Christians And Combatant Military Service ?

[Steve Epley]

I was preaching when I met the draft board it was very scary I was an 18 year old the Vietnam war was on and all the demostrations and draft dodgers had them mad if it had not been for the mercy of God the guy over the draft board would have sent me to Leavenworth he said so. Our church was NOT UPC we had no articles of faith so I was on my own. I honor the men who fought and those who died and have never besmirched them. Anyone who went is a hero to me. I just could not take up arms, to this day I do not have a gun since I don't hunt. I probably did not do it right since I did it on my own but the Lord had to have delivered me. I met the board 3 times. The last time I kissed my mother good by I figured they would haul me off to prison. But a Catholic doctor who owned the hospital interceded for me by telling them if his son was a priest he would not want him carrying a gun. He talked them in your giving me a deference on ministry basis. The Lord was indeed my helper.

Originally Posted by Scott Hutchinson

Is it wrong for Christian to join the military and take part in combatant military service or if a Christian is in the military must he only serve in noncombatant duty ?
What say ye ?
What do the scriptures teach about the subject ?

There is nothing in the New Testament that teaches against military service. The only thing we really have to go on is when some soldiers asked John the Baptist what they needed to do and the fact that Cornelius in Acts 10 was a Roman soldier. John Baptist didn't tell them to get out of the military and Peter didn't tell Cornelius to get out of the military.

[Scott Hutchinson]

For many years most Holiness and Pentecostal groups have taught agains't Christians bearing up arms in the military ,so it this an outdated standard ?

[Thumper]

Originally Posted by RevBuddy

Sarah...

I am a retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel and ordained UPCI minister, so I do have a personal perspective on this issue.

I believe the particular section of the Articles of Faith you have referenced is being completely ignored for the most part in the last 15-20 years. Many of our churches are located near major military bases and have large memberships and ministers who are active duty military personnel. In some cases, UPCI executive officers have pastored churches with extensive military membership and military members holding ministry positions in the assembly.

There is a clear and distinct principle in scripture that allows both a society and an individual to defend hearth and home as well as defend country in time of war. Years ago, young ministers were encouraged to register as conscientious objectors...however, now, as with many church issues that are being examined carefully in light of scriptural foundation and reference, the military issue has died from neglect...

This is an issue that has alway had great interest for me. I agree that scripture allows us to defend the question that really needs to be asked is what qualifies under the terms of defense. The concept of a "just war" qualifying us to take up arms is a dangerous proposition. Who among is us is really able to determine that the war is truly just. Politics play such a large role in these things that our ability to discern whether our war is just or not, particularily when it is the Godless media who are the ones feeding us our information.

History is filled with examples of wars that ought not to have been fought. I think, as pastors, we really need to be very careful when giving a green light to military service. We may be putting our young people into a position that God really doesn't want them in.

[Sam]

Originally Posted by RevBuddy

...
I believe the particular section of the Articles of Faith you have referenced is being completely ignored for the most part in the last 15-20 years. .. ..

A lot of stuff appears in the articles of faith, rules, manual, etc that is overlooked and ignored. Some of this stuff is like old laws that are still on the books but ignored by general consensus of the people. Yes, they are still there, and they may have had a purpose at some particular time, but the are no longer relevant.

Originally Posted by Scott Hutchinson

For many years most Holiness and Pentecostal groups have taught agains't Christians bearing up arms in the military ,so it this an outdated standard ?

I respect everyone's personal convicition - but we owe our freedom to the men and women who have fought to keep us free. If I were a male, I am not sure I could go, but someone has to do it. The Israelites fought in Biblical days. God gave them direction in the battles.

[CC1]

Originally Posted by Scott Hutchinson

Is it wrong for Christian to join the military and take part in combatant military service or if a Christian is in the military must he only serve in noncombatant duty ?
What say ye ?
What do the scriptures teach about the subject ?

God has always made a distinction between murder and just killing. At the same time the 10 commandments were in effect that prohibited "killing" God was commanding Israel to kill people left and right in war.

It is too late and I am too tired to go through the total reasoning right now but the biblical pattern is clear in supporting lethal action by a governments military or law enforcement.

Some on here will argue that the New Testament does away with this concept but there is nothing to indicate that. Jesus did not change the law.

[Scott Hutchinson]

So if a Christian is in the military and shoots someone in battle ,they haven't committed cold -blooded murder ?

[crakjak]

Originally Posted by Scott Hutchinson

So if a Christian is in the military and shoots someone in battle ,they haven't committed cold -blooded murder ?

No, they have not. No more than if I shoot someone who breaks into my house and is planning to kill my family.

[Scott Hutchinson]

But if one reads the manuals of many Pentecostal groups both Trinity and Oneness it seems they teach that combatant military service is murder ?
I think The AOG leaves the decision up to the individual.