CHRISTIANITY AND WAR 145 



force to bear* Surely, such uses of physical force must 

 be in harmony with the spirit of our Lord's teaching* 



In discussing this question as to the legitimate uses 

 of physical force, a great deal has been said concerning 

 the similarity of the soldier and the poHcemen, But 

 between these two officials there is this obvious distinc- 

 tion : That the work of the policeman in an ideal com- 

 munity would be done for the benefit of the person 

 upon whom physical force is brought to bear ; while, 

 in the work of the soldier, the benefit of the individual 

 must, of necessity, be lost sight of* Now do not mis- 

 understand me* Do not imagine for one moment 

 that I am seeking to defend our present methods of 

 dealing with criminals, or that I fondly imagine those 

 methods to be in harmony with the teachings of our 

 Lord* All I assert is the possibility that they may 

 become so, and the fact that we may with reason look 

 forward to a time when the object of our criminal law 

 shall be no longer merely the protection of society, but 

 rather the reformation of the criminal, and his well- 

 being* 



And now we are in a position to define exactly within 

 what limits the use of physical force is lawful to the 

 Christian* It is lawful only so far as it is absolutely 

 necessary for the well-being of the individual upon 

 whom physical force is brought to bear* Whenever 

 the well-being of that individual is lost sight of, the use 

 of physical force becomes at once unlawful and 

 un-Christian* 



I have often heard it asserted that in the great war 

 the Allies were acting as the Policemen of Europe to 

 maintain law and order* But one thing upon which 

 our Lord laid great emphasis was the infinite value of 

 each individual* ** Are not five sparrows sold for two 

 farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God* 

 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered* 



