The following "Question" was asked by a member of the congregation at Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, and "Answered" by their pastor, John MacArthur Jr. It was transcribed by Anjela Paje of Spokane, WA, from the tape, GC 1301-W, titled "Bible Questions and Answers Part 25."  A copy of the tape can be obtained by writing, Word of Grace, P.O. Box 4000, Panorama City, CA 91412 or by dialing toll free 1-800-55-GRACE.  ©1983. All Rights Reserved.

Questioner

Can a true Christian be involved physically and willingly in a war against other nations?

John MacArthur's Answer

Let me just give you a perspective on that if  I can.  You can look at a Bible verse. Probably, the best one to understand is the 13th chapter of Romans. Because in Romans, chapter 13...and there are a lot, a lot of places. There’s a very good book written by Robert Culver called, Toward a Biblical View of Civil Government that’ll help you a lot to think through the biblical issues. But, in Romans 13, you have a very important perspective given, “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers,”  it’s talking there about government. And, you have got to remember that this is being written to Christians in what city? Rome. So, what kind of a higher power was it? It was pagan. Far worse than ours. It had slavery. It was warring when it needed to, to accomplish its goals. It was idolatrous. The emperor was worshipped as if he were God. And, you could lose your life if you failed to worship him.

"There is no power but of God." In other words, no authority exists outside of God’s allowing it. "The powers that be are ordained of God." They’re set there by God. Whosoever therefore resists the power, resists the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves judgment." In other words, if you violate the law of the land, whatever land you’re in, you’re going to bring judgment on yourself. Now, there’s a very general statements. Verse 3 is a qualifier, “For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same.”

In other words, God has instituted government, and it comes in all different kinds. But, government, basically, is designed by God to protect good people and punish bad people. And, whatever government you’re in, if you just follow along with the good people and keep the rules and obey the laws, you can survive. When Georgi Vins met with our staff, you know, who was in Russia and where all the persecution goes on with Christians. They were very interesting people to talk to because they said, “We never break a rule of our government. If we are ever persecuted, if we are ever reprimanded, if we are ever in prison, it will always and only be for the cause of Jesus Christ. And, we keep that as clear as we can keep it. We never violate. We know our government is oppressive.” They know all the factors about Russian government, but they never break Russian governmental law. They will always be persecuted only for their stand for Jesus Christ. So, even they understand the meaning of Romans 13 in their context. And, it would be the same for the Roman Christians.

And, then, in Verse 4, it says that the rulers are "...ministers of God to thee for good, and if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for they bear not the sword in vain."In other words, God has actually made the government of nations be able to execute judgment on people to protect the innocent from the evil. So, that police, people who work in prisons, executioners even, and, we might add, soldiers who keep the peace, and protect that land, bear not their sword in vain. In other words, it’s a God ordained function. He is a minister of God, an avenger to execute wrath on them that do evil. So, you want to be subject, and it goes on to say, you want to be sure that you pay your taxes, also, so the government can carry on its work.

So, generally, we are to be subject to the government. Now, let me give you a perspective. What if the government calls you to serve in a war? I believe, you can do that based on Romans 13, if you are an instrument of that which is right against that which is evil. If, for example, I am a citizen of the United States, and I am drafted into the service to go down and protect the Caribbean from Communist and Cuban terrorists that are being trained to be sent all over the Western world to ply their art of causing revolution and destruction, and devastation and mass murder, and all of that. I can act in behalf of that which is right against that which is evil and murderous. If, on the other hand, I was a citizen of Cuba, and I was asked to serve as a soldier in their army to ply the terroristic activities against an innocent nation, I couldn’t do that. Understand the difference?

Added to Bible Bulletin Board's "MacArthur's Questions and Answers" by:

Tony Capoccia
Bible Bulletin Board
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