War is Criminal | 2

2. War Is Criminal,
As It Naturally Inflames the Pride of Man

One of the abominable things that proceed out of the corrupt heart of man, as represented by our Saviour, is pride:

“God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

“The Lord hates a proud look.”

“Everyone that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord.”

That pride is criminal and that humility is commendable will doubtless be admitted by all who believe the Scriptures.

Pride, however, is one of the chief sources of war:

It is pride that makes men glory in their strength and prowess. It is pride that hinders them from confessing their faults and repairing the injury done to others.

Although pride is commonly condemned in the abstract, yet it is generally commended in soldiers and fanned by every species of art and adulation, not only by men of the world but too often by those who bear the Christian name.

And why is it necessary to inflame the pride of soldiers?

Because it is well understood that soldiers without pride are not fit for their business.

If war is a Christian duty, why shouldn’t the example and precepts of Christ, instead of the example of the heroes of this world, be exhibited to those who fight to stimulate them?

Isn’t Christ as worthy of imitation as the Caesars and Alexanders of this world?

He was a triumphant conqueror; he vanquished death and hell, and purchased eternal redemption for his people; but he conquered by resignation and triumphed by his death.

Here is an example worthy of the highest emulation. And why not animate soldiers by it? Only because it would unnerve their arms for war and render them harmless to their foes.

It is so common to compliment the pride of soldiers that, instead of considering it that abominable thing which the Lord hates, they consider it a virtue.

We frequently hear “gentlemen of the sword,” as they are styled, in reply to the flattery bestowed upon them, frankly declare that it is their highest ambition to obtain the praise of their fellow-citizens; and, of course, they confess that they are seeking the praise of men more than the praise of God.

These gentlemen, however, are far less criminal than those who lavish flattery on them.

Doubtless, most of them are sincere and think themselves in the way of their duty, while their profession often leads them, necessarily, from the means of knowing correctly what is duty.

While professing Christians have been taught from their cradles that the profession of arms is not merely an allowable but a noble employment,

it is easy for them to slide into the current and go with the multitude to celebrate victories and to eulogize heroes, without once reflecting whether they are imitating their Lord and Master.

But is it not time for Christians to examine and ascertain if war is tolerated in the gospel of peace before they join in festivities to celebrate its bloody feats?

A pagan would be astonished if he had been taught the meek, lowly, and forgiving spirit and principles of the gospel, without knowing the practice of Christians,

to see a host of men, professing to be influenced by these blessed principles, marshalled in all the pomp of military parade, threatening destruction to their fellow mortals!

Would he not conclude that either he or they had mistaken the genius of the gospel, or that they believed it to be but a fable?

It is a notorious fact, which requires no confirmation, that military men, decorated with finery and clad in the glitter of arms, instead of being meek and lowly in their temper and deportment, are generally flushed with pride and haughtiness;

and, indeed, what purpose do their decorations and pageantry answer but that of swelling their vanity? Their employment is not soft and delicate.

Other men who follow rough employments wear rough clothing;

but the soldier’s occupation is not less rough than the butcher’s, though, in the world’s opinion, it is more honourable to kill men than to kill cattle.

But if war has a natural tendency to inflame, and does inflame and increase the pride of men, it is criminal; it does that which the Lord hates, and it must be highly criminal to engage in it.