Jun 12, 2015 4 min read

Scripture reading: Revelation 6:1-8. Text: “What causes wars, and what causes fightings among you? Is it not your passions that are at war in your members? You desire and do not have; so you kill. And you covet and cannot obtain; so you fight and wage war. You do not have, because you do not ask.” James 4:1-2.

Since this year Pentecost and Memorial Sunday coincided, we remember the fallen heroes a week later. We should keep in mind the many wars which demanded the lives of millions of heroes. Unfortunately war is waged even today. Let us pay respect to the fallen soldiers from the view point of war. Although it is not exactly a spiritual topic, war affects the lives of millions thus the church cannot remain indifferent.

WAR IN THE BIBLE.

The Old Testament, the history of the chosen people and the predictions of the prophets, mentions war often and describes it in a vivid and terrifying way. For instance, 30,000 killed in I Samuel 4:10, 42,000 killed in Judges 12:6, and 120,000 killed in Judges 8:10. For the viciousness of war please read 1 Samuel 19:8. In the New Testament Jesus mentions the word war just in the plural case and only once in Matthew 24:6 (this verse is also recorded in Mark 13:7 and Luke 21:9). Apostles Peter and Paul use the concept of war in respect to spiritual life, please read 1 Peter 2:11, Romans 7:23 and II Corinthians 10:3. Apostle James makes a strong connection between war and sin, please see our text. The book of Revelation mentions wars symbolically; please see our Scripture reading.

WAR FROM THE VIEWPOINT OF THE SINFUL WORLD.

The topic of war can be approached from political, military, economic, societal, moral, and spiritual viewpoints. Which one will override the others? War does not prove who is right only who is left.

I wish to quote four Latin expressions, but you will understand them because these Latin words included in these statements are used in our language with some variations. In Latin WAR is BELLUM – BELLI is its genitive form. We say “belligerent” (hostile, aggressive) and the old houses in the South were built “ante bellum” that is before the Civil War.

SI VIS PACEM PARA BELLUM. PAX – PACIS in Latin means PEACE. Requiescat in PACE = R.I.P. This Latin proverb means: If you wish to have peace, prepare for war. The strong will not be attacked, and if the strong are peaceful and friendly, there will be no military action. Obviously this is just one of the philosophies to maintain peace.

CASUS BELLI. Belli using genitive form, thus this phrase means the reason or case of war. From the Latin word casus originates the English word case. On September 11, 2001 the terrorists destroyed the two buildings of the World Trade Center in New York City. President Bush said, “This is an act of war” meaning “casus belli” the reason to start military action.

BONUM BELLI. The Latin word BONUS is used when somebody receives something extra-a bonus. Bonum belli means justified war or preventive war. If I do not kill you, you will kill me. Obviously not everybody agrees which war is offensive or defensive, which one is provocative or protective? Where, when, and why did a war begin and by whom?

BELLUM OMNIUM CONTRA OMNES, that is, everybody’s war against everybody else. What is going on in the Middle East? How many factions are fighting against how many others? The terrorists are willing to detonate their explosives wherever they suspect unfriendly people. Are the societies in many countries becoming less friendly and more hostile? In big cities with immigrants from many countries, is anyone safe? Is the peaceful structure of our society deteriorating? What actions should be taken to protect the innocent people? Who are the heroes today and how many are the innocent victims?

Two Bible quotations offer us hope and courage, one from the Old and one from the New Testament: “He (the Lord) shall judge between many peoples . . .and 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 any more;” Micah 4:3, and: “For he himself (Jesus Christ) is our peace, who has made us both one, and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility . . .” Ephesians 2:14.