Just War as Christian Discipleship

Just War as Christian Discipleship: Recentering the Tradition in the Church rather than the State.  Daniel M. Bell Jr.  Grand Rapids: Brazos Press, 2009. 

Dan Bell’s ‘Just War as Christian Discipleship’ is a wonderful introduction to the Just War tradition.  Written for the non-specialist who is interested in learning both the history and current use of the tradition, the book excels as an introduction.  In many ways it transcends the category of introductory text book as, more than simply recounting the various strands of Just War thinking, Bell offers a thorough re-thinking of the Just War tradition’s most recent form.

Bell refers to the most common and current form of the Just War tradition as Just War Public Policy Check list (PPC).  This PPC strand of the tradition is represented by those who view the tradition primarily as a set of criteria for the use of political leaders in crafting public policy.  Bell critiques the PPC strand of the tradition by suggesting we consider Just War as a form of Christian discipleship (CD).  The aim here is to see Just War as a means of embodying the kinds of specifically Christian practices and commitments that lead to faithful discipleship during times of war and peace. 

Bell claims that his book is written to aid the Church’s reflection on living faithfully in the midst of wars and rumors of wars.  Fittingly, each chapter concludes with an exploration of the way the Just War tradition challenges the contemporary Church.  These sections help the reader to see how seemingly abstract discussions of Just War criteria directly connect to the life of the Church.  For example, the criteria of legitimate authority challenges the Church to examine the kind of leaders it produces and supports. 

Throughout the book, Bell is interested in the reader not only learning the tradition, but learning to live the tradition well.  According to Bell, to live the Just War tradition well, is a form of Christian discipleship.  He admits that it will be costly and difficult.  Indeed, it will be impossible without the grace of God.  However, for that very reason, Just War (CD) offers the Church an opportunity to bear witness to the Lordship of Christ even and especially in times of war.