A World at War
Excerpted from In His Service
By Col. Rick Bereit.
What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? (James 4:1)
IMAGINE A WORLD WITH NO WAR
Imagine a place with no soldiers, no guns, and no battles. Imagine that there has never been a history of war and, therefore, no grudges and no "getting even." Imagine a world where strong nations always work to protect the weaker ones. Imagine a planet where nations with more willingly share with those that have less. While you are imagining, consider what it would be like to live in a world with no locks and no fences. Imagine people who always tell the truth and who work at understanding others. This would be a great world to live in, but it is clearly not our reality.
A WAR-FILLED WORLD
From the beginning of time, the story of man is a tale of conflict and struggle. Man's endless strife has a single root cause: rebellion against God. The root feeds many branches, including idolatry (worshipping man-made creations), personal conflicts (between husband and wife, neighbors, coworkers), and regional and national conflict. Like Adam and Eve, all men and women since creation have set aside the commands of God, attempting instead to establish their own independent world of "me." The heart houses powerful, self-seeking motivations, which fuel fires of hatred and hostility. Rebellion against God has led to racial prejudice, inordinate national fervor, greed, fear, and jealousy and has resulted in the deaths of millions of people over thousands of years. Obviously, we don't live in a perfect world.
Warfare is not God's first and best plan for humanity. His first plan was a perfect garden where man and woman enjoyed perfect fellowship with their Creator. However, when they rebelled against God, the perfection of His first plan was broken. That began God's second and much less attractive plan. He closed the gate to the garden and posted an armed guard (Genesis 3:24). Since that time, families, tribes, and nations have developed weapons to attack others or defend themselves. Over the centuries, conflicts expanded from family feuds to national wars, and the means of warfare became conglomerated, organized, and refined. Militaries became distinct "organizations" with uniformed soldiers.
FIGHTING FOR A MORAL CAUSE
Today, militaries are organized to secure and defend national objectives. They can be used for moral purposes or for selfish, destructive purposes. Every Christian who contemplates military service must answer this question: "Is my country using its military to achieve noble objectives?" If the answer is "No," the Christian must refuse to serve in a military whose aims are immoral or illegal. Throughout the centuries, Christians in many nations had to make this decision.
If you are a soldier nearing a battlefield, you want to know that "right" is on your side. You want to hold the moral high ground. If possible, you'd like to know God is on your side and is working to give you victory. General Joshua, leading the armies of Israel, had this encounter with the commander of the Lord's army:
Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, "Are you for us or for our enemies?" "Neither," he replied, "but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come." Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, "What message does my Lord have for his servant?" (Joshua 5:13-14, emphasis added).
Joshua wanted to know whose side God's warrior was on. The angelic commander's answer is important. He claimed to be on God's side, not the side of either combatant. God does not join us in our purposes. We either join or refuse to join Him in His purposes. This is an encounter worth remembering. God does not belong to a nation, nor does His protection and favor belong to any single nation.
WAR AND OBEDIENCE TO GOD
In America, our military oath of allegiance is to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. Our military fights to preserve democracy and freedom. This helps you, the combatant, focus on the big picture. Throughout the history of our nation, many soldiers have reconciled national objectives with personal obedience to God. You must decide to serve or not serve based on your understanding of the moral and ethical objectives. You must be convinced that military service is consistent with your own internal values. You must believe national objectives are just. Modern military recruiting has emphasized positive benefits of being a soldier--education, leadership experience, adventure, technical training, and travel. While these may be factors, the first hurdle every soldier must clear is this: "Does military service conflict with my deepest personal values?" Only after deciding that should you consider the other benefits.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?
What about the sixth commandment, "Thou shalt not kill"? Clearly, this is not a universal command against all killing. God also prescribed death by stoning for several offenses against society. Bible scholars concur the best translation of the words "not kill" is "not murder." The New International Version records the verse this way: You shall not murder (Exodus 20:13).
What God prohibits in the sixth commandment is the unlawful taking of life by an individual. In limited civil cases and for soldiers, God permitted the taking of life. Even these exceptions have limits. It is possible for soldiers to commit murder. The Bible, as well as international law, for instance, condemn the killing of prisoners.
What does the Bible say specifically about war? It is clear from the entire Bible that warfare is an enduring feature of life on earth. It has existed, it will continue for a time, and then there will be an end to warfare.
War exists
From early times the prophets who preceded you and me have prophesied war, disaster and plague against many countries and great kingdoms (Jeremiah 28:8).
War will continue
"You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom" (Matthew 24:6-7).
War will cease
He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore (Micah 4:3, emphasis added).
SHOULD CHRISTIANS BE INVOLVED?
Although we see that war will exist until God brings it to a close, should Christians be involved? Let's look at some of the Bible verses that address this question.
On occasions, God appeared to men and instructed them to fight battles. God trained, directed, and helped them, thereby ensuring victory. The Bible records many examples in which God used combat to accomplish His purposes. Joshua, Gideon, Saul, and David. were all soldiers from Israel that were "God's warriors." But God also commanded and helped soldiers from other nations, including Nebuchadnezzar and Cyrus. God has trained warriors and assisted them in accomplishing His purpose.
Moreover, war is not solely an earthly issue. God has seen war in heaven! There will be another battle in heaven before all war is finished.
And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back (Revelation 12:7).
War in heaven has spilled over to earth. Many of our wars are rooted in a struggle between good and evil. For example, we can certainly see a difference in objectives between Allied forces and Axis powers during World War II. The Axis countries sought world dominance, practiced racial discrimination, and murdered millions of their own "unwanted" people. This is not to say Allied soldiers did no evil, nor does it suppose every soldier in the Axis armies was wicked. The overall characterization of the two forces, however, was one of good and evil. God used one group of nations to defeat the evil caused by others.
WHAT DID JESUS DO?
Jesus, during His life and ministry, had opportunities to declare the military profession "off-limits." To the woman caught in adultery, He said, "Go and sin no more." He could have given these same instructions to the Roman centurion in Matthew, chapter 8, but He didn't. If Jesus wanted to condemn the profession of arms, this encounter provided an ideal opportunity. Instead, He commended the Roman soldier for his faith.
The centurion replied, "Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, "I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith" (Matthew 8:5-10, emphasis added).
John the Baptist also had direct communication with soldiers, who asked him how they should show works of righteousness in their lives. This is a vital passage of Scripture for people in the military.
Then some soldiers asked him, "And what should we do?" He replied, "Don't extort money and don't accuse people falsely--be content with your pay" (Luke 3:2-3, 7-8, 14).
This was an important question from the soldiers. What should soldiers do to "produce fruit in keeping with repentance"? John could have said other things, including, "Get out of the military. It's immoral, and you shouldn't be involved!" But he didn't. Speaking as a prophet, inspired by God, he told soldiers not to abuse their power and to lead honest, content lives. This is still true today. Both Jesus and John the Baptist could have condemned military service as an option for men and women of God. They did not.
MAKING YOUR CHOICE
To serve honestly and consistently in the military, you must be convinced that your nation's objectives are consistent with your own beliefs. Be clear in your own mind what you believe about the morality of warfare. Take time to read and consider these Bible verses. Be sure of what you believe and why.
SUMMARY
- War is a result of man's rebellion against God.
- War has existed first in heaven and now on earth, and it will continue until God brings it to a close.
- Militaries exist to secure national objectives.
- National objectives can be good or evil, and you should evaluate your nation's military objectives in light of your own beliefs and conscience.
- The Bible gives examples of how God has used warfare to accomplish His purposes.
- Although they could have, neither Jesus nor John the Baptist forbid military service to Christians.
Excerpted from In His Service by Col. Rick Bereit and published by Dawson Media, a ministry of The Navigators. In His Service presents a biblical view of what it means to follow Christ in the unique context of the military. This practical guide is designed to equip anyone considering the military or currently serving, and friends and family members of military personnel.
The son of a World War II flight instructor, Rick Bereit began his own military career in 1966 when he entered the United States Air Force Academy. After his graduation and commissioning in 1970, Rick moved to Chanute AFB in Illinois to train in aircraft maintenance, which would become his profession for the next 30 years. Retired from the military in 2000, Rick now serves on staff with The Navigators' Military Ministry. He and his wife, Barbara, live in Flagstaff, Arizona.