What About Warfare?
Welcome to the sixth post in our blog series on The Sanctity of Life. Having previously examined individual murder, abortion, euthanasia, suicide, and capital punishment, we now confront one of the most complex applications of the Sixth Commandment ("You shall not murder," Exodus 20:13, NKJV): warfare, combat, and the heavy moral weight carried by those who serve on the battlefield.
Just War Theory: Jus ad Bellum & Jus in Bello
Can a Christian or a person of faith engage in military combat without violating the Sixth Commandment? Historically, Christian theology—developed through thinkers like Augustine and Thomas Aquinas—has answered through the framework of Just War Theory. This ethical framework recognizes that while peace is always the ideal, living in a fallen world sometimes necessitates armed force to protect the innocent and restrain systemic evil.
Just War Theory divides warfare into two critical ethical categories:
Jus ad Bellum (Justice of War): The moral justification for entering conflict. War must meet strict criteria: it must be declared by legitimate authority, fought for a just cause (such as defense against aggression), carried out with right intention, and pursued as a strict last resort.
Jus in Bello (Justice in War): The ethical conduct within conflict. Even in active combat, soldiers and commanders are bound by moral limits—specifically the principles of proportionality (using no more force than necessary) and discrimination.
Combatants vs. Non-Combatants
Central to jus in bello and the Sixth Commandment is the strict distinction between combatants and non-combatants. In warfare, targeted lethal force is morally restricted to active combatants who pose an immediate threat. Intentionally targeting civilians, hostages, or surrendered soldiers crosses the boundary from legitimate defense into murder.
Scripture acknowledges that civil rulers are tasked with maintaining defense and justice, and military service itself is not condemned. When soldiers came to John the Baptist asking how they should live, he did not command them to abandon their profession, but instructed them:
"Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be contented with your wages." (Luke 3:14, NKJV)
Furthermore, the Apostle Paul reminds us in Romans 13:4 that civil authority "does not bear the sword in vain" when executing justice against evil.
Moral Injury & the Soldier's Burden
Even when a war is deemed politically necessary and legally justified, taking human life exacts a profound emotional and spiritual toll. Modern psychology and military ethics refer to this as moral injury—the deep psychological wound that occurs when a person acts, fails to act, or witnesses events that violate their deeply held moral conscience.
A soldier who takes a life in combat under lawful orders is not guilty of murder under the Sixth Commandment. Yet, because the fallen human being destroyed in combat was still made in the image of God (Imago Dei), the act of killing creates inner conflict.
Scripture acknowledges the solemn, sobering reality of warfare. When King David desired to build the Temple, God told him:
"You have shed much blood and have made great wars; you shall not build a house for My name, because you have shed much blood on the earth in My sight." (I Chronicles 22:8, NKJV)
Even justified warfare leaves a mark.
Conclusion
The Sixth Commandment reminds us that human life is never cheap, even in wartime. As a society, we must honor the grave sacrifice of those commanded to defend others, surrounding combat veterans with care, spiritual healing, and grace as they navigate the heavy burden of their service.
You are loved.
Ray
This blog is partially sponsored by Peachtree Press LLC, Reclaiming Hope Ministry, Getting To Know Your Bible, the Summerdale Church of Christ, and the Didasko Bible Institute.
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