Jus Ad Bellum

My mind has been racing much lately regarding the ancient Christian Doctrine (teaching) of Just War. Now, I want to reiterate my belief that not all ancient Christian Doctrine is right nor Biblical but neither is it all wrong. So with that, I will attempt to, in brief, formulate a simplified version of the history and the teaching as far as my limited understanding currently grasps.

First, the teaching was the result of Augustine of Hippo, in the late 4th and early 5th centuries wrote what we know as The City of God. (I have not read this nor do i think i could comprehend it if i did so the following comments about it are really my thoughts about other peoples thoughts about what Augustine wrote.) In this book, he explores the blame placed upon Christianity and it's pacifistic teachings upon the fall of the Roman Empire. In the work Augustine is seeking to lay out a philosophical balance between the imperialism of Rome and the pacifism of Christianity.

Thomas Aquinas, in the 1200's, also contributed much to the substance of this teaching in his writings. I believe that most modern discussions regarding Just War rest upon his writings.

It is clearly evident from any study of the Old Testament that God has used and has allowed wars to accomplish His purposes. Many may well argue that because the Old Testament is primarily about the nation of Israel war was part of the discussion but in the New Testament, there is a much clearer message of peace and peacemaking and this is directed to God's new instrument upon the Earth, no longer a nation, but the Church which consists of all peoples, nations, languages and tribes. With that being said however, there are passages within the New Testament (and passages in the Old Testament that can be argued to apply today) that paint a different picture of Justice and the role that the state should play in such. Some of these passages include Romans 13, I Kings 21, Daniel 2:21-23, Ecclesiastes 3:8, and I Peter 2:13-14.

Here is a simpleton's understanding. God is the one who grants/gives authority to kings or rulers. These rulers are His servants. They represent Him amongst the world. They exist to reward and to punish. If Joe Man has committed a crime against me, then the ruling authorities have the responsibility of justly avenging me. Now, suppose Joe Nation has wronged me, or us as a nation. It is then that our state/ruler has the responsibility of avenging the unjust nation for its wrong done to our nation. Of course as in local instances of crime, the punishment must fit the crime and of course a crime must have been committed before punishment can be inflicted. These crimes could be invasion, broken promises/treaties (lies), theft of property abroad (private or public) and/or kidnapping or jailing people unjustly (as was the case with the pirates of Tripoli back in the early 19th century).

That's all the further my thoughts have taken me although that surely is not the end of the road. Hope you enjoyed.