Christians and military service.
Can a Christian, in good conscience, serve in the military? If we are fighting against evil and tyranny it would seem like it is appropriate or even essential, but what does the Bible say about the subject. In his sermon on the mount, Jesus spoke of a time when it was appropriate, in Math. 5.38, he said, “Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. 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.” In Old Testament times things were handled differently. Lev. 24.19-20,”And if a man cause a blemish in his neighbor, as he hath done, so shall it be done to him . 20 Breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, as he hath caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be done to him again.”
The suffering of innocent life does not go unnoticed by God. And it would be appropriate to even give our lives to defend the helpless or the unborn. When we think that going to war for God, or killing a life to save a life is serving God, then we cross over into the territory of God himself. In John 15.13, Jesus said to his disciples, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” and in his letter to the Romans, Paul states, ” For scarcely for a righteouse man will one die, yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.” Rom. 5.7. It is Godly to die for another, it is not, to kill for another. Paul had much to say on this subject, in Rom. 12.19 he writes, “Dearly beloved, avenge not youselves, but rather give place unto wrath, for it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him, if he thirst give him drink, for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.” Verse 22, “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Countless wars have been fought and millions of lives lost in man’s attempt to wipe out evil by being overcome with evil, but God tells us to overcome evil with good. This does not seem at first like practical advise ,but our hope does not lie in this world but with the world to come. When Jesus had been delivered up to be crucified he was taken before Pilate and Pilate said to Jesus, ” Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me, what hast thou done?” Jesus answered and said ” 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.” John 18.35-36. The book of Revelations speaks of a time when Christ and his servants will fight. In Rev. 19.14 we read, “And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations, and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.” Jesus and his servants will fight evil once and for all, but at this time our command is to “Love thy enemy.”
Saved By Faith In Christ 