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Unlock This CourseThe lessons Why Conflicts and Wars Happen and Three Conflicts in the World Today showed that conflict harms society: people die, homes are destroyed and refugees must flee. They also showed that politics, resources, history, culture and religion can each lead to conflict. This lesson asks what Christians say about all this.
Most Christians believe that every person is made in the image of God (see Creation, Stewardship and Imago Dei). So they see conflict as a double harm: it damages people God loves, and it often grows from the sins of greed, hatred and selfishness explained in Sin and Human Wrongdoing: Christian Teaching. They believe Christians should work to stop conflict and to heal what it breaks.
Key terms:
Christians pray for leaders and many work in politics themselves. Paul, an early Christian leader whose letters are in the New Testament, taught that governments have a God-given job to keep order (Romans 13). Christians also speak up when leaders are unjust, using peaceful protest and campaigning rather than violence.
John the Baptist taught that anyone with two shirts should share with the person who has none (Luke 3:11). Christians try to share fairly through giving and charities such as Christian Aid and CAFOD (the Catholic aid charity), because hunger and unfairness can lead people to fight.
Old hurts keep conflicts alive, so Christians stress forgiveness. Jesus told Peter to forgive not seven times but seventy-seven times (Matthew 18:21-22), and the Lord's Prayer asks God to forgive us as we forgive others (Matthew 6:12). Christians believe that forgiving the past is the first step to ending a quarrel.
In the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10), Jesus made a hated outsider the hero. Christians use it to teach that your neighbour is anyone in need, whatever their culture, and they speak against prejudice.
Christians are asked to live at peace with everyone as far as possible (Romans 12:18). Groups such as the Corrymeela Community, a Christian community founded in Northern Ireland in 1965, bring Catholics and Protestants together to build friendship and trust.
All of these responses share one idea, reconciliation. Christians believe God offers forgiveness, so they should offer it to others.
As Just War Theory, Holy War and Passive Resistance explained, a holy war is a war fought for a religious cause and believed to be commanded or approved by God. The Crusades are the main historical example. In 1095 the Pope, Urban II, called Christians to win back Jerusalem and the Holy Land, and those who took part were promised spiritual rewards. Jerusalem was captured in 1099 after great loss of life.
Almost all Christians reject the idea of a holy war today. Their reasons are:
The Old Testament has many wars. When the Israelites took the land of Canaan they fought battles (Canaan was the land the Israelites settled), such as the fall of Jericho (Joshua 6), and Exodus 15:3 calls the Lord "a warrior". Some Christians use passages like these to say that war can be right when God's purpose is served. The Old Testament also looks forward to peace. Isaiah 2:4 says that nations "will beat their swords into ploughshares", and Ecclesiastes 3:8 says there is "a time for war and a time for peace". The Ten Commandments say "You shall not murder" (Exodus 20:13).
In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus said, "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (Matthew 5:44). Christians take this to mean that they should wish the best even for those who hurt them.
Jesus taught something different from the old rule of "an eye for an eye": "if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also" (Matthew 5:38-39). Many Christians read this as a call to refuse revenge and break the cycle of violence.
When Jesus was arrested, one of his followers drew a sword. Jesus said, "Put your sword back in its place, for all who draw the sword will die by the sword" (Matthew 26:52). Christians often quote this to show that violence leads to more violence.
Christians agree that war is terrible and peace is the aim, but not about what to do when a country is attacked. There are three main positions, explained in full later:
Some Christians point out that Romans 13:4 says rulers do not "bear the sword for no reason", so a government may use force to protect the innocent.
(a) Identify three ways in which Christians respond to the causes of conflict. [3 marks, AO1]
(b) Choose one religion. Outline two teachings from the Bible about war and peace in this religion. [4 marks, AO1]
(c) Explain why almost all Christians today reject the idea of a holy war. [6 marks, AO1 and AO2]
(d) "Christians should always turn the other cheek." Evaluate this statement, showing you have considered different points of view. In your answer you should refer to at least one religion. [12 marks, AO1 and AO2]
(a) 1. Praying for leaders or peaceful protest (1). 2. Sharing resources fairly through charities (1). 3. Forgiveness and reconciliation (1).
(b) Christianity. Jesus taught "Love your enemies" (Matthew 5:44) (1), which Christians take to mean that they should wish the best even for people who hurt them (1). Jesus told a follower who drew a sword to put it away, because all who draw the sword will die by the sword (Matthew 26:52) (1), which shows that violence leads to more violence (1).
(c) Almost all Christians reject holy war because Jesus taught his followers to love their enemies and not to seek revenge (Matthew 5:44), so they believe war cannot be fought in his name. They also point out that no Church today claims a direct command from God to attack a people. In 2000 the Catholic Church publicly asked forgiveness for wrongs done in the past, and many Christians feel the Crusades brought shame on the Church. Many Christians also think a war fought for religion cannot meet the conditions of Just War theory. So the idea does not fit with Christian teaching on love and peace.
(d) Plan. For: Jesus said to turn the other cheek (Matthew 5:39) and to love enemies; violence leads to more violence (Matthew 26:52); pacifists follow Jesus' example of suffering without striking back; forgiveness and reconciliation can heal old quarrels (Matthew 18:21-22). Against: Catholics and Anglicans accept a just war as a last resort, so force can protect the innocent; Romans 13:4 says rulers may use the sword; "always" ignores serious threats such as invasion; Jesus' words may be about personal insults, not wars between countries. Conclusion. A strong answer could say that turning the other cheek is a guide for Christians' own behaviour and for refusing revenge, but that most Churches do not apply it to every situation, then decide which argument is stronger and why.
In part (c), do not just say what a holy war is. Give reasons, join each with "because", and use a named teaching such as Matthew 5:44.