When is War Right? 

April 3, 2022 

Dr. Brad Hoffmann, pastor 

The Perspective 

        Jus ad Bellum | Justice toward war 

• Jus in Bello | Justice in war 
• Jus post Bellum | Justice after the war 

 The Principles 

    1.Just cause (common good or response to grave injustice) 

    2.Lawfully declared by a lawful sovereign authority  

    3. Good as the intention 

    4. All other options exhausted | last resort 

    5. Reasonable chance of success  

    6. The means used must be in proportion to the end that war seeks to achieve 

    7. The establishment of just peace as the aim of war 

The Position 

The Good Samaritan Parable 

Like 10:30-37 ESV 

30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.” 

The Work of Peacemaking 

Matthew 5:9  

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. 

The Call to Justice 

Micah 6:8 

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? 

The Process 

 How do we battle for peace?  

1. What is justice?  

1. How do we best redeem war?  

Bibliography 

Biggar, Nigel. 2014. In Defence of War. Oxford University Press.  

Charles, Daryl, and Demy, Timothy. 2010. War, Peace, and Christianity: Questions and Answers from a Just-War Perspective. Crossway Books.  

Cole, Darrell. 2002. When God Says War Is Right; The Christian’s Perspective on When and How to Fight. WaterBrook Press.   

Miller, Paul D. 2021. Just War and Ordered Liberty. Cambridge University Press.  

Walzer, Michael. 2015. Just and Unjust Wars: A Moral Argument with Historical Illustrations. Basic Books.