Biblical Answer

Can our actions in war ever be considered a form of redemption?

The question of whether human-initiated violence can ever be justifiable in this church age is a complex one, and one that has been debated by theologians and biblical scholars for centuries. From a Christian perspective, the Bible teaches that God is the one who wages war, not humanity (Exodus 15:3, Revelation 19:11-21). However, this does not necessarily mean that human-initiated violence is always immoral. In fact, the Bible teaches that war can be a just and necessary act, as seen in the case of David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17:1-58), where David's actions were motivated by a desire to protect his people and defend his land.

To determine whether human-initiated violence can be considered a form of redemption, we must consider the biblical criteria for just war. The Bible teaches that a just war must have a just intention, which means that the goal of the war must be to secure a just or fair peace for friend and foe alike, ruling out revenge, conquest, economic gain, or other motivations (Proverbs 24:23-25, 1 Corinthians 14:33). Additionally, a just war must be a last resort, and all other avenues of conflict resolution must be exhausted before resorting to violence (Matthew 5:38-42, Romans 12:14-21). If these criteria are met, then human-initiated violence can be considered a form of redemption, as it is a means of bringing about a just and peaceful resolution to conflict.

However, it is worth noting that even if human-initiated violence can be considered a form of redemption in certain circumstances, it is still a complex and morally fraught issue. The Bible teaches that we are to be "destroying strongholds" and "casting down arguments and every lofty thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God" (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). This suggests that human-initiated violence should be a last resort, and that every effort should be made to resolve conflicts peacefully. Ultimately, the question of whether human-initiated violence can be considered a form of redemption depends on the specific circumstances of the conflict, and must be carefully considered in light of biblical teaching.