The Only Christian War is the War Within

Last updated on: June 22, 2011 at 9:42 am by Henry Karlson

The Only Christian War is the War Within 2011-06-22T09:42:16-05:00 Henry Karlson

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

One of the things which confuses many Christians is the apparent difference in the character of God in the Tanakh compared to the character of God in the Gospels. Early Christians were confronted with this problem, leading many would-be believers to dismiss the Tanakh. The problem is, of course, one of hermeneutics. How exactly are we to understand the Tanakh? What value are we to give to the texts themselves? Many Fathers produced a hierarchy of value for the books of the Tanakh, giving the historical texts, the ones which most often lead one to question the character of God, one of the lowest positions in canonical authority.[1] They provided the experience of the people of Israel, but that experience was confused, as revelation was continuing to be provided for in the world, altering how God can and should be understood; it was only in Jesus that this process of revelation ended, and the whole character of God is revealed – to Israel first, but afterward, to the whole world. Nonetheless, these books were seen as useful by the Church – but only if one interpreted them properly, that is, in the light of Christ. To follow what they teach as literal histories with demands affecting our way of life in the empirical world is to read the books wrong, according to the letter that kills and not the spirit which gives life (cf. 2 Cor. 3:6). St Maximus the Confessor made it clear, the Tanakh is to be seen as having value, but only so far as we see within it the prefiguration of the Gospel: “The grace of the New Testament is mysteriously hidden in the letter of the Old. This is why the Apostle says that the Law is spiritual. Thus the Law is rendered old and obsolete by the letter and becomes useless, unless it is made young and thoroughly active by the Spirit. For grace is completely free of old age.”[2]

It is in this light we are to look to the genocidal wars portrayed in the Tanakh. We are not to take them on a literal level, and follow their example, making for great wars upon the plains of the earth. Jesus is the king of peace; as Christians we are called to follow the path of peace. How, then are we to understand them? Origen, in his homilies on Joshua, gives us the way: they prefigure the coming of Christ into the kingdom of God (our soul), where all that is evil and vile is to be destroyed so that the kingdom of God, which is within us, can be pure and holy. Joshua (or, rather, Jesus, as it is the same name) presents the entrance of the Lord into the kingdom, and shows us how the ways of sin are overcome. All those enemies of the human soul, all those devils which would like to lead us astray, will be confronted and destroyed; not one of them can remain in the world to wreck havoc upon it:

When that Israel that is according to the flesh read these same Scriptures before the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, they understood nothing in them except wars and the shedding of blood, from which their spirits, too, were incited to excessive savageries and were always fed by wars and strife. But after the presence of my Lord Jesus Christ poured the peaceful light of knowledge into human hearts, since, according to the Apostle, he himself is ‘our peace’, he teaches us peace from this very reading of wars. For peace is returned to the soul if its own enemies – sins and vices – are expelled from it. And therefore, according to the teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we indeed read these things, we also equip ourselves and are roused into battle, but against those enemies that ‘proceed from the heart’: obviously, ‘evil thought, thefts, false testimony, slanders,’ and other similar adversaries of the soul. Following what this Scripture sets forth, we try, if it can be done, not to leave behind any ‘who may be saved or who may breathe.’ For if we gain possession of these enemies, we shall fittingly also take possession of the ‘airy authorities’ and expel them from his kingdom, as they had gathered within us upon thrones of vices. [3]

Origen says that if there was no spiritual value, no higher value, there would be no reason for such texts to remain in the Christian canon. “Unless those physical wars bore the figure of spiritual wars, I do not think the books of Jewish history would ever have been handed down by the apostles to the disciples of Christ, who came to teach peace, so that they could be read in the churches.”[4] However, as Christians, we must remain Christians and interpret these texts worthily, so as not to come out of them with a false God. If the texts are purely literal, and must and can only be seen in that light, the Gnostics would be right in declaring that God to be false. However, they did not and do not interpret the text with the Spirit, and so misunderstand the value and meaning of these texts to their own detriment:

But Marcion and Valentinus and Basilides and the other heretics with them, since they refuse to understand these things in a manner worthy of the Holy Spirit, ‘deviated from the faith and became devoted to many impieties,’ bringing forth another God of the Law, both creator and judge of the world, who teaches a certain cruelty through these things that are written. For example, they are ordered to trample upon the necks of their enemies and to suspend from wood the kings of that land that they violently invade. [5]

It is a sad fact that many Christians have abandoned the path of the spirit, have neglected the spirit and turned their vision away from it and look only to the letter. Is it any wonder that they end up causing ruin upon the land with their wars? They claim to be following Christ, but how can they be, when Christ is the king of peace? They are right in saying we must overcome our enemies, but the enemies are within, not without:

Let us go forth to the war, so that we may subdue the chief city of this world, malice, and destroy the proud walls of sin. You look around, by chance, for the road you must take, which field of battle to seek after. Perhaps what I am about to say will seem strange to you, but nevertheless it is true: You require nothing from without, beyond your own self; within you is the battle that you are about to wage; on the inside is that evil edifice that must be overthrown; your enemy proceeds from your heart.[6]

Early Christians knew and understood Christ as demanding them to follow the path of peace. When they were confronted by Roman authorities seeking their deaths, they did not put up a fight, they did not seek rebellion (like the Jews). Rather, they declared themselves to be Christians and non-violently protested the evils of Rome, even if it cost them their lives. They knew the texts which later Christians would read as justifications for war, but they dismissed such readings. Time and time again, they died instead of fighting back; time and time again they showed their desire to act in love, in accordance with Christ, knowing that it is through such action that their real enemy, the demonic powers which held sway over the hearts of humanity, would be overcome. And, when Rome was converted, what happened? The demonic powers were still being confronted; the desert became a city where monks openly waged an assault on the powers of evil. Many came out on top – the countless desert fathers and mothers who are honored as saints (Sts Anthony of Egypt, Moses the Ethiopian, Mary of Egypt, Paula, et. al.) – but the war continues, the spiritual warfare against evil and the path of death continues. We are called today to follow through and to become a holy one, to take charge and see the real enemy and confront it. We are to let no sin pass by us by. This is what the “genocides” of the Tanakh mean spiritually – we are not to wage such war against fellow humanity, but rather, against the evil within, to let not one temptation thrive within:

You will read in the Holy Scriptures about the battles of the just ones, about the slaughter and carnage of murderers, and that the saints spare none of their deeply rooted enemies. If they do spare them, they are even charged with sin, just as Saul was charged because he had preserved the life of Agag king of Amalek. You should understand the wars of the just by the method I set forth above, that these wars are waged by them against sin. But how will the just ones endure if they reserve even a little bit of sin? [7]

We cannot let even one little sin preserve within. How, then, can we allow the big sins, the ones which lead us to kill our fellow human, to destroy them and their humanity dignity, to remain within? We must repent and change our ways before it is too late. Repent, for Christ is coming again to judge the living and the dead.

[1] Robert Hill, with his vast experience with Patristic commentaries, points out that for the Fathers, historians and the writers of wisdom books were seen as holding a different level of charism as the prophets: “It is not that wisdom, Sophia (Latin sapientia), was not of interest to the Fathers; they can be found frequently citing these books of the sages, sophoi. By referring to the authors in this way, however, and not applying to them the usual term for Old Testament authors, prophêtai, it may be that they did not consider them to be the recipients of the charism of divine inspiration to the same extent as prophets and psalmists (just as mere historians likewise forfeit the term).”

Robert Charles Hill, trans. and ed., St John Chrysostom: Commentaries on the Sages Volume One. Commentary on Job (Brookline, MA: Holy Cross Orthodox Press, 2006), 1-2.

[2] St Maximus the Confessor, “Chapters on Knowledge” in Maximus the Confessor: Selected Writings. Trans. George C. Berthold (New York: Paulist Press, 1985), 145.

[3] Origen, Homilies on Joshua. Trans. Barbara J. Bruce. Ed. Cynthia White (Washington, DC: The Catholic University of America Press, 2002), 130.

[4] Ibid., 138.

[5] Ibid., 125.

[6] Ibid., 61-2.

[7] Ibid., 94.

Previous Post

June 21, 2011

Words From The Last Homily -- With Zombies

Next Post

June 22, 2011 Philosophy over dinner--with children.

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category 2019 A Consistent Ethic of Life Aaron Weldon Abortion absurdity Abuse Scandal Academics Adoption Advent Africa agreement/disagreement with Church teaching Alexander Schmemann Alexham Alterity America Amnesty International Anarchism angels Anglicanism Animals Annual Statistics Anthony Anxietas Apocalyptic Apophatic Appalachia Aquinas Art Atheism Atonement Augustine Authority Baptism Beauty Bible biblical criticism biblical scholarship Bioethics Bishops Black Catholics Black Theology Blackadder Blogs Books Breastfeeding Brett Salkeld Buddhism Bush administration Byzantine Catholic Calvinism Canada Canon Law Capital Punishment Capitalism Caryll Houselander Catholic Blog Awards Catholic Blogging Catholic League Catholic Social Teaching Catholic Worker Movement Catholicity CFL Charity Children Chris West Christ and Culture Christian Democracy Christian Unity Christmas Christology Church Church Doctrine Church History Climate Change Cohabitation Colbert Collegiality Communion Communism Comparative Theology Competition Conferences conscience conscience rights Consequentialism Consistent Life Ethics Consumerism Contraception Contrition Conversion Converts Coptic COVID-19 Creation Critical Thinking Cross Cuba Culture Culture of Death Culture of Life Darfur David Cruz-Uribe David Wheeler-Reed Death Death Penalty Democracy Demons Desert Fathers Devil Dialogue dignity Disability Disarmament discernment Discipleship discrimination Dissent Distributism Division Doctrine Domestic Church Dorothy Day Double Effect Doubt Down syndrome Driving Early Church Easter Eastern Churches Ecclesiology Economics Economy Ecumenism Education El Salvador Election Election 2020 Ellul Embryonic Stem Cell Research Empire Energy Enlighenment Environmentalism Ephraim Radner Episcopal Church epistemology Equality Eschatology Ethics Eucharist Europe Euthanasia Evangelization Evil Evolution Excommunication F.X. Durrwell Facism Facts Fair Trade Faith Family Fashion Feddie Feminism Feminist theology Fertility Fetal Rights Fiction Film Finances First Things flags Folk Religion Food Foreign Affairs Forgiveness Frank Sheed Free Speech Freedom gay & lesbian persons Genocide George W. Bush George Weigel Gerald L. Campbell Girard/Mimetic Theory Global Warming Globalization Gnosticism Good Friday Grace Gratitude Greed Grey Cup 2009 Guadalupe Guest Post Guest Posts Gun Control Gustave Martelet Habitat for Humanity Hans Urs von Balthasar Harry Potter Hate Speech Health Health Care Healthcare Heather King Hebrew Bible Henri de Lubac Henry Karlson Herbert McCabe Heresy HHS Mandate Controversy History Holidays Holiness Holy Spirit Homiletics Homily Homosexuality Hope Hospitality How Far Can We Go? How Far Can We Go? Human Person Human Rights Humanae Vitae Humility Humor Hunger Hunting Identity Idolatry Ignacio Ellacuría Imagination Immigration In Memoriam Income Inequality Inculturation Indigenous People Individualism Inklings Intellect Interdependence Internet Interpretation Interviews Introduction Iraq War Islam Israel Jain James Alison James Martin Jazz Jesus Christ Jews Joe Biden Joe Hargrave Johann Baptist Metz John Allen John Henry Newman John Paul II John the Baptist John XXIII Jonathan Josef Pieper Joseph (the husband of Mary) Joseph Bernardin Joseph Ratzinger Josh Brumfield Journals Joy Judgment Just War Justice Kari Lundgren Karl Rahner Katerina Ivanovna Kenya Keynes Kingdom of God Kyle R. Cupp Labor Language Latin America Law Leanne Ogasawara Legion of Christ Leisure Lent Liberalism Liberation Theology Libertarianism Libya Lies Life life & dignity & responsibility of the human person Literature Little Way Liturgical music Liturgical Year Liturgy Living Simply Living Wage Local Church Lombard Lord of the Rings Louis Dupre Love M.Z. Magic Magisterium Mark DeFrancisis Mark Gordon Marriage Martin Luther Martin Luther King Jr. Martyrdom Marxism Mary Masculinity Matt Talbot Matthew Fish Matthew Levering McCain Media Memorial Day Mennonites Mental Illness mercy Michael Iafrate Middle East militarism Miroslav Volf Mitt Romney Modesty Moral Theology Morality Mormonism Morning's Minion Mother Teresa Music Muslims Natalie Nate Wildermuth Nationalism Native Americans Nature Nazis Neuhaus New Evangelization New York City News NFP nihilism Nonviolence Not Abortion Nova's Ordo Nuclear weapons Nuns Obama Occult Old Age Opus Dei Ordination ordination of women original sin Orthodoxy Oscar Romero Other Voices Pacifism Palestine Palin Papacy Papal Peace Messages Papal Social Encyclicals Particular Affections Partisanship Patriotism Paul Paul Ryan Paul VI Peace Pentimento persecution Personalism Phantastes Philosophy PKD Planned Parenthood Pluralism Poetry Policraticus Politcal Apathy Politics Poll Pope Benedict XVI Pope Francis Pope John Paul II Pope Leo XIV Population Postcolonialsim Poverty Power Prayer Preaching Predictions Predictions for 2012 President Barack Obama priestly formation & discernment Pro-Life Progress Prophetic Witness Proportionalism Public Diplomacy Public Policy Question Quotes Rachel Maddow Racism Radical Catholic Mom Radical Catholicism Raymund Schwager Real Catholic TV Real Presence Reconciliation Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange Religion religious freedom Responsibility Ressourcement Resurrection Rick Garnett Ridiculous Crap You Never Thought You'd See Robert Barron Roe v. Wade Roman Curia Rome Russia Sacraments Saints Salvation History Sam Harris Sam Rocha Same-sex Marriage Saskatchewan Roughriders Satire School of the Americas Science Scripture Seamless Garment Second Vatican Council Seeing Sex sexual violence Sexuality Sia Sin social justice Social Security Socialism Society of Jesus Sofia Loves Wisdom Solidarity Sophia soteriology Soutenus Spirituality Sports St. Dismas St. Joseph Stanley Hauerwas Statistics Stimulus Suffering Sunday Reflections Supernatural Supreme Court Symbolism Syria Taxing Technology Terrorism The State The Tea Party The Trump Administration Theological Anthropology Theology Theotokos Thomas Merton Throwaway Culture Tim Muldoon Tim Riley Tim Tebow Time Titian Tolkien Torture Toys Trade Traditionalism Transgender Transportation Transubstantiation Trinity Truth TV U.S. Affairs Uncategorized Unions unity among people who disagree US Catholicism USCCB Usury Utilitarianism Utopia Valentine's Day Vatican Vatican II Veterans Vicarious Suffering Video Violence Virgin Mary Vocations Voluntary Associations Voluntary Poverty Voting Vox Nova vox nova blog war War and Peace War Strategy Wealth Weirdness Welfare state Women Women Priests Work Woundedness Youth

Select a Month June 2026 May 2025 February 2025 January 2025 July 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 July 2023 March 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 November 2021 September 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What does the Greek word 'Ekklesia' mean?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Resurrection Salvation Righteousness Church