WARLIKE CHRISTIANS IN AN AGE OF
VIOLENCE
The evangelical case against war
and for gospel peace
By Nick Megoran
Cascade Books. 308 pages. £29.00
ISBN 978 1 498 219 594
In almost 20 years as a Christian, I don’t recall ever reading an evangelical book about war. Nick Megoran’s work has changed that and has challenged me to question my assumptions.
Megoran is an Honorary Chaplain and well-travelled Reader in Political Geography at Newcastle University. Like Martin Lloyd-Jones, whom he quotes, Megoran argues that war is a manifestation and consequence of sin. He believes that Christians should never take up arms against their enemies. He references the British peace activist Brian Haw, who protested outside Westminster for ten years with the banner ‘I think when Jesus said love your enemies he didn’t mean kill them’.
Instead, Megoran argues, in this academic work of over 300 pages, that we should ‘be the church’, preach the gospel, trust God to deliver us and suffer martyrdom if called to do so.
Understanding war
In two chapters Megoran explores the understanding of war in the Old and New Testaments. Then there are two chapters, filled with cameos from a range of remarkable figures, on how the early church before and after Constantine approached conflict. He argues that, before Christendom arose, believers would not fight and would be refused baptism if they took a military oath. He contends that ‘just-war’ theory is ‘one of the last vestiges of a corrupted medieval church’ which is unscriptural.
He then spends two fascinating chapters exploring the events leading up to and during the Second World War and, rather uncomfortably, reminds us that both sides were guilty of some atrocious behaviour. He refers to the involvement, and support, of the churches on both sides but draws attention to commendable and non-violent Christian resistance to the Nazis. Two concluding chapters detail how leaders should teach on this subject and how churches can seek to be ‘peace-makers’ in a warring world and minister the gospel to those fighting and those suffering as a consequence of conflict.
Writer of passion
Megoran has thoroughly researched his exegesis, church history and current affairs. He writes with passion. In a day when evangelicals spend so much time and energy speaking out on matters of gender and sexuality while churchmen bless aircraft carriers without anyone batting an eyelid, Megoran challenges us to take seriously our responsibility as subjects of the Prince of Peace.
I wasn’t fully persuaded (in the light of my interpretation of Romans 13 I think there must be some place for force to restrain evil), but my thinking has been challenged by this eye-opening volume. A vital book for the ethicist and a helpful and evangelical primer for the thoughtful reader.
