Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

In a perfect universe, there would be continual peace. However, in this life and fallen world, evil spiritual and human forces are active that seek to harm the innocent. Defending them against that harm is not (in my opinion) incompatible with Christianity. Jesus spoke in Matthew 5:39 of not taking retaliatory action on one's own behalf when injured, but I would say that that guidance would not apply with respect to defending others, or protecting them from injury.

Jesus also did not condemn or criticize a Roman centurion (a professional soldier) for his occupation, but commended him for having greater faith than He had found in Israel (Matthew 8:5-13).

Additionally, wars are generally engaged in by governments, which Christians are called on to obey (Romans 13:1-6). (When soldiers came to John the Baptist in Luke 3:14 asking him what they needed to do, he did not tell them to lay down their arms or to leave the army, but instead said, "Rob no one by violence or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.") Christians who oppose a specific war, or war in general, on the basis of faith or conscience may choose to oppose or disobey those governments, but they must also then be prepared to accept the temporal consequences of that decision. 

Finally, as indicated in Revelation, the close of the age will be marked by an unprecedented conflict between good and evil, in which God will not be neutral, nor should His followers be.

January 17 2020 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report