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!

We're agreeing again... :)

At least about the "age of accountability" varying. I think that children *can* give their hearts to Christ before getting to that age, though. I remember getting saved... I remember the story about the resurrection and Jesus knocking at the door of your heart. A story I'd heard before, but that time it clicked, and I realised He was knocking at the door to MY heart, that this was about ME. I went home and prayed to let Him in by myself... and it was over a year later that I decided to be baptised (on my own, surprised my mom... and it's the only altar call I've ever answered). So... influenced? Yes. I went to church and Sunday school and read Bible stories with my mom. But no one sat me down and said, 'You need to do this now, you need to make this choice". It was just there. Not even directed at me particularly, just part of the learning. And my other "salvation prayers"? None of them made me feel any different. That one did. The only other prayer that changed my life was the one where I surrendered and threw Jesus the car keys. I suppose you could (and some do) say that only surrendered folks are truly saved... but I don't think so.

I very much respect the Soviet Mennonites and the martyrs. I don't know if I mentioned to you that I spent a year in China as a child? So my parents had many friends who were allowed to leave China with the same understanding... "we have your relatives, you'd better come home". Some of them didn't anyway, accepting that meant they'd never GO back. (And twenty years later and much prosperity on both ends, the government relented). I understand that environment of threat. We were all followed, all assigned "official friends", our mail was read... horrible. (And yes, even eight year old me had official friends aka spies).

Martyrs... there are still martyrs. Some are pacifists like your family in Russia. Some are missionaries. Some are just folks holding their heads up for Christ. And every one of them deserves the white robes and honor that they'll receive in Heaven. I feel ashamed of my luxuries and life of ease when I compare myself to them.

Further age-of-accountability thoughts: I tend to think it's somewhere in the twenties, and that it varies from person to person. One person might be really tuned into religion and really get that there is a choice to be made and another could barely be aware of it at all. An interesting thought on this and Heaven, as so very much of humanity has died well before reaching that age (miscarriage, abortion, childhood illness, infant mortality), Heaven must be FULL of children! I wonder if they're given "adult" bodies? It will be interesting to meet someone who was raised at the foot of the Throne.