Is war a crime?

Scott McKnight writes:

“Why do more Christians not recognize what war experts know, namely, that “we fight war crimes but have forgotten the crime of war”?”

https://scotmcknight.substack.com/p/sponges-and-war-immoral-word-choices?r=1nrx1&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post

I must admit I’m not too sure who these “war experts” are or what it is that makes someone a “war expert.”  However, I am not convinced by Scott’s statement.  I believe it to be well intentioned but I don’t find it helpful, in fact the opposite.  Let me explain why.

First, we do right to describe war as an evil, describing it as a crime says something different.  When we say that it is an evil, we are acknowledging that it is something that was not meant to be part of this world as created good.  War, like all suffering and evil is present, first because we live in a fallen world. It’s a consequence of sin entering the world because war is to do with death.  Secondly, specific wars start as a result of human sin including greed, hatred, jealously, pride. 

That war is an evil is something I doubt many Christians would disagree over. Indeed, if there are any “war experts”, then surely they would be those who have direct experience of fighting war, then they would agree with that too.  Those involved in military service or the defence industry are rarely gung-ho about military action.

However, we will also want to recognise that Scripture acknowledges the necessity of war in certain contexts.  This is of course the basis for “just war theory.”  We can see this in three ways. First, we have the example of Israel where it was necessary for the army to go into battle. Secondly, we can look to the use of military language to describe aspects of heavenly reality.  God is the Lord of hosts and modern translations are right in my opinion to render this as “Lord of heaven’s armies.”  Thirdly, when Paul talks about the governor/government not handling the sword in vain, this points to a principle which permits the use of force by the state where necessary.

The language of “war is the crime” is both pastorally and ethically risky.  It labels those who participate in war as “criminals”, this will include church members called up to serve in the military and those involved in the wider defence industry.  It also raises huge questions about how we view and speak of the allies during the Second World War or Ukraine and President Zelensky today. Of course in the light of the Hamas attack on Israel and questions about Israel’s right to defend herself it is a particularly hot issue right now.

So, we need to be wise in our language and be careful not to impose or exclude things which God’s Word does not.