joining the army

[FranC]

Your answer here is promoting the U.S. military.
Disregarding your first two sentences as being irrelevant, I think your opinion is pro nationalism.
I guess there's nothing wrong with that as long as it's put in it's proper place.
But Christianity should come first in a Christians life.
Jesus should be first.
People should be spending their time promoting Jesus and not nationalism of the United States.
Our nationalism should be the Kingdom of God.
I believe most Christians do not know this and do not understand this.
I myself feel a need to discuss it with others so that I can understand it better and then live it better.
I believe as Christians, we are all called to serve our God by promoting the Kingdom of God.
I don't understand how a Christian can so adamently promote anything else, especially something that interferes with our relationship with Jesus.

I agree. The original reason for a government was to protect our homes and families.

Jesus did come here to set up God's Kingdom here on earth. That's what Mathew 5 is all about.
I myself wonder how many of us really understand this...

 

[FranC]

I am hoping that I am both but I will have to ponder that. Some of the events in the OT seem quite harsh and brutal but it is still the Word of God. As for the NT military, that will be a good topic to pursue with study.

These verses comes to mind:
Luke 22:36
He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one

Luke 22:38
The disciples said, "See, Lord, here are two swords." "That's enough!" he replied.

Just based on that my initial assessment is that Jesus is telling his disciples to be prepared to do battle and to trust in Him and not strictly rely on their weapons but on His guidance.

These two passages by themselves are by no means conclusive evidence of condoning military campaigns but quite possibly hold some meaning regarding military conflict.

If Jesus was militarily inclined, He would have done away with the Romans.
But He had to leave here and there would be other Romans, so it was futile.

He was trying to change how WE ARE.

Re your verses, I'd say that they were meant for protection.
Exactly the opposite...
There already were conflicts with the Romans, an also thieves, so the apostles had to protect themselves.
There are other deeper meanings, but this is not the place...

 

[tourist]

I agree with your assessment of what the military is for,
but it's also used for other reasons, to help other countries, for instance.
And I never can understand the reasons. Why did we go into Afghanistan,
and not Nigeria where Chrisitians are being horribly killed?

I don't understand this either Fran. The military is often used for humanitarian reasons too. I don't understand why this country's troops are still in Afghanistan or why the military was sent to Iraq as it was obvious that this particular country had nothing to do with 9/11.

Jesus did say to turn the other cheek but this was for an individual who was getting slapped and in no real danger of being seriously hurt or killed. I don't remember Jesus ever say that a country should turn the other cheek when threatened by a hostile country.

I can understand why a person may become a conscientious objector to a particular conflict but this person must also realize that somebody is going to have to take his place and be subjected to grave danger and hardship. Killing an enemy combatant is not the same as murder. I think that it is honorable to defend your family and friends by serving in the military and to help those that are oppressed and unable to defend themselves.

 

[Test_F_i_2_Luv]

My son is a Marine. I appreciate anyone who was willing to serve our country. Anyone who says otherwise is just being ridiculous

Of your 6,533 posts, this is the only one I know of where I agree with you.

On the bright side, I'm probably just not recalling a couple other posts...