Christians in the military?

Hi,

Im currently in the US Navy, and after the capitol riots happened, I got a pretty crazy spiritual feeling, like some conflict was going to start soon that requires the military. that got me thinking, should I as a Christian fight in our military? I was an atheist when I joined and converted 2 years ago. I read about a conscientious objector discharge and i am considering it.

I believe our military does some pretty evil things. Innocent lives have been destroyed in the middle east, children are killed in bombings. It seems like we are there just to maintain power, not to defend ourselves. I believe in the use of force for the defense of others, as Jesus told his disciples to buy a sword.

But if I am supporting an institution that oppresses others to defend its own power, I don't know if I want to be a part of that. I think there is a difference between giving up your life to save someone's life and giving up your life to save someone's way of life. Like if our "freedom" here in America is at the expense of innocent lives, I don't think that's love. It sounds like selfishness to me. Are the American people willing to give up their freedoms so people in the world aren't enslaved and oppressed by our military?

It seems that you are going through some challenges/difficulties.
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Are you familiar with 'Anabaptists'?
- They are more into 'pacifism'..
- Interesting history.

Hi, odangdude.

I honestly sympathize with your current situation, but I think that you may have already answered your own question.

By that, I mean to say that you seem to have a good grasp in relation to what love truly is and isn't.

With such being the case, I would simply recommend that if your conscience is telling you that something you're commanded to do isn't right in God's eyes, then you ought to obey God rather than men...whatever the consequences.

For whatever it's worth, I've personally spoken to TENS OF THOUSANDS of US Veterans throughout the years, from all the branches of our Military, and there are others who have gone through the same type of crisis that you're presently experiencing.

Unfortunately, for most of them, they came to this point of crisis AFTER they had already done many things that were later a great burden to their consciences.

I recall talking to one particular former Marine (I know...I know..."Once a Marine, Always a Marine") who is now a pastor, and watching him break down in tears right in front of me as he recalled some of the atrocities that he was a part of when he was still in the service.

Whatever you do, let the word of God and your God-given conscience be your guide.

God bless you.

That’s a tough one. With the limited info I would say remain as you were when called less there’s an obvious reason you cannot. As others noted, you must not go against your conscience but you should also take a look at whether your conscience is calibrated properly. Here’s a decent series to get you started. Pretty interesting stuff.