Christians on both sides of war

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I asked this question before, but I never fully understood the answers and got a few sarcastic answers as well that didn’t help. I think I may have a very scrupulous mind.

When Christians fight on both sides of a war, such as the American Civil War, and WW1/2. The thing I have the most trouble understanding is all of the European wars where they constantly fought with each other, and Christians were on each side. We are all spiritual brothers/ citizens in Heaven, so what happens when we fight each other?
 
lucky4075 said:
I asked this question before, but I never fully understood the answers and got a few sarcastic answers as well that didn’t help. I think I may have a very scrupulous mind.

When Christians fight on both sides of a war, such as the American Civil War, and WW1/2. The thing I have the most trouble understanding is all of the European wars where they constantly fought with each other, and Christians were on each side. We are all spiritual brothers/ citizens in Heaven, so what happens when we fight each other?
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Remember Cain and Able? It shouldn’t surprise you that humanity continues to make the same mistakes it has been making since the beginning. I’m not sure I understand what you mean when you ask “so what happens when we fight each other?”. Why don’t you explain what you think it might mean and maybe that will give me an idea of where your headed with this question.
 
I can’t speak for the OP, but I would guess the question might be is it possible for both sides to be justified by the Just War theory. That is, can Christians on both sides be guiltless in their participation?
 
LeafByNiggle said:
I can’t speak for the OP, but I would guess the question might be is it possible for both sides to be justified by the Just War theory. That is, can Christians on both sides be guiltless in their participation?
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Catechism, 2309:

“the damage inflicted by the aggressor on the nation or community of nations must be lasting, grave, and certain;”

This implies that one side is demonstrably an “aggressor” in order for a war to be just. I suppose a rule of thumb would be that the “aggressor” is the side that sends its troops into the territory of the other side. When this happens, it is just to repel the aggressor. But the aggressor’s conduct, by definition, would have to be unjust.

That said, Christian troops on each side are not necessarily responsible for determining whether jus ad bellum holds. So in that sense, Christians on both sides could be guiltless.

But I would consider it extremely unlikely that Christian leaders on both sides could both be guiltless.
 
lucky4075 said:
I asked this question before, but I never fully understood the answers and got a few sarcastic answers as well that didn’t help. I think I may have a very scrupulous mind.

When Christians fight on both sides of a war, such as the American Civil War, and WW1/2. The thing I have the most trouble understanding is all of the European wars where they constantly fought with each other, and Christians were on each side. We are all spiritual brothers/ citizens in Heaven, so what happens when we fight each other?
Click to expand...
In war, you do not know if the person you are shooting at is a Christian, Atheist or whatever. As one who fought in war, I can tell you that a primary purpose of shooting someone on the other side is not to kill, but to wound. It takes at least two people to carry the wound person off the battle field, thus three out of the game, so to speak. It takes multiples more to heal them, thus more people who can not be on the battlefield. One only shoots to kill, if they are out numbered or they have an commanding officer in their sights. One can kill in war without sinning because one does not have hate for the person they are taking out.

many christians have objections to taking a life and as such they take on duties like healing the wounded, removing the wounded from the battlefield or behind the lines support positions.

Many godly men of the OT were warriors. In fact, God himself is a man of War.

Exodus 15:3
The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name.
 
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