Digest of Biblical Civil Law

The prophetic predictions of Christ's ministry taught that He was to bring peace: Isa. 2:4, 9:6; Luke 2:14. And Christ confirmed His peaceful intentions: Matt. 5:39, 5:44, 7:12. "Turn the other cheek" pertains to personal confrontations, but it does not pertain to national security concerns. Christ affirmed OT law: Matt. 5:17-19; 22:29; cp. Matt. 4:4, 7, 10; John 3:10; 10:35. The OT endorsed at least certain forms of war. Abram is commended for his war against the evil kings: Gen. 14:20. Of Moses we read: “Moses built an altar, and named it The Lord is My Banner; and he said, ‘The Lord has sworn; the Lord will have war against Amalek from generation to generation’” (Exo. 17:15-16). Even the Psalmist David writes in a worship song: “Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle” (Ps. 144:1; cp. 2 Sam. 22:35; Ps. 18:34).
- Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr., "Just War" Theory, Faith for All of Life (Dec. 2004) at http://www.chalcedon.edu/articles/article.php?ArticleID=2369.