Welcome to Apologetics with Carl Kerby!
Today, we’re talking about pacifism.
According to The New York Times, during the past 3,400 years of recorded history, a whopping 92% of that time has seen war somewhere on the globe.
Although war is common in our fallen world, pacifists hold that war is NEVER justified, citing the Sixth Commandment – “Thou shall not kill.”
But as author C.S. Lewis noted, “It is no good quoting ‘Thou shalt not kill’ [about war]. There are two Greek words: the ordinary word to kill and the word to murder. And when Christ quotes that commandment He uses the murder one in all three accounts, Matthew, Mark, and Luke … All killing is not murder.”
Lewis’ point is that Scripture differentiates between murders from personal animosity and the normal—though tragic – casualties of wartime fighting. Pacifists should keep this distinction in mind when thinking through the issue of warfare. But is war itself ever JUSTIFIED? We’ll discuss that another time.
For additional resources, go to www.hopetools.net. Stay bold!
Carl Kerby is the founder of Reasons for Hope and co-creator of the DeBunked apologetic video series. His radio feature, Fast Facts, is heard weekly on VCY America, Saturdays at 9:25 AM Central.
