Serving In the Military--Wrong?

Where in the Bible does Christ support capital punishment?

 

So you relagate the will of Jesus Christ to a bumper sticker? Do you believe in the Lordship of Christ? You answer the question.

 

Gen 9:6 ... I already answered that once.

 

Many times, however, defense of our homeland is not what the military is about. That was true in Viet Nam and it is true in Iraq.

 

Defense of the homeland is what the military is all about. Defense of the homeland can take place in Viet Nam or in Iraq as well as in the Continental US, Alaska, Hawaii or the territories. Our involvement in Viet Nam was a direct result of the Truman Doctrine of September 1950 (containment of communism), Iraq is a result of engaging of terrorists and terrorist supporting states on their home ground (The Clinton strategy of engagement and enlargement). As a Soldier it matters not one bit if I agree or disagree with the President and SecDefs opinion of what the proper strategy to protect the US is; they are empowered by the Constitution and subsequent federal law to determine national strategy. They also decide what elements of US power to apply (economic, political, psychological or military). Whether it is Christian or not to employ military power depends on how you read, understand, and apply scripture - that falls under personal opinion. As for me I think it is quite clear (as other have pointed out) that neither Christ or his Apostles ever told any Soldier to quit serving his nation. Christ told the Jews to render unto God what was God's and unto Caesar what was Caesars. He also proclaimed the Centurion to have the greatest faith in all of Israel. Severing in the military is not un-Christian, however each Soldier is still bound by his faith, regulation and international law to conduct himself in accordance with all the rules of warfare. Bruce

 

OK...granted...other factors.

However, self-defense is a major part of what the military is about.

And it still is pertinent to this thread, IMO

 

While I am not a pacifist or a non-resistor, I have great respect for my Christian brothers and sisters who hold to this view based on Christ's example and followed by the early church in its persecution from the Roman empire.

The Schleitheim Text or Schleitheim Confession was a seminal anabaptist document written in 1527 that is respected by many anabaptists today. It can be considered similar in importance to the 1689 London Baptist Confession to baptists.

 

We were not defending America in Vietnam, we were defing Democracy from communism. Same with Korea.

 

Asaking "What would Jesus do" is a good way of determining whether our life is aligned with his teachings. Jesus was against violence and killing as a way of resolving problems. If you don't believe that please show me one instance in which he supported violence. Yes, it's wrong for Christians to serve in the army.

 

Show me one instance where he condemned military service as sin.

And yes, you do need to realize that this "evil" you refer to as the military ensures that you will have freedom to make statements such as this.

This is one of the sillier statements I've ever seen on the BB.

 

In 2 Timothy 2:3-4 the Apostle Paul uses the example of a soldier to teach young Timothy some things about living for Christ.

If being a soldier is inherently wrong for a Christian, why do you suppose the Holy Spirit would have allowed Paul to use the example of a soldier?

In Acts 10, it was at the house of Cornelius, a Roman soldier, where the Gospel was opened to the Gentiles. In Acts 10:2 the Holy Spirit moved Luke to describe Cornelius as "A devout man, and one that feared God." Later on in verse 22 the Holy Spirit uses that same description and adds that he was "of good report."

If being a soldier is in itself sinful, why would the Holy Spirit use such positive words to describe Cornelius?

 

I would say it goes beyond silly, to downright offensive.

How soon some forget:



I suppose we should just cave into the terrorists...

Let all Christians shout it out:
THANK YOU TO ALL THAT SERVES OUR COUNTRY!!!!
WE PRAY FOR YOU.

If you don't like the USA, then move.
We don't need more bleeding heart, lilly livered, yellow bellied liberals living here.

 

You are correct in that the US was defending Democracy from Communism - the reason why was the Truman Doctrine, a national strategy of Containment of Communism, September 1950. That doctrine stated that the US would defend America by containing communism world wide, using all elements of US power if necessary; in other words it was in the vital interests of the US to contain communism. You are wrong in stating that we were not defending America - the spread of communism would undermine the national interests of all democracies, particularly the USA. If you think tactically then you could make the assumption you make; war is a series of engagements by fire and maneuver in a specific place (RVN was thousands of miles away from North America, but strategically the spread of communism was a great danger to the USA and our homeland. US formal strategy changed during the Clinton Administration due to the changes in the world with the fall of communism as a threat to democracy - the Clinton Strategy was entitled Engagement and Enlargement - spread democracy by engaging non-democracies with the various means of national power. Under the Bush Administration it has been updated, but is basically the E&E strategy. All provide for defending the USA by using whatever means are necessary and in whatever area it is necessary. Thus the war against the spread of Islamic-terrorism; regardless of how it is perceived to be going at a particular moment in time it is the Presidents responsibility to defend America. Any nation will always use force of arms to defend its vital national interests if it has the means. Bruce

 

Just show me one instance in which Jesus supported the military or taking the lives of other human being. He said:

Jhn 18:36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

Personally, I'm sorry that you put your military service and your country above your Savior and your God. That's your decision.

 

Jesus supported taking human life in Gen 9:6. He commanded it all through the OT in driving out the nations from Israel's land. So to imply that he supported it is simply incorrect.

Secondly, he said to render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's. Military service is certainly one of them.

Your position is simply inadequate.

 

I notice you like to take "either/or" positions (as in the NCC/WCC thread). If one doesn't accept your opinion on this topic then he/she is putting service to country above service to his/her Savior - that is ridiculous. The OT (as has already been pointed out) is full of references to Soldiers, armies, and warfare; all appointed by God to do a specific mission, i.e., drive out the current occupants of the promised land, destroy neighboring nations, etc. Jesus himself declares the Centurion to have the greatest faith in Israel (MT 8:5-13). The book of Judges is packed full of Soldiers appointed by God. A Soldier who serves honorably and biblically can be as much a Christian as the person who runs a service station or pastors a church. Your "either/or" position simply doesn't make sense. Bruce

 

Which raises the question here

During WW2---it was a fight against NAZI governmental cancer---to the which we even "allied" with a Communist nation in fight against its(Nazi) spread

After the defeat of Nazism in '45----we quickly began to take aim at the very countries we allied with--to defeat their devilish government

An American Army Officer was interigating a German Officer who had been captured---the German Officer made this comment

"When this war is over----you will join us in fighting the real war!!!"----his reference was to the spread of Communism----little did he know the truth in his own statement------Adolf Hitler hated Communism like the Plaque--thus Operation Barbaroosa and unfortunately---his own defeat on the Eastern Front against Russia---but if he would have "played his cards right"----and not have been foolish--and given his Field Marshals total reign---what would have been the opposite outcome in the world????

 

I, personally, regret that so many men and women put their military service and their countryman's right of freedom and safety above their own lives. It was their choice to defend our freedom. We have lost so many courageous men and women.

IMHO. But, I doubt that they died on the field of combat half as gloriously as you would - that is if you went down and actually risked your own hide for what you so callously berate.

IMHO. Your cowardice does not surprise me. Poor logic does not surprise me.

But, the total disconnect some people have between reality and that imaginary land they live in is beyond me. Even a soviet soldier dying to keep his people free deserves some respect. To say that a soldier dying for his country is a sin, is just beyond any reality that I care to be compassionate towards.

Join up as a medic, come back from Iraq with a purple heart while saving a sinner bound for hell from dying so that you can witness to him and save him from eternal damnation - then if you want to talk a little trash, I can at least respect your courage even if I disagree with your opinion.

Regards