The Church's Response to War

 

War. War never changes. Its an age old saying that truly embodies the very nature of violence that is shed in the name of various factions and rulers as they vie for land and resources. It causes innocent people to lose their homes, their lands, and the families for the sake of disputes and arguments that often times can be solved through diplomatic and peaceful means.  That does not mean that sometimes fighting breaks out and at that point people must do what they must do to protect themselves. But as Orthodox Christians, and as Christians in general what can we do and how should we respond to war?  That is the question I would like to answer today.

First, let me make clear, that the Church prays for those both in public service and in the armed forces at every divine service celebrated. It is part of the very litany of prayers that the Church reads at every service. We pray for peace for the whole world, the holy Churches of God, the deliverance from wrath, danger and necessity. They are our petitions that God would have mercy on us and save us from these troubles that are called. The Church recognizes the need for armed forces and for government.  In the gospels, we see that Christ never nor his disciples commanded the soldiers that they met or witnessed to renounce their job and quit fighting. But the Church does understand that nonviolence and pacifism is the goal of all men. Matthew 26:52 says… “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword.” The Church also teaches that if a man would devote his entire life to Christ, that both political and military service becomes nonexistent to him. Priests and clergy who have spilled blood even by accident cannot continue in their ministry.  It is a very serious offense and rightly so.  A Christian by example must live his life in complete obedience to God and the teachings of Christ. Just as Matthew 16:24 says, “Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” While it may be cliché to say, a Christian would rather surrender his life than for him to take the life of another.

The Orthodox Church and Christian teaching understand that living a completely peaceful existence is not possible in the world today. Not only that but Romans 13:4 gives the authority to the government to punish wrongdoers. It says, “for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer.” We also know that due to the fallen state of man, violence, anger, and other forms of brutality are commonplace. Therefore, it is our duty, our responsibility to pray. Not just for those who are for us, but for those against us. Because Christ also said for us to love our enemies. We look at the example of St. Nikolai of Japan, who though Russian by birth was the hierarch of the Church in Japan.  He had been given the flock of the Japanese people who at the very time of his witness in Japan were at war with St. Tsar Nicholas II and the Russian people. Did he abandon those who his country of birth were fighting against? No. Did he condemn his motherland for their actions? Also no. St. Nikolai of Japan prayed for both sides of the war, and commanded his parishioners to pray for the defense of their homeland.

We are seeing in the world today, that people are taking sides in the struggles of the world. There is always a bad guy and a good guy. There is no middle ground. However, Orthodoxy is the Royal Path, the middle road. We strive to deviate not to the right or to the left. Thus, finding the right course of action is difficult. In society today we are called to choose sides and if we are on the opposing side we are often looked upon with disdain. Even now the current situation in Russia with Ukraine has caused many well-intentioned people to falter and lose their way on the straight and narrow path. They have chosen sides in this war without discerning the proper place for the Christian in this conflict. There are many Orthodox Christians on both sides of the war. There are many devout civilians on both sides. The Church calls us then not to condemn but to forgive. These men and women who are risking their lives on both sides are doing so in obedience to their government. Whether right or wrong, the Christian is also called to give obedience to the government.

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus lists the beatitudes, and in those one of them are the peacemakers, who will be called the Children of God. It is our duty to acquire the spirit of peace, the Holy Spirit. Let us pray not just for peace in Ukraine or peace in Russia, but the whole world. Today my dear friends the world needs it now more than ever.

Amen.