Christians and military service

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LovePink said:
War is horrific. I deal will a lot of military families in my area. The military does a great deal outside of war. The people who serve our country, continue to do so even after the military. Fine citizens.
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Yes, agreed. We do not have to disparage the military members [which many of us once were] of our country in order to discuss the topic of this thread.

Charles Spurgeon sets a great example; " I always rejoice to find a soldier a Christian, but I always mourn to find a Christian a soldier,..."
 
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LovePink said:
War is horrific. I deal will a lot of military families in my area. The military does a great deal outside of war. The people who serve our country, continue to do so even after the military. Fine citizens.
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Great citizens whose leader was man, not God. Whose citizenship and loyalty was to a country, not the Kingdom of God. Who fought and killed for men, not for God.
 
LClark said:
Charles Spurgeon sets a great example; " I always rejoice to find
a soldier a Christian, but I always mourn to find a Christian a soldier,..."
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You said this before. I don't know the work of this man's theology. But, I thought the first time you posted this, I feel that for a combat soldier, Christian or otherwise... we are not born Christians, I didn't become one until I was in my late twenties and I didn't become a saved person until my late thirties.

People make their choices and I can respect that. It makes us who we are, and God makes us what we are, in the end.
 
tucksma said:
Great citizens whose leader was man, not God. Whose citizenship and loyalty was to a country, not the Kingdom of God. Who fought and killed for men, not for God.
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Tucksma,

This is just uncalled for, let alone untrue. So, according to you every soldier has killed? Teachers, doctors, secret service, postmen, police, nurses, firemen, these are just a few of our service positions filled by prior service military personnel, whom may have served God & country and never saw combat, let alone killed.


Your post is tasteless.
 
Toska said:
I am going a little off topic here but, what about the police? I ask because my husband is a police officer. He has never killed anyone but, what if he does in order to protect an innocent citizen? Would that keep him from heaven?
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No and don't let misguided statements lead you astray.
 
LovePink said:
Tucksma,

This is just uncalled for, let alone untrue. So, according to you every soldier has killed? Teachers, doctors, secret service, postmen, police, nurses, firemen, these are just a few of our service positions filled by prior service military personnel, whom may have served God & country and never saw combat, let alone killed.


Your post is tasteless.
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I believe we are talking military.....If not then that's all i was talking about not any of the stuff you just named.

And I would say all of them took part in deaths. They may not have pulled the trigger, but they still took part in deaths. I could be wrong there, and if so then I'm just talking about the ones that did kill, or took part in killing, so strategist, commanders, basically if your actions lead to killing someone (and that was what you were aiming to do). These are who I'm talking about.

The fact of the matter isn't rather they are great people or not. I know many amazing military members. The issue isn't their character. The issue is should we join the military as Christians. The answer is obviously no! The bible says thou shalt not kill.

Members of the military who take lives, or take part in the taking of lives, are not serving God by taking that life at all, they are sinning. They are serving a man. They are serving a country, but not the kingdom. These men may be respected for what they are doing by men, but not by God, because by killing, they are sinning.

And I don't care what position they fill, that isn't the topic at hand. The topic is, is it ok for christians to join the military.
 
tucksma said:
And I don't care what position they fill, that isn't the topic at hand. The topic is, is it ok for christians to join the military.
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Nice back peddle, but you quoted me, not the op topic.

God gave man instructions for self governing, how else do you expect government authority was designed? But, of course man has corrupted the positions. No person joins the military thinking, "I want to be a patsy for government agenda", they want to do something honorable for humanity as well as a number of things that fall under the banner of protect.

If you don't want to have a hand in death or killing then stay out of the justic system, stay out of the governmental system and don't pay taxes for starters.
 
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LovePink said:
Nice back peddle, but you quoted me, not the op topic.

God gave man instructions for self governing, how else do you expect government authority was designed? But, of course man has corrupted the positions. No person joins the military thinking, "I want to be a patsy for government agenda", they want to do something honorable for humanity as well as a number of things that fall under the banner of protect.

If you don't want to have a hand in death or killing then stay out of the justic system, stay out of the governmental system and don't pay taxes for starters.
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Please tell me where in the bible it says killing is okay if you are trying to be honorable or if you are trying to protect?
 
jag1977 said:
Oh I don't know anyone in the military that has killed someone
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Who goes to wars? The military. Who fights for our country? The military. Not everyone in the military directly kills someone, but they help make it happen. If I help make a sin happen, I am guilty as well. If the result of what you do is a death of someone, and your purpose of doing it is to kill or help kill (even if you are trying to protect) you are sinning. Unless you can show in scripture where it is okay to kill in certain circumstances.
 
Toska said:
I am going a little off topic here but, what about the police? I ask because my husband is a police officer. He has never killed anyone but, what if he does in order to protect an innocent citizen? Would that keep him from heaven?
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[h=3]Romans 13:1-7[/h]Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience.
 
tucksma said:
Please tell me where in the bible it says killing is okay if you are trying to be honorable or if you are trying to protect?
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[h=3]Exodus 22:2-3[/h]If a thief is found breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no bloodguilt for him, but if the sun has risen on him, there shall be bloodguilt for him. He shall surely pay. If he has nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft


[h=3]Luke 11:21[/h]When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe;


[h=3]Romans 13:4[/h]For he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer.
 
Regarding the OP, Abraham, Moses, and David all were great warriors in the bible, and soldiers are highly respected throughout the bible. Jesus never once denounced a soldier's career.
Paul describes Epaproditus as a fellow soldier and a fellow Christian in Philippians 2:25.

So no it is not wrong for a Christian to serve in the military, but to be done with honor, dignity, and respect.
 
tucksma said:
Who goes to wars? The military. Who fights for our country? The military. Not everyone in the military directly kills someone, but they help make it happen. If I help make a sin happen, I am guilty as well. If the result of what you do is a death of someone, and your purpose of doing it is to kill or help kill (even if you are trying to protect) you are sinning. Unless you can show in scripture where it is okay to kill in certain circumstances.
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How about if you turn a blind eye? Is that ok with God? Your stance is from reprobate thinking.

I already provided the verse for capital punishment and/or self governing "government", this is why we have laws and a Justice system, a country with military & police.

Genesis 9:6 kjv "And God said"
 
Ecclesiastik said:
Some people say yes because John the Baptist never told the soldiers to quit their job and there are some cases of early Christians who were employed by the Roman military.

Others say no because the early church as a whole tended to be against Christians joining the military.


What are your thoughts? For a little background, I am an Air Force avionics technician.
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Well, the Bible doesn't tell us if John said that or not.... G-d tells us to fight and defend the orphan and the widow.... Not to mention tearing down the kingdom of darkness my opinion can not get more biblical. Weather right or wrong this war we are in it has opened doors for the Gospel to reach unsaved people groups.... the early church didn't write the Bible....
 
By the way the Bible (Torah) doesn't not say do not kill, it says do not murder....
 
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