Can the Kingdom of God speak to political matters?

[nett]

It feels to my you've taken the side of the majority of the western world in deciding that Russia has done something unjust by invading without provocation. hence why I asked.

Well from what I've read, and I've attempted to read widely on the issue, it seems that while Russia may have their reasons - the invasion as it's unfolded is an unjust one. Though I am open to the possibility that I am wrong. Especially, since I am not there and realize I am probably being manipulated by a number of competing actors. Likewise, I recognize Ukraine is not innocent in this conflict.

In your opinion, Is there ever a "just" reason for a nation to invade another without being directly attacked first?

From a Natural Law perspective, that is the God-ordained justice that rules us all in the secular; it seems Augustine came up with a pretty high standard for what constitutes a 'Just War'. Preemptive action is allowed but that's an extremely difficult criteria to meet. Knowing what I know about the current war, it seems Putin's rationale does not meet Augustine's criteria.

Your opinion about this determines whether you are taking a side.

Perhaps it does or perhaps it doesn't. I suppose that's for each person to determine how my words come across. I do know, that as a Christian I am to call both sides to the Peace of Christ's Kingdom which eschews all war, unjust or otherwise.

I appreciate your answers, and you're openness about potential bias.

I personally find Augustine's just war about as appetizing as I find his doctrine on predestination, which is to say not very.

Augustine's high standard for "just war" was basically to justify the church waging war, which I am obviously opposed. I don't find it have any use for nations, or for global peace at all.

[temporal1]

I despise war.
I saw first hand what it did in Liberia and the trauma it brought to the people there. Yet wars continue as they always have and always will as long as this fallen world remains in place. The human suffering in wars is terrible and always will be.

The KOG message to those suffering the effects of war is one of loving compassion and an invitation to join the Kingdom of Jesus where the loving of enemies is the way of life.

If we have access to those responsible for directing these war machines, we should call them to repentance and life in our Kingdom.

HK:
I do know, that as a Christian I am to call both sides to the Peace of Christ's Kingdom which eschews all war, unjust or otherwise.

prayers for the talks to bring resolution.

[HondurasKeiser]

It feels to my you've taken the side of the majority of the western world in deciding that Russia has done something unjust by invading without provocation. hence why I asked.

Well from what I've read, and I've attempted to read widely on the issue, it seems that while Russia may have their reasons - the invasion as it's unfolded is an unjust one. Though I am open to the possibility that I am wrong. Especially, since I am not there and realize I am probably being manipulated by a number of competing actors. Likewise, I recognize Ukraine is not innocent in this conflict.

In your opinion, Is there ever a "just" reason for a nation to invade another without being directly attacked first?

From a Natural Law perspective, that is the God-ordained justice that rules us all in the secular; it seems Augustine came up with a pretty high standard for what constitutes a 'Just War'. Preemptive action is allowed but that's an extremely difficult criteria to meet. Knowing what I know about the current war, it seems Putin's rationale does not meet Augustine's criteria.

Your opinion about this determines whether you are taking a side.

Perhaps it does or perhaps it doesn't. I suppose that's for each person to determine how my words come across. I do know, that as a Christian I am to call both sides to the Peace of Christ's Kingdom which eschews all war, unjust or otherwise.

I appreciate your answers, and you're openness about potential bias.

I personally find Augustine's just war about as appetizing as I find his doctrine on predestination, which is to say not very.

Augustine's high standard for "just war" was basically to justify the church waging war, which I am obviously opposed. I don't find it have any use for nations, or for global peace at all.

What criteria do you use to determine if a military action is just?

[Josh]

In order to answer that question, first we must answer who the nation state is and exactly how a military is qualified to act on behalf of a “nation”.

[ohio jones]

But since we are in America perhaps we should think a bit closer to home. Could we joyfully accept a foreign invasion or would we try to asset our rights, join the militias, join the national guard, buy war bonds and promote a draft? So far our track is very bad - we have been complicit in hostile aggressive wars around the globe.

This is a we bit confusing. The "we" in the first two sentences seems directed, or at least applicable, to nonresistant Christians. The "we" in the last sentence seems like it's referring to Americans in general. Could we (the readers of MN) receive clarification?

I hold the view most nonresistant believers have had a tendency to be complicit in the misdeeds of their nation. In my own circles there is a tendency to buy into right wing patriotic viewpoints. Other groups are infected with left wing politics. Either way, doing so makes us guilty of whatever our preferred political and patriotic alignment is doing.

The events in Eastern Europe have made this crystal clear. The clarion call is for all people to pick a side and be ready to fight for it. The excuse is “this is just defense, the bad guys invaded us.”

So the "we" refers to those who might claim to be nonresistant but are actually in the ditches on either side, not those (perhaps a minority) who truly are nonresistant.

[Josh]

At a certain point we do have to accept that “we” are Americans.

[Soloist]

What criteria do you use to determine if a military action is just?

Did God ordain us to fight? if not, then it is not a just war. The only just war is by God's command.

[Sudsy]

I despise war. I saw first hand what it did in Liberia and the trauma it brought to the people there. Yet wars continue as they always have and always will as long as this fallen world remains in place. The human suffering in wars is terrible and always will be.

The KOG message to those suffering the effects of war is one of loving compassion and an invitation to join the Kingdom of Jesus where the loving of enemies is the way of life. If we have access to those responsible for directing these war machines, we should call them to repentance and life in our Kingdom.

I fully agree.

But regarding war involvement a believer is in a war and is told to put on the full armour of God. We are only to be nonresistant in the area of flesh and blood - "we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places." Eph 6:12 NLT

Something, I know I need being reminded of, is our lives here are not to retreat into our protected communities but as Jesus did, get out into this dark world of evil and be the light He has called us to be. Eph 6:10-18 gives us the 'how to' and what our weapons are.

[JimFoxvog]

...
Yes - yet Jesus didn’t launch a defensive military encounter with the Romans.

He did call the individual Roman soldiers to follow him too and to “do violence to no man”.
...

Minor(?) correction: As far as I know, Jesus didn't say “do violence to no man” to Roman soldiers, John the Baptist did.

[silentreader]

...
Yes - yet Jesus didn’t launch a defensive military encounter with the Romans.

He did call the individual Roman soldiers to follow him too and to “do violence to no man”.
...

Minor(?) correction: As far as I know, Jesus didn't say “do violence to no man” to Roman soldiers, John the Baptist did.

And it seems unlikely that they were actually Roman.