Can Christians serve in the military?

The following is the transcript of our podcast which can be found on anchor.fm/godsgym

Mark: Hello and welcome to God’s Gym, the podcast where we consider how we can reach our full potential as human beings, physically, mentally, and spiritually. Jesus said he had come that we might have life in abundance, and we ask, what is abundant life and how can we live it?

I am Mark, and Army Chaplain and with me is Paul, an Army Scripture reader and today we ask whether Christians can belong to an organisation like the Army that if necessary, uses lethal force in defence of itself and others? You know, where do we sit with the commandment not to kill and what about the challenges of self-defence and protection of others.

Jesus suggested we turn the other cheek when attacked and walk the extra miles with the oppressor who forces us to walk the first mile. We are also reminded in the bible not to hate others because vengeance belongs to God and the most noble expression of Christianity is self-sacrifice, the ultimate example of which is Jesus himself who says:

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13)

But we also see soldiers again and again in the bible held as examples of faith. God himself raises armies in defence of Israel and some of the disciples are carrying swords into the last supper!

So it not straightforward, is it, Paul?

Paul: Not a bit! When you glance through the bible you find that Jesus said we should love our enemies and pray for them, that we should return good for evil, that peacemakers are blessed, that vengence is God’s not ours, that they that take the sword shall perish by the sword, and that as far as in us lies we should keep peace with our neighbours.

So on the surface it would seem that we are called to be ‘Pacifists’ in the sense that we are to love peace and pursue it. If that is the case then I think that poses problems for a Christian being a soldier and vice versa. But I hope that this little episode will help in a little way to clarify the bible’s teaching that a Christian can indeed be a soldier and a soldier can be a Christian.

Although I came from a church background it wasn’t until i joined the army that I became a Christian. I didn’t wrestle with the concept of being a soldier and a Christian, I continued in my military career without any doubts or overhanging concerns about my role, actually it was quite the opposite, it drove me to be the best person that I could be in uniform.

But I realize that certain areas of service do generate discussion and debate.

So central to all this is that 6th commandment “You shall not kill” It is a moral imperative included as one of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:13) and therefore central to Jewish and Christian belief.

Mark: Paul, when I read different translations of the bible some say kill and some say murder. What’s the real meaning?

Paul: The fundamental characteristic of war is the taking of human life. We know that the Ten Commandments, in the King James Version says “thou shalt not kill.” The Hebrew word, RATSACH, is more correctly translated murder. So a better translation of the commandment should read, “thou shalt not murder,”

Murder is everywhere in the bible recognised as wrong and to be condemned

Mark: Indeed, I think another fundamental issue we can overlook if we are not careful is the enormous value God places on Human life: life is sacred, holy and the most important thing to God in the universe, so to take a human life is a huge thing. God is talking with Noah and he says.

Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image. (Genesis 9:6). And that underlines your point because then the murderer is to be put to death. So someone has to obey that command! So there is a distinction between killing and murder.

Paul: It is interesting that the Apostle Paul writes to the church and tells them the Government has a God-given right, indeed a responsibility to carry a sword to enforce peace in a fallen world.. And you and I are charged with obeying those in authority (Titus 3 v 1 & 1 Peter 2 v 13-14) and indeed we are commanded to pray for them (1 Tim 2 v 2). So God ordained governments to promote good and punish evil.

Mark: The other aspect to this is that not all violence is killing. And resistance to violence can begin at a relatively low level. I was always fascinated by Jesus’ teaching on the idea of turning the other cheek: If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. It is often thought to be some kind of non-resistance or protest.

Paul: Back in the 1940’s Ghandi led non violent protests against the British Salt Tax. and he said

‘I always say that non-violence is not the weapon of the weak, it is the weapon of the strong’.

Mark: But actually, it’s believed by some to be a bit deeper than that.

If you remember most Roman soldiers were right-handed. So when they struck you on the right cheek it is with the back of their hand. Now in middle east and Mediterranean culture that is an insult, it is the way a person in power strikes someone beneath him. Roman soldiers backhanded their subjects to make a point. Jews were second-class. When Jesus says offer the other cheek, He wants to force the Roman soldiers to use the open palm like a slap. That is more a way to slap an equal, it is more balanced. So Jesus is forcing the attacker to think about what he is doing. He wants the discples to stand up and demand respect. It is the same motivation behind his command to “go an extra mile” after a soldier forced you to carry water for the first mile (Matt 5:41). It is intended to challenge the soldier’s conscience.

Paul: This is a great idea, but what happens when our efforts to be at peace fail, do we then just submit to the aggressor? The Apostle Paul tells us If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Rom 12 v 18. But that is not always possible. In fact, experience shows that appeasing an aggressor whether he be a school bully or an Adolf Hitler, can encourages him to further and greater aggression. So sometimes violence is necessary to resist an aggressor? Yes, and that is why the government wields a sword, to protect the people and resist evil.

Mark: As far as it is possible: but it is not always possible. The just war theory is a philosophy that attempts to guide us where it is not possible to live at peace. The theory specifies conditions for judging if it is just to go to war, and conditions for how the war should be fought. And it is best known in the form of the Geneva Conventions.

Paul, how did the Geneva conventions come about?

Paul: Most people, I would say are familiar with the actual term ‘The Geneva Convention’ but most would probably be unaware of its origins. But the reality is that the Geneva Conventions was inspired by the horrors that were seen and documented by a Swiss businessman known as Henry Dunant. After visiting the wounded of the Battle of Solferino of 1859, he was inspired to push for two things; a relief reorganization that would provide aid during war and an agreement that would allow the relief organization to operate freely during war as a neutral party.

His first proposition led to the formation of the Red Cross in Geneva while the second led to the first Geneva Convention in 1864. The Geneva Convention became the first international agreement that addressed the sick and the wounded in war. Representatives from 12 nations signed this first convention. Over time, updates and modifications were made as situations arose.

All the countries who signed and ratified the treaties are obligated to enforce these rules and seek out anyone accused of these crimes. The principle of universal jurisdiction applies which means any nation has the power to try a war criminal regardless of the nationality or the nation where the crimes were committed.

Mark: Let’s bring this back to you and me, and our listeners. It is alright talking about governments and international laws but what do I do, what is my part to play in this?

Hacksaw Ridge is a powerful movie. The film focuses on the World War II experiences of Desmond Doss, an American who, as a Seventh-day Adventist Christian, refused to carry or use a weapon or firearm of any kind. But although he is a pacifist, he still wants to serve his country and so joins and becomes a combat medic. Doss became the first conscientious objector to be awarded the Medal of Honour, for service above and beyond the call of duty during the Battle of Okinawa.

Paul, is he following his conscience or his Christian belief?

Paul: His belief calls him to act, to do something. Loving others means I cannot just stand by! But what do I do? That might be a bit more complicated, and Desmond Doss chooses a particular way to serve and protect others. But again, back to soldiers in the bible: they are often seen as people of faith and even the disciples are found carry swords when the guards come to arrest Jesus. But he does warn us that there are risks to using violence and that is that we might become victims of it: Those who live by the sword will die by it. So it is a big thing to rise up and use force against others in any form.

Mark: What if someone attacks my family. Not my country but my wife and children. What do I do then?

Paul: So again, we are called to love and protect each other. We are called to trust God but also to be responsible for each other. And if we get things wrong then God is merciful and will forgive us. So whatever choices we make we do need some humility and faith.

Mark: We also are always to remember we are travellers in this world and our destination is the next! The bible is very clear, that this world is not everything there is and this life we live, is not the end, it does not end at our physical death but in fact we are made for eternity. So, in part this life is a preparation for the next! And because of the problem of people’s relationship with God in this life, there is so much about the world that is messed up including how we treat one another and behave. It is the reason this life and this world is so complicated and at times painful.

So, if we do bear arms in this fallen world, we must always remember that no one will bear them in the next!

As an army chaplain I don’t carry a weapon in wartime for that reason. I represent a future world without conflict, and I think that is a really important role for the chaplain.

So back to our original question: it is not an easy question to answer, but if you act with integrity and faith then you must do what you believe is right. I guess like so much of what we discuss, the most important issue to is to think about things and not just accept them or blindly stumble though.

Paul: Many Christians have been helped by a passage written by C S Lewis in his book ‘Mere Christianity’, where he says that ‘after pointing out that for some time he had not been able to understand how he could hate some of the things his enemies did and yet love them. He realised that that was precisely what he had done all his life with himself. Therefore, a person may still love someone and yet bring them to justice if duty so demands’ and in the case of a soldier this may in extreme involve taking life.

Serving in the Armed Forces is compatible with the Christian Faith. There are legitimate reasons to serve in the Army, particularly to protect the innocent, promote justice, and restrain (if not punish) aggressive evil nations.

Mark: I think that is true. It is really important to remember what we said at the beginning; that to take the life of another human being is a massive thing and not to be taken lightly. But to standby and allow evil to flourish is also a challenge to our belief in loving others and serving them. Protecting people is one of the most important ways we serve them!

But protecting others is not without consequences. Studies have shown the impact of taking life on people and it can have severe effects can’t it Paul?

Paul: Indeed Mark, until you have actually been in that position it's difficult to comprehend the challenges and stress’s that are born from that. Some can deal with it better than others, some get on with life relatively well, whilst again there are those who struggle. I am glad to say that there are many agencies out there that are able and willing to help, and I would encourage those who may be listening and who are struggling, don’t suffer in silence, seek out those agencies, they are there to help.

Mark: Well, there is so much more we could say about this really deep and important subject and we have only really skimmed the surface. If you have been challenged by anything we have said, do your research and if you feel you need further support go get it!

If you are listening and want to think let us know what you think then do get in contact via twitter or Instagram. Your comments are always welcome, and if there are topics or issues you would like us to address, we are always open to suggestions.

Until next time, thank you for listening and remember that you are capable of so much, God tells us so, so keep striving to reach your full potential as God made you.