The Futility of War

Whether it’s the conflict in Gaza, the war in Ukraine, or recent actions against Iran, many are quick these days to cry “war crime”—though, generally, they only do so about actions taken by the side they personally find offensive. Frankly, the idea that only certain acts in war, with all of its murder and destruction, should be designated “crimes” is fundamentally odd. War is terribly destructive physically, mentally, and ecologically. In humanity’s attempt to “moralize” war, governments devise conventions and treaties banning what they believe to be the worst of war’s atrocities. For example, the 1949 Geneva Conventions represented an attempt to protect human rights during war through proper care and treatment of prisoners of war (such as by banning torture), the treatment of civilians in war zones, and the treatment of military personnel. Other treaties ban the use of landmines and chemical and nuclear weapons. Still others seek to define “legitimate” versus “immoral” targets. Yet these treaties are voluntarily agreed to by nations generally not at war. What is more, many nations opt out of these conventions or legalistically circumvent them when the constraints they impose are no longer advantageous.

But is war noble or futile? The Apostle James asked, “Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?” (James 4:1). The principle to which James pointed applies broadly: Wars are generally fought for selfish reasons. History demonstrates that mankind seems to take the old saying “All’s fair in love and war” to be a way of life, as nations show themselves willing to do whatever it takes to win. Only God makes war in righteousness (Revelation 19:11). Conventions aiming to govern morality in war are often discarded because human motivations in war too often are, or become in time, morally compromised at best or inherently immoral at worst. Thankfully, the Bible reveals that there is a time coming when there will finally be no more war—weapons of war will be converted into farm tools and humanity will no longer be schooled in war (Isaiah 2:2–4). War results when human beings choose to live contrary to God’s laws. After Jesus Christ finally returns, war itself will become an artifact of history! To learn more about this wonderful future, you can watch “Will War Ever End?”