Pacifism: Martyrs vs. Christian Soldiers

After a long hiatus of Christmas, hectic life, and a broken foot, I am FINALLY getting back to you on this. I pray you're feeling better as well... I am up to "not on Percocet during the day" so my brain is back (insofar as it was here in the first place - grin).
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Coming from a religious tradition that had us singing, “I’m in the Lord’s Army” as children and “Onward Christian Soldier” as adults, the concept of pacifism is definitely alien to me. Your assertions, however, were certainly a challenge and I’ve been mulling them seriously. (You know the more intense the conversation the longer it takes me to get back to you).

I sit and I think and review in my head, all the Bible I know. The Sermon on the Mount, the Lord’s instructions to His disciples, Paul’s discourses, the examples of the early Christian saints and martyrs. That compares to the Old Testament, conquering and defending and the Revelation, where our Lord returns, sword in hand. What I end up with is a paradox. The paradox that a Christian, serving the government, can righteously bear a sword – and then must lay that weapon down with his uniform at the end of the day, as we are indeed told to behave peaceably to all men. So – personal pacifism is the law (although it’s emphasized more as not seeking vengeance or giving way to anger, and much less to cheek-turning).

Our Lord doesn’t call us to martyrdom unless we’re able to bear it. NOTHING comes into our lives unless our Lord permits it. Suffering for Him is honorable, and death is to be preferred to life. We are enjoined to live in peace with all men, and that does let out those Karate classes.

Christians as soldiers and police – if we live in a society (and you and I both do) where most people claim Christianity – shall we leave the ‘dirty work’ of keeping the peace to non-Christians? If we did, it would certainly grow very dirty very quickly! I scanned most of the NT this morning – nothing in it says we are to avoid government service, including armed service. Can a Christian be a soldier of Christ, as a paladin? A good question. So long as he protects those other than himself, I think so.

Now, another piece of paradox: We’re at war. Yet we are at war in the spiritual realm, not the physical. See Ephesians 6:10-20. See LIFE. How often have you felt under attack? I know that I feel like that constantly! So… bear the sword of the Spirit, stand, pray. And suffer what the world dishes out, knowing that God is in charge and that if we obey Him in all things, His will WILL be done.

Thanks for the mental workout!

David and the Temple

First the honest answer... never really thought about it. It's very clear that God loved David very much and that David was one of the most faithful people in the OT. He gathered all the materials for the temple and got the design (from God). Most of the people that David killed were enemies of Israel - but he killed a LOT of them, sometimes when they weren't at war officially. Soloman might have been wise and peaceful, but he was NOT faithful and introduced idolatry into the kingdom. So? I don't know. Perhaps part of the legacy of Bathsheba?

I wasn't sure how pacifists thought of soldiers etc who are Christians. I rather thought y'all thought of it as a unintentional sin, one of those "they should know better" things. I didn't think you personally thought my cousin or friends were dishonorable. Yet it's clear that God often orders (particularly in the OT) his children to war. So - He is not a pacifist.

More thoughts?

Christian Soldiers

Just a quick reply to clear up a misunderstanding. I absolutely, in no way, believe that Christian soldiers are being dishonorable or sinning by being soldiers. I believe that when Jesus told us to turn the other cheek, he meant it literally and for everyone, not just when we are being persecuted as Christians because we are supposed to be Christians all the time, not separate our identity in that way.

But I think that Christ set the bar high deliberately, so that there is something to reach for, just as He told the rich man that if he would be perfect, to sell everything. I think that while it is not sinning, to be a soldier, that we are meant to put our bar higher and the higher bar is to always turn the other cheek.

David was not allowed to build the Temple because God said he had shed too much blood. Instead it was left to Solomon to build it. I think there is a stain that shedding blood brings, even though God loved David and said so repeatedly and in no way indicated that David was doing less than his will. But something must have been missing, otherwise God would not have forbidden David to build the Temple with the cause being the shedding of blood. I think that like divorce, God allowed it because of the hardness of our hearts.

Or how do you see the David-Temple story?

Anyway, don't know if I will have time today or tomorrow to write some more, but I did want to clear that up. It would be terrible if people thought that a soldier is somehow dishonorable or not Christian because he serves in a war. I think that pacifism is something you grow towards in the pursuit of becoming more like Christ. I think that is what all Christians should strive for. But I also believe that anyone who asks for wisdom regarding this, will be led by the Spirit.

Layla