Lewis
Member
What do you all think of this stuff below ?
Christians and War
Q: Since God said we should not kill, is it not a sin when born again Christians in Military services do so?
A: Although the Bible commands us not to kill (Exodus 20:13), it also gives
at least three exceptions to this command, or you might say three
situations where the taking of another's life is not killing in the
biblical sense.
1. A murderer is to have his life taken. God told Noah, "Whoso sheddeth
man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made
he man" (Genesis 9:6). Capital punishment is God's plan in this case.
2. An exception is made for self-protection. Exodus 22:2 states, "If a
thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, there shall no
blood be shed for him." If you took a life to protect your own life or
the lives of others, God accepts that as a proper cause.
3. War is the final exception. About the same time that God was giving
the commandment to not kill, He was also numbering "all that are able to
go forth to war in Israel" (Numbers 1:3). The Bible allows for the
killing of enemy soldiers in war. Even Jesus spoke of going to war as a
natural condition on this earth (Luke 14:31). Paul speaks of a ruler as
"a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil" (Romans 13:4).
This would include going to war.
However, even though God allows for war and even though Christians are
not told that they cannot go to war, that does not mean that Christians
have to blindly follow every war without consideration. Peter said, "We
ought to obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29). This shows us that there
are times when the laws of man go against the law of God. If a Christian
knows that a war goes against God, he has the right to refuse to fight it
in obedience to a higher power. However, he should be extemely careful in
his decision and realize that he will have to pay the consequences no
matter what they are. It is not a matter of whether or not we agree with
the war. It must go much deeper than that. The war must go against
another clear command of God. Only then do we have a right to refuse to
fight.
Thanks for writing. I know that this may not be the answer you were
looking for but I hope it helps.
Till He comes,
Pastor David Reagan
http://www.learnthebible.org/q_a_christians_and_war.htm
Christians and War
Q: Since God said we should not kill, is it not a sin when born again Christians in Military services do so?
A: Although the Bible commands us not to kill (Exodus 20:13), it also gives
at least three exceptions to this command, or you might say three
situations where the taking of another's life is not killing in the
biblical sense.
1. A murderer is to have his life taken. God told Noah, "Whoso sheddeth
man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made
he man" (Genesis 9:6). Capital punishment is God's plan in this case.
2. An exception is made for self-protection. Exodus 22:2 states, "If a
thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, there shall no
blood be shed for him." If you took a life to protect your own life or
the lives of others, God accepts that as a proper cause.
3. War is the final exception. About the same time that God was giving
the commandment to not kill, He was also numbering "all that are able to
go forth to war in Israel" (Numbers 1:3). The Bible allows for the
killing of enemy soldiers in war. Even Jesus spoke of going to war as a
natural condition on this earth (Luke 14:31). Paul speaks of a ruler as
"a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil" (Romans 13:4).
This would include going to war.
However, even though God allows for war and even though Christians are
not told that they cannot go to war, that does not mean that Christians
have to blindly follow every war without consideration. Peter said, "We
ought to obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29). This shows us that there
are times when the laws of man go against the law of God. If a Christian
knows that a war goes against God, he has the right to refuse to fight it
in obedience to a higher power. However, he should be extemely careful in
his decision and realize that he will have to pay the consequences no
matter what they are. It is not a matter of whether or not we agree with
the war. It must go much deeper than that. The war must go against
another clear command of God. Only then do we have a right to refuse to
fight.
Thanks for writing. I know that this may not be the answer you were
looking for but I hope it helps.
Till He comes,
Pastor David Reagan
http://www.learnthebible.org/q_a_christians_and_war.htm
