Perhaps someone told you a Christian cannot serve a country’s armed forces and still be a faithful Christian? Perhaps you have wondered about this topic yourself? How would you answer? What would you answer? Do the scriptures have any insight in finding an answer?
John the baptizer did not tell soldiers who sought his counsel to stop being soldiers – he told them to hold themselves to a higher standard.
- “Then some soldiers also asked him, “And as for us—what should we do?” He told them, “Take money from no one by violence or by false accusation, and be content with your pay.”” (Luke 3:14)
Jesus the Lord, after being sought for help, did not tell a centurion to stop being a soldier – he praised his unusually insightful faith.
- “When he entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him asking for help: 6 “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, in terrible anguish.” 7 Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.” 8 But the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof! Instead, just say the word and my servant will be healed. 9 For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to another ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave ‘Do this!’ and he does it.” 10 When Jesus heard this he was amazed and said to those who followed him, “I tell you the truth, I have not found such faith in anyone in Israel!” (Matthew 8:5-10)
Peter the apostle did not tell Cornelius the centurion to stop being a soldier when Cornelius became a Christian – Peter learned from Cornelius in addition to teaching him.
- “Now there was a man in Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort. 2 He was a devout, God-fearing man, as was all his household; he did many acts of charity for the people and prayed to God regularly. … 34 Then Peter started speaking: “I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism in dealing with people, 35 but in every nation the person who fears him and does what is right is welcomed before him.” (Acts 10:1-2, 34-35)
Paul the apostle, thanks to a centurion, was kept from being unlawfully beaten, and later, Julius, another centurion, saved Paul from physical death.
"When they had stretched him out for the lash, Paul said to the centurion standing nearby, “Is it legal for you to lash a man who is a Roman citizen without a proper trial?” 26 When the centurion heard this, he went to the commanding officer and reported it, saying, “What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman citizen.” 27 So the commanding officer came and asked Paul, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” He replied, “Yes.” 28 The commanding officer answered, “I acquired this citizenship with a large sum of money.” “But I was even born a citizen,” Paul replied. 29 Then those who were about to interrogate him stayed away from him, and the commanding officer was frightened when he realized that Paul was a Roman citizen and that he had had him tied up. … 42 Now the soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners so that none of them would escape by swimming away. 43 But the centurion, wanting to save Paul’s life, prevented them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land, 44 and the rest were to follow, some on planks and some on pieces of the ship. And in this way all were brought safely to land." (Acts 22:25-29; 27:42-44)
By evidence of the scriptures, a person can indeed be a faithful follower of Jesus and be a soldier who serves their country. The two are not mutually exclusive. Unique spiritual difficulties will likely arise due to being a soldier, but difficulties can arise in many secular fields of work when one strives to live godly (2 Timothy 3:12). God knows how to use a righteous person to accomplish good, even in the middle of situations that are not always holy.
To fully answer the question of a Christian’s ability to personally serve in the military, one’s conscience must be considered in a serious way. If the conscience is not convicted, the word of God does not contradict.
"So you, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And what you heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will be competent to teach others as well. 3 Take your share of suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No one in military service gets entangled in matters of everyday life; otherwise he will not please the one who recruited him. 5 Also, if anyone competes as an athlete, he will not be crowned as the winner unless he competes according to the rules. 6 The farmer who works hard ought to have the first share of the crops. 7 Think about what I am saying and the Lord will give you understanding of all this." (2 Timothy 2:1-7)
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