What is a "Just War?"

First, the legitimate authority who has the duty of preserving the common good must declare the war.

Secondly, a just cause for war must exist. St. Augustine, quoted by St. Thomas, said, "A just war is apt to be described as bone that avenges wrongs, when a nation or state has to be punished, for defusing to mace amends for the wrongs inflected by its subjects, or to reborn what it has seized unjustly.

Finally, St. Thomas said the warring party must have the right intention, "so that they intend the advancement of good or the avoidance of evil." St. Augustine noted, "True religion looks upon as peaceful those wars that are waged not for motives of aggrandizement or cruelty, but with the object of securing peace or punishing evil-doers, and of uplifting the good." An evil intention, such as to destroy a race or to absorb another nation, can turn a legitimately declared war waged for just cause into a wrongful act."

So, it would seem, wars can be waged if they are just and just wars must meet certain specifications. Nevertheless Christians debate among themselves about whether we ought to go to war or not. In our present crisis some say that innocent civilians were attacked, thus a military action is "just" to punish the evil-doer. Others contend that we shouldn't sink to the level of the terrorists and their backers and return anger and weapons and, in the wake, claim civilian casualties. And the Wall Street Journal opinion page has run pieces written by pastors quoting Aquinas and Calvin in stating that to not fight a "just war" is as much a sin, if not more so, as to fight an unjust war. So, what does Scripture have to say?

So ingrained has the "just war doctrine" been ingrained in Christian thought that Luther himself called upon this principle: "If war breaks out--which God forbid--I will not reprove those who defend themselves against the murderers and bloodthirsty papists, nor let anyone else rebuke them as being seditious, but I will accept their action and let it pass as self-defense." ("Luther's Warning to His Dear German People," Luther's Works, Volume 47: The Christian in Society IV)

While it appears that Luther is looking at such action as self-defense (very likely), many scholars look at this as an invocation of the "just war doctrine." And with a large army from the ruling authorities, it may well

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