Let’s walk through the Scriptures and seek the full counsel of God on the subject of fighting, war, and pacifism. The Lord is not silent on this issue and His heart is revealed through His actions, commands, and the teachings of Christ.
The first place we must begin is with the very character of God in the Old Testament. Contrary to a pacifist ideology, the LORD is revealed in Exodus 15:3 as:
“The LORD is a man of war; The LORD is His name.”
This is not metaphor or hyperbole—it is declared after God had just drowned Pharaoh’s army in the Red Sea. He fought for Israel.
In Deuteronomy 20, the LORD gives explicit instructions for how Israel should conduct warfare. He did not rebuke them for it; He prepared them for it. In verse 4:
“For the LORD your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.”
This is repeated in various forms throughout the Old Testament: God not only allowed war, He led it when it was for His divine purpose. There are numerous accounts of righteous warfare under God’s direction. In 1 Samuel 17, David defeats Goliath not in personal vengeance, but in the name of the LORD. David says in verse 47,
“Then all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD’s, and He will give you into our hands.”
Even under King David, a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14), wars were constant. Yet David sought the LORD before every battle. In 2 Samuel 5:19,
“So David inquired of the LORD, saying, ‘Shall I go up against the Philistines?’”
God answered him directly with strategy and timing.
Killing and the Sixth Commandment
One of the most misunderstood Scriptures in this discussion is Exodus 20:13: “You shall not murder.” The Hebrew word here is “רָצַח” (ratsach) which refers to unlawful killing, premeditated murder, or manslaughter. It does not mean all killing. God commanded many instances of lawful execution and war. The same God who gave this command also ordered the destruction of nations like Amalek (1 Samuel 15:3).
Therefore, killing in itself is not always sin. It is murder, or killing in violation of God’s justice, that is forbidden.
Jesus and the Sword
Now we enter the New Testament, and many will point to Jesus’ teachings in the Sermon on the Mount to defend a pacifist stance. And yes, Jesus taught us in Matthew 5:39,
“But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.”
This is not speaking of warfare but personal insult and persecution. The Greek word for “slap” is “ῥαπίζω” (rhapizō), which implies an act of contempt, not a life-threatening attack. Jesus also told His disciples in Luke 22:36,
“But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one.”
He was preparing them for a different kind of ministry, one that would not be welcomed. The sword was not to start a rebellion, but it symbolized readiness for hardship and self-defense.
Furthermore, in John 18:36 Jesus said,
“My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight…”
Christ’s kingdom spreads through the gospel, not by conquest. But this does not abolish the right of a government or a person to defend against evil. Romans 13:4 declares of governing authorities:
“For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain.”
The Apostles and the Early Church
The New Testament does not record the apostles engaging in war, but neither does it condemn it. Cornelius, a Roman centurion in Acts 10, was “a devout man and one who feared God.” After he believed and was filled with the Holy Spirit, he was not told to leave the military. His role as a soldier was not incompatible with his new faith.
In Acts 23:12-24, Paul did not rebuke the Roman soldiers for protecting him. He willingly used the force of government for his safety. Again, no doctrine of pacifism is found.
Final Battle and the Warrior King
Jesus will return not as the Lamb, but as the Lion. Revelation 19:11-15 describes the coming King:
“Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.”
This is the same Jesus of the Gospels, now executing vengeance on the wicked. The armies of heaven follow Him. He rules with a rod of iron. There is no contradiction here. God’s justice includes war when He deems it righteous.
My Final Thoughts
The Bible never presents God as a pacifist, nor does it command believers to reject war in every form. God fights for justice, and in His righteousness, He makes war. The sixth commandment condemns murder, not every act of killing. Jesus teaches peace, mercy, and love—but not at the expense of justice or truth.
Christians are not called to be aggressors, but neither are we forbidden to fight when evil rises. We are called to seek peace when possible, but to stand in righteousness when the sword is necessary. Romans 12:18 says, “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.” But that’s not always possible.
The full counsel of God reveals a time for peace and a time for war (Ecclesiastes 3:8). The wisdom lies in knowing which time we are in, and being led by the Spirit in all things.
