War. What is it good for?

After a few silly days, I’d like to return to my political questions for discussion. Because right now, I have just that. Questions.

Question of the day: can or should Christians engage in war?

When Peter cut off a soldier’s ear to defend his Lord, Jesus told him, "Put your back sword in its place! For all who take hold of the sword will die by the sword."

Earlier in that same evening, however, Jesus told them to make sure they had a sword as they went out into the world:

Then Jesus said to them, “When I sent you out with no money bag, or
traveler’s bag,or sandals, you didn’t lack anything, did you?” They replied, “Nothing.” He said to them, “But now, the one who has a money bag must take it, and likewise a traveler’s bag too. And the one who has no sword must sell his cloak and buy one. For I tell you that this scripture must be fulfilled in me, ‘And he was counted with the transgressors.’ For what is written about me is being fulfilled.” So they said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords.” Then he told them, “It is enough.”

Seriously, Jesus. Which one is it? Should I carry the sword or put it away?

And even if Jesus told them to take their swords, we have no evidence throughout Acts that they used them for protection. In fact, we see just the opposite. We see Jesus’ followers persecuted and martyred unjustly and without physically defending themselves.

Let’s throw another monkey in the barrel. Jesus and his disciples came into contact with soldiers in their ministry, but no where do we see them tell the soldiers to abort their office. In fact, when soldiers approached John the Baptist and asked him what they should do to prefer for the coming kingdom, he told them, "Take money from no one by violence or by false accusation, and be content with your pay."

In other words, do your job well and with integrity.

He did not tell them to stop being soldiers for the Roman empire.

Finally, in Isaiah 3, when Isaiah is talking about the future glory of Jerusalem, he says, "They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks." In other words, the instruments of war will be used for production. One might argue that this is a future time. It does not characterize today. But throughout the book of Isaiah, the prophet argues that we should live in light of the future. Our character should reflect what we know to be true about the future.

Does this mean we live as pacifists now?

The heart of this, I believe, comes from how we understand and live out two ideas: (1) Love your enemies and do good to those who persecute you, and (2) protect the helpless.

Here, in specific, are my questions regarding war:

Is there such a thing as a just war? If so, what constitutes a just war? What does this mean for
the war in the Middle East, specifically against terrorists, especially
since they oppress others in their own countries? (I admit that the
reasons for this war are complex, and not all the reasons include
protection of others. But for my purposes here, I’d like to examine only
this reason.) Also, in light of the past and continuing terrorist attacks across the world, are we mandated to protect loved ones from possible
threats? (If the Bible says to take up the case of the helpless, I would
assume that his includes one’s own children, as well as the children of
strangers both in this nation and in other nations.) How far do we go to
protect loved ones? How far do we go to free the oppressed? What does
it mean to free the oppressed? Is God asking us to set up democracies
across the world? 

Discuss.