Can a Christian serve in the military?
I did for twenty three years.
Did I kill anybody?
No, but in Iraq I controlled fighter aircraft that did. I don’t see any way out of admitting my role.
But the true question is “Have I sinned serving in the military?”
Was I or anyone else serving in the military outside the will of God and living in open sin when serving in the military?
The Bible says…
Romans 13:3-5
3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. 5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake.
God has ordained governments as caretakers of the people.
We are all sinful people and so it is often necessary for the lawful government to enforce laws with punishment.
1 Peter 2:13-17
13 Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, 14 or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good.
The state has the God given right to use deadly force in law enforcement and in protection of itself and its people. That’s just how things are. Sinful, violent people will just do whatever they want if there are no restraints.
So, that being a Biblical principle, the question must then be, “Is the Christian allowed to be an instrument of the state for that goal?”
It really depends on what the state is grounded on and what the law says in light of what God has said.
If the law of men is in conflict with the law of then we are not obliged to obey....
Acts 5:28-30
28 saying, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!”
29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men.”
Matthew 22:20-22
20 And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?”
21 They said to Him, “Caesar’s.”
And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
What belongs to Caesar, (the state)?
Obedience, service of protection.
Mark 12:17
And Jesus answered and said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they marveled at Him.
We do owe a certain obligation to society. Our taxes to help pay for civil works for example. Roads, street lights, sewer systems, water treatment.
But also... Fire protection, emergency medical attention, police protection, and, in a fallen, sinful world... Military protection.
We would rather it not be this way but we don’t live in Disneyland. Sin makes wicked people push their way to the top of governments and then they try to bully other nations around them.
That’s a fact.
The state has the God given right to defend itself from attacks like that.
Romans 13:4
For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.
Can the Christian join in that fight? Even if he or she might have to kill somebody.
I say the Bible teaches that, when in the office of performing duty for the lawful government, the Christian can bear, “...not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.”
The Christian may be the soldier in the war and the policeman on the street with a pistol on his side.
The scripture nowhere commands against being a soldier.
For example, some soldiers came to John the Baptist...
Luke 3:14
Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, “And what shall we do?”
So he said to them, “Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.”
Where’s the part where John says, “Yeah. I’ll tell you what you need to do. Get... out... of... the... army.”
He doesn’t say that.
He just basically tells them to be law abiding soldiers.
Here’s another meeting of a man of God and a soldier...
Luke 7
2 And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear to him, was sick and ready to die. 3 So when he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to Him, pleading with Him to come and heal his servant. 4 And when they came to Jesus, they begged Him earnestly, saying that the one for whom He should do this was deserving, 5 “for he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue.”
No where is there condemnation for being a soldier. Instead we see praise for integrity.
Wouldn’t this have been an outstanding time to pitch that part of the Christian walk?
“Oh, and if you’re going to serve Christ, you can’t do it in the military.”
Nobody in the Bible is ever told that.
Now, I know not everyone agrees.
The response I normally get from those who disagree is this...
Matthew 5:38-40
38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.
They take that to mean all Christians are commanded to be pacifists.
I just repeat what I said. When in the office of performing duty for the lawful government, the Christian can bear, “...not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.”
He may use deadly force in performing the duties of law enforcement and military.
BUT... The Bible is just as clear about how the Christian acts when on his or her own...
Luke 6:28-30
28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. 29 To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back.
There is a difference, and you know it’s true, between when the Christian is acting on their own as a servant of Christ and when they are serving in the office of the God ordained secular state.
And “turning the other cheek” is not just being a punching bag.
Oh, no. It goes far deeper than that...
Philippians 2:2-4
3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
The point of turning the other cheek is not because God wants us to be pacifists.
The point of turning the other cheek is because God deplores arrogant people. People out for nothing but “their rights”.
Philippians 2:7-9
7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
Jesus Christ had and will have the authority and power to rip into this sinful world with extreme wrath and violence.
He is not a pacifist. He is humble. There’s a difference.
It is wrong to use “turn the other cheek” to apply to every case, every time, no matter what.
The state may use force to punish the wicked and protect society.
The Christian may serve in the various means needed to keep a sinful society obedient.
I did for twenty three years.
Did I kill anybody?
No, but in Iraq I controlled fighter aircraft that did. I don’t see any way out of admitting my role.
But the true question is “Have I sinned serving in the military?”
Was I or anyone else serving in the military outside the will of God and living in open sin when serving in the military?
The Bible says…
Romans 13:3-5
3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. 5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake.
God has ordained governments as caretakers of the people.
We are all sinful people and so it is often necessary for the lawful government to enforce laws with punishment.
1 Peter 2:13-17
13 Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, 14 or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good.
The state has the God given right to use deadly force in law enforcement and in protection of itself and its people. That’s just how things are. Sinful, violent people will just do whatever they want if there are no restraints.
So, that being a Biblical principle, the question must then be, “Is the Christian allowed to be an instrument of the state for that goal?”
It really depends on what the state is grounded on and what the law says in light of what God has said.
If the law of men is in conflict with the law of then we are not obliged to obey....
Acts 5:28-30
28 saying, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!”
29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men.”
Matthew 22:20-22
20 And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?”
21 They said to Him, “Caesar’s.”
And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
What belongs to Caesar, (the state)?
Obedience, service of protection.
Mark 12:17
And Jesus answered and said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they marveled at Him.
We do owe a certain obligation to society. Our taxes to help pay for civil works for example. Roads, street lights, sewer systems, water treatment.
But also... Fire protection, emergency medical attention, police protection, and, in a fallen, sinful world... Military protection.
We would rather it not be this way but we don’t live in Disneyland. Sin makes wicked people push their way to the top of governments and then they try to bully other nations around them.
That’s a fact.
The state has the God given right to defend itself from attacks like that.
Romans 13:4
For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.
Can the Christian join in that fight? Even if he or she might have to kill somebody.
I say the Bible teaches that, when in the office of performing duty for the lawful government, the Christian can bear, “...not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.”
The Christian may be the soldier in the war and the policeman on the street with a pistol on his side.
The scripture nowhere commands against being a soldier.
For example, some soldiers came to John the Baptist...
Luke 3:14
Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, “And what shall we do?”
So he said to them, “Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.”
Where’s the part where John says, “Yeah. I’ll tell you what you need to do. Get... out... of... the... army.”
He doesn’t say that.
He just basically tells them to be law abiding soldiers.
Here’s another meeting of a man of God and a soldier...
Luke 7
2 And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear to him, was sick and ready to die. 3 So when he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to Him, pleading with Him to come and heal his servant. 4 And when they came to Jesus, they begged Him earnestly, saying that the one for whom He should do this was deserving, 5 “for he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue.”
No where is there condemnation for being a soldier. Instead we see praise for integrity.
Wouldn’t this have been an outstanding time to pitch that part of the Christian walk?
“Oh, and if you’re going to serve Christ, you can’t do it in the military.”
Nobody in the Bible is ever told that.
Now, I know not everyone agrees.
The response I normally get from those who disagree is this...
Matthew 5:38-40
38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.
They take that to mean all Christians are commanded to be pacifists.
I just repeat what I said. When in the office of performing duty for the lawful government, the Christian can bear, “...not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.”
He may use deadly force in performing the duties of law enforcement and military.
BUT... The Bible is just as clear about how the Christian acts when on his or her own...
Luke 6:28-30
28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. 29 To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back.
There is a difference, and you know it’s true, between when the Christian is acting on their own as a servant of Christ and when they are serving in the office of the God ordained secular state.
And “turning the other cheek” is not just being a punching bag.
Oh, no. It goes far deeper than that...
Philippians 2:2-4
3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
The point of turning the other cheek is not because God wants us to be pacifists.
The point of turning the other cheek is because God deplores arrogant people. People out for nothing but “their rights”.
Philippians 2:7-9
7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
Jesus Christ had and will have the authority and power to rip into this sinful world with extreme wrath and violence.
He is not a pacifist. He is humble. There’s a difference.
It is wrong to use “turn the other cheek” to apply to every case, every time, no matter what.
The state may use force to punish the wicked and protect society.
The Christian may serve in the various means needed to keep a sinful society obedient.
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