Is It Ever Justified to Assassinate a Leader for the Sake of Peace?
As Christians reflect on the tension between justice and violence, we invite your voice in Crosswalk Forums.
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The idea of targeted political assassination feels like something out of a spy thriller—or the Old Testament. But what if the target is a tyrant? What if innocent lives hang in the balance?
As the world watches conflict unfold in the Middle East, questions are resurfacing. Israel has launched airstrikes against Iran, hitting what it claims are nuclear and military targets. Tensions are boiling over, with some even wondering aloud: would the elimination of a rogue regime’s leader prevent war—or provoke it?
In WWII, German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer grappled with a similar moral question. As part of the resistance against Hitler, Bonhoeffer became involved in a plot to assassinate the Nazi dictator. It went against every theological bone in his body—but he couldn’t stand by as genocide unfolded. He was eventually arrested and executed, but his story continues to stir debate among believers today.
Scripture tells us to submit to authority (Romans 13), yet also to “rescue the weak and the needy” (Psalm 82:4). So what do we do when those in power are the ones doing the harm?
If a tyrant’s removal could prevent a nuclear strike, genocide, or the death of thousands, is silence complicity? Or does such action violate the command not to kill and to leave vengeance to God?
“If you board the wrong train,” Bonhoeffer said, “it is no use running along the corridor in the opposite direction.”
Read these for context before weighing in:
Would you ever support the targeted killing of a political leader to prevent war or genocide? Is that a form of justice—or just murder with good intentions?