Military Service

by J.W. Archibald, Wembley, U.K. | Category: Topics Of Elderhood Discussion | Dec 1983

This article deals with two questions. First, should a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ join any branch of the Armed Forces? Second, is the answer to the first question altered in a time of war or national emergency when compulsory call up or conscription is in force?

These questions have been the subject of elderhood discussion at the time of the two world wars and again this year. In these discussions three lines of Scriptural thought have been prominent and we shall now summarize these in answer to the first question before considering the matter of compulsory conscription.

The Example and Teaching of the Lord Jesus for His Disciples

This must be our starting point and it is very clear from Scripture that the whole tenor of the Lord's life and ministry is sharply at variance with the idea of His disciples wounding or killing their fellow men and women. For example, He said to His disciples, "Resist not him that is evil: but whosoever smiteth thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also", and again, "Love your enemies, and pray for them that persecute you" (Matt. 5:39,44). Peter also bears witness to this when he says, "Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that ye should follow His steps... who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, threatened not" (I Peter 2:21,23). Peter was the man who sought to defend the Lord by force in the garden of Gethsemane, and in so doing he cut off the ear of the high priest's servant. The Lord restored the man's ear and reproved Peter with the words, "Put up again thy sword into its place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword" (Matt:

26.51,52). It was one of several important lessons that Peter was to learn in that night of his Master's rejection.

The teaching of the Lord as given through His apostles in the epistles further supports the same conclusion. We find in Hebrews 12:14 the clear instruction, "Follow after peace with all men." Paul the apostle makes it clear that the disciple must have nothing to do with carnal warfare when he says, "the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh" (2 Cor. 10:4), and "our wrestling is not against flesh and blood" (Eph. 6:12).

The Heavenly Citizenship of the Disciple

If, as we have seen, the disciple of the Lord has to be a follower of peace who "turns the other cheek" under attack, this pattern of behaviour can only be described as unworldly. In fact unworldliness is a characteristic that the Lord prizes in His followers. "They are not of the world, even as lam not of the world" (John 17:16) is how He describes them and desires them to be. The heavenly orientation of the disciple is strongly taught by Paul in his letter to the Philippians: "our citizenship is in heaven; from whence also we wait for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ" (3:20). The Lord Jesus has been rejected by the world. He is a heavenly Saviour and a heavenly King and His followers must also be separate from the world (See Hebrews 13:12-14).

It is in this context that the Lord said to Pilate, "My kingdom is not of this world: if My kingdom were of this world, then would My servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is My kingdom not from hence" (John 18:36). This statement is a very clear description of the dispensation in which we live. The Lord's use of the word "now" indicates the inauguration of a new period in His dealings with men which contrasts with other periods of men's history when the servants of God have acceptably engaged in earthly warfare. It sets out the difference between the behaviour proper to His followers of today and, for example, the faithful warriors of Israel in the past. Israel was His kingdom (Matt. 21:43), and Israel was an earthly people and constituted an earthly kingdom (Exod. 19:5,6). It is against this background that we are to understand the Lord's provision for their national warfare, as, for example, in Numbers 1:2,3.

The Principle of Freedom and Bondage

The third line of Scriptural evidence is taken from 1 Cor. 7:23, where Paul says, "Ye were bought with a price; become not bondservants of men." The meaning of the word translated bondservant is slave or "one who is entirely bound to obey orders at all times without question". Now it is essential in a military organization that there should be absolute and unconditional obedience to human authority, regardless of the nature of the command. The word of the Lord through Paul instructs the disciple of Christ not to put himself or herself in such a position.

Subjection to the Higher Powers

Our second questions arises from the fact that when any nation is in a state of war, it is common practice for the government to enlist all able-bodied citizens within prescribed age limits for military service. In this case the individual faces the compulsion of the law of the country to join the armed forces. In the letter to the Romans Paul says, "Let every soul be in subjection to the higher powers: for there is no power but of God; and the powers that be are ordained of God", and again, "Render to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom" (Romans 13:1,7). Does this mean that if it is wrong for the disciple to undertake military service voluntarily, he or she should nevertheless join the armed forces in compliance with the law which commands enlistment? We believe not.

A careful reading of Romans chapter 13 clearly puts the exhortations to subjection in a civil rather than a military context. This instruction does not apply to a situation where the law of the land directly contravenes the law of the Lord for His disciples. We believe that compulsory call-up to the armed forces does present such a conflict and the guide to appropriate action for the disciple is found in Acts chapter 5 where Peter and his brethren were forbidden by the authorities to preach the gospel. In response Peter and the apostles said, "We must obey God rather than men" (Acts 5;29).

It should be said that in some countries provision for conscientious objection has graciously been made at times of national conscription. Under this provision, opportunity is given to those who object to military service on grounds of conscience to make their case to an appointed tribunal which has power to grant exemption.

Conclusions

We believe that the Scriptures teach that the disciple of the Lord should not join any branch of the armed forces. If it is wrong for the Christian to wound or kill then we cannot justify that he or she should join even one of the noncombatant parts of the military operation because that would involve direct support of the fighting process and place the Christian in bondage to men.

When conscription is enforced by law, the disciple should steadfastly refuse to compromise the position of obedience to the will of the Lord in this matter. Our Master is the Prince of Peace, and we shall best serve the interests of our fellow men and women by faithfully following His example and teaching.

J.W. Archibald, Wembley, U.K. | Dec 1983
Topics Of Elderhood Discussion