a war is sadly a common occurrence in Christianity’s history but the Bible in the New Testament does not support using faith as the basis for war. Even under foreign rule, the Bible points to peace rather than war as it says in Romans 13:1-3 “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. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 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.” Therefore, rebelling against the authorities or government is wrong and rather we should endure hardship and pray that the government would promote peace for our country. This may seem impossible to keep considering that some oppressors may force a certain religion on the people, which suggests that resistance wars are the only option. But history shows that non-violence is capable of overthrowing foreign oppressors such as Ghandi’s success in gaining India’s independence from Great Britain.

Furthermore, Christians advance their faith through spiritual war (through ways such as prayer, teaching and rebuking) not physical war. 2 Corinthians 1😇-5 says “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” This shows that non-violence is how Christianity should be spread, not through conquest but through peaceful means which in itself has tremendous spiritual power to “conquer” other spiritual kingdoms. Therefore, we can learn from the mistakes in our past and prevent the tarnishing of Christianity by its involvement in war and instead to support a Christianity that truly promotes peace, truth and hope.