14th century AD

Christian Century, August 23, 2005

REALITY AND THE JUST WAR: In principle John Wyclif (d. 1384) believed in the theory of just war, but in practice he thought it virtually impossible to conduct one, according to Ian Christopher Levy (Theological Studies, volume 66). Like Augustine, Wyclif believed that war is not a good in itself, but should be used only as a means to peace and should only be conducted out of love for the enemy.

Yet since love is patient and does not return evil for evil and because war is so spiritually perilous, it is better to follow the law of Christ--the way of charity, peace and humility--even if it results in martyrdom, and to leave vengeance to God. Wyclif did not use the divine sanction of war in the Old Testament to justify contemporary wars, for, as Levy puts it, "times have changed; the New Testament commandment is to preach the gospel to every creature and love all men by forgiving them the injuries they inflict, just as Christ did."