Just War and the Ability to Win It

Jesus tells a parable about a king who is considering going to war:

Luke 14:31-32

Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? If he cannot, then, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace.

The context for this story is one of Jesus calling his disciples. He is saying, in effect, if you aren't ready for the cost of being my disciple, decide now. Decide ahead of time if you'll be able to follow or not.

But I think we can also draw some wisdom about how one goes about fighting a just war. A third principle for fighting a just war, according to the Christian Century article I read, is modesty. That is to say, it is the wisdom of deciding ahead of time whether or not the war can be won. If it is not practical or reasonable to expect that we can defend ourselves against the enemy, then it may be best to seek peace and use other avenues for effecting change.

This attitude toward war--the recognition that not all wars can be won, and therefore not all wars should be fought--is a corrolary to Christian humility. It requires that we recognize our limitations and the situations where we depend on God. Without such a sense of limitations, our policy may overextend us militarily without bringing about the desired peace.

In congregational life, the practice of saying yes to some ministries and no to others is a related discipline. It is not possible for a single person or a single church to solve all the world's problems, and so those ministries where we have little vision, talent, or energy should be let go in favor of those that do speak to our hearts. There are many activities that are good things to do, but through recognizing our place as limited creatures we know God doesn't expect us to do them all.

And it is also related to the Christian practice of discernment. Recognizing our limits forces us to choose wisely where we put our resources. Discerning a positive call, whether to waging a just war, or in other areas of our lives, requires much prayer, discussion, and reflection. Congregations should help people do this deep reflection on all types of vital questions.