Conclusions from the book “War and the Bible,” by St. Nikolaj Velimirović (+1956), first published in 1931.

 

Our boat began to rock on the waves. A wind blew from the west, and the starry firmament was covered with dark clouds. In Kren’s house they became uneasy, and the black servant began calling us from the shore.

“Although much has already been said, General, nevertheless, according to your wish, I shall try to sum up all that has been said above, despite the fact that this will be a repetition,” said the Balkan man.

“In view of the danger,” the general supported him, “before which the Christian peoples of Europe and America, and indeed all mankind, now stands, I think that everything you have said ought to be repeated from day to day.”

“Very well. Thus, the principal conclusion consists in this: only in the light of Revelation can war be understood and explained. All world literature taken together does not explain war nearly so well as Revelation does. From all that has been set forth above it is clear that war, like every individual and social phenomenon, depends exclusively upon our relation to God and to God’s law. This applies equally both to non-Christians and to Christians. The difference is only that among non-Christians war depends upon their relation to God and His law, implanted in their conscience and to some extent interpreted by their sages; whereas among Christians, war depends upon their relation to the One Living God and His law, revealed through Jesus Christ.”

…As typhus is inevitable for one who drinks water infected with typhus bacilli, so too is war inevitable for one who, having apostatized from God, feeds upon thoughts, feelings, and deeds displeasing to Him, and brings upon himself the contagion of war. As long as men, by their thoughts, feelings, and deeds, wage war against God, their dreams of peace are vain. Contrary to men’s desire, war must arise where its seeds have been sown… “There is no peace, saith the Lord, unto the wicked” (Isa. 48:22). In our time, much more than ever before, they cry out about peace — and prepare for war… It is hard to believe that such duplicity will not be punished by war. Idolatry is abominable to God. It makes no difference whether men worship God’s creations or their own creations; both forms of worship are abominable before the face of God. Every form of idolatry, both in our time and in times past, is scourged by God, Who sends various grievous punishments, of which the heaviest and fiercest is war.

Europe’s mission is to live in a Christian manner herself and to help her brothers, the pagan nations, to rise up to Christ. But Europe herself has fallen into idolatry. From this discord all the others flow, and after them war inevitably follows.

…To the frivolous question of how the God of mercy and love permits such horrors as war, one may answer with another serious question: how can men, to whom God has clearly revealed His will and His law, ceaselessly insult God and trample His law underfoot without shame and repentance? “The Lord, God, the Lover of mankind and merciful, longsuffering and plenteous in mercy and true” (Ex. 34:6). Men have already deserved the coming war. Were it not for God’s mercy and love, war would have begun long ago. Truly, were it not for God’s merciful love, the sword — for the sins of Christians — would never have been lowered into its sheath. The present relative peace, this respite, has been given to us not because of men’s intelligence and culture, but according to God’s mercy and love; and also, for the sake of the fear of God and the prayers of pious and good people, who exist in every nation of Europe and America.

Can these nations be saved? Of course they can. The question is only whether they will accept this salvation. “Can the Ethiopian change his skin, and the leopard his spots? Then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil,” the prophet of God once asked the Israelites before the destruction of that nation (Jer. 13:23). All things are possible, if only men are willing. The Christian people of Europe and America can change their spirit, correct their thoughts, restrain their strivings after things that have no true value, and go toward the good goal after Him Who said: “I am the Way.” They can, if they wish. But will they wish? From falling into the abyss to deliverance from it and safety, there is but one step. Will men wish to step back only one step from the terrible abyss over which they stand? God awaits the answer to this question; He waits as a loving and solicitous father. Even though they should give God a negative answer every day, yet according to His mercy and love God waits; He waits to hear whether from some nation there may come a good answer, so as to avert the catastrophe.

At present many words are being spent on disarmament. But how can a people disarm when it is burdened, “armed,” with sin? Sin inspires fear; fear forges weapons; thus, through fear, sin prepares war. Oh, were it not for this accursed fear! But fear will remain as long as there is sin. Willingly or unwillingly, sinners must arm themselves. If men were freed from sin, who then would be afraid, who would forge weapons, who would prepare for war? No one.

The goal of peace! Why do they not speak of it? Why do they not speak of it before God and before men? For this is a very important subject! In the name of what do men strive for peace, General? Ask them, and they will be confused. Having recovered from their confusion, some will answer: for the sake of culture; others: for the sake of economic progress; still others: for the preservation of works of human art; a fourth group: for the state; a fifth: for the sake of securing personal existence, and so on. Nonsense! The modern loud words about disarmament and peace give forth the sound of counterfeit coin. Men do not know the goal of the peace for which they strive. And those who now insist upon peace more than anyone else need it for a more convenient and unhindered worship of their idols. To what does such peace lead?

During the war there were not as many suicides as there are now, in our peaceful time!

For the sake of what do the rulers of Europe and America insist upon peace? For the sake of the fear of God and His glory, or so that they may more calmly reap the fruits of their injustice? If the latter is true — and it seems that it is true — then it is not surprising that, instead of peace, war will be sent to them. When the Master of peace was born, the choirs of angels sang over Bethlehem: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will among men.” The glorification of God, therefore, must be in the first place, and it is the necessary condition of true peace and good will among men. If men were striving for peace for the sake of the glory of God, then they would undoubtedly receive it, and this peace would remain with them forever.

But have you ever heard from any of those who insist upon peace that they have made a vow to make use of peace in the name of God’s glory and for self-amendment? Such a vow is absolutely necessary for true and lasting peace. Let the present-day peacemakers precisely define the goal of peace, confessing it aloud, so that heaven and earth may hear them, and then we shall see how war will draw away from us.

Blessed is the ruler who, having come to know the Truth, calls his people in time to repentance before the Living God. Blessed is the people that in time casts off the weapons of its sins against God. No evil shall draw near to it. Though unarmed, it will live in safety, for the Almighty Lord will protect it with His invincible right hand. Even if it had not a single sword, its enemies would be powerless before it and would not cross the borders of its land; the Lord of Sabaoth will not permit them to do so. And if its enemies do cross its borders, they will thereby dig their own grave…

Blessed is the people which, having been freed from sin, is the first to free itself from armaments. Such a people will receive a great mission in the world. It will be a light to all nations. The Lord God will glorify it with unprecedented glory and bless it unto the ages.

 

Online Russian source: https://azbyka.ru/otechnik/Nikolaj_Serbskij/vojna-i-biblija/#0_25