This is part three of what has become a four part essay exploring the
roles and responsibilities of the military in our republic, today considering
some of the possibilities a Christian might explore when evaluating the
military, its role in our society, and whether a person of faith can serve.
Isaiah 9 challenges me; especially verse
five, “Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.” When I was in college
I majored in history while my roommate worked on a Masters in some aspect of
theology. He now teaches at a private Christian University, and I, the retired
career officer teach at a parochial high-school. As roommates we often engaged
in lengthy debates about whether a Christian could serve in the military.
Despite our differences we remain friends and are in many ways much closer than
we used to be. Now, as a gray haired warrior looking back I still grapple with
this issue. Is there room in the Prince of Peace’s kingdom for one such as me?
Now as my life turns more toward mentoring young men and women, what kind of
counsel would God have me provide? It is one thing to for a man to weigh a
given issue, decide, and then take action. It is yet another thing altogether
for a man to advise or encourage another toward a specific action.
Additionally, parents entrust their children to me. Sadly, in some cases I
spend more time with children than their parents. Consequently, I must give
thought to my words, knowing that some will listen and conform their lives to
my words. A careless word or thoughtless remark made in haste might lead a
young soul to shipwreck. How does God view service in the military? Can one who
claims to serve the Lord also serve an earthly kingdom?
While I answered these questions for
myself before I entered upon life in the Army, I continually revisit them as I
tread the path before me. I find that some things I once held dear and perhaps
even sacrosanct not as important as before. Ironically, today some things I
once considered peripheral seem absolutely critical; foundation stones of faith.
One thing I can say with surety, I am a failed sinner and without God’s tender
mercy and grace I am lost. It is only through the leavening action of His
Spirit that I make any right choices. I know that my understanding is limited
and fundamentally flawed. Yet, I believe that God would have me ponder these
issues, approaching any conclusions with humility and tenderness toward those
who feel differently. I may be wrong and God may work in their lives
differently than mine. One final thought of introduction, as we consider
partisan politics and electoral choices these issues influence our decisions.
What kind of leader will the person be and how might he or she handle such
grave decision as employing deadly force? So how does God view these convoluted
and problematic issues?
We know that Jesus instructed His
followers to turn the other cheek (Luke 6:29). We also know our love for one
another identifies us as His followers (John 13:35). Later Paul reminds us to
do everything possible to live in harmony (I Timothy 2:2.). Indeed Jesus is the
prince of peace and His disciples, as individuals and a community, must also
work for peace. When followers of Jesus sought to make him king by force He
refused, withdrawing from the crowd (John 6:15). Even the most casual reading
of the New Testament reveals a focus on living in peace and harmony. But what
of the Old Testament? People often people speak of the God of the Old Testament
as being different than the God of the New Testament. In the Old Testament we
find passages where God instructs His people to obliterate certain groups. God
speaks of David as a “man after his own heart” (I Samuel 13:14). He was a
warrior king who fell out of grace with Saul due to his prowess as a soldier
and commander, yet despite his warrior nature and personal failings he remained
close to God. How do we us understand the seeming dichotomy between the Old and
New Testament. Perhaps a more careful examination of scripture and its context
will help us see more clearly.
I believe that God is the same, always
(James 1:17). God did not take a chill-pill or mellow out during the four
hundred years of silence. I believe that what we perceive as a difference
between the Old and New Testament God issues from a rather surface reading of
the Bible, a lack of context (cultural and otherwise), and perhaps poor
translations. Of course, the poor translation issue is best addressed by
learned men and women such as my roommate as they possess the requisite
linguistic skill-set. But I believe that even without training in ancient Greek
and Hebrew we can draw valid conclusions regarding the nature of God and
service in the military.
In the Genesis creation account we find a
God that brings order out of chaos. At some level God appreciates order. Look
out into the universe and you find a place where things unfold in a predictable
fashion. Of course there seem to be exceptions, things we do not fully
understand, but normally upon closer examination we find some sort of orderly
process in effect. Look inward, down into the fascinating alien world of
microbiology, and again you find order and process. And while it is true that
the more we know the more we find that we do not understand, we do see an
orderly arrangement inward and outward. Look on into the Old Testament accounts
and we see God applying order on human relations designed to restrain our
chaotic impulses.
Much of the Law of Moses seeks to limit
the violence born of a desire for revenge and secure justice for the weak and
defenseless. While we tend to limit our concept of justice to perpetrators
receiving their just deserts; God includes defense of the poor and widow in His
view of justice. Much of the prophetic writing in the Old Testament takes
leaders to task for allowing the rich and powerful to trample the poor, widows,
orphans, and alien sojourner under their feet. God expects society to moderate
the behavior of the powerful. He expects leaders to use their authority to
achieve these goals. This did not change in the New Testament.
In Romans 13:5, Paul encourages Christians
to be subject to ruling authorities. He reminds his readers that God put them
in place to enforce some level of good order and discipline. He writes in the
context of the Roman Empire at its peak of power and authority; an empire
oppressive by today’s standards. Peter echoes this in I Peter 2. In some way,
often difficult to divine, authorities support God’s desire for a well ordered
society, congruent with His concept of justice. A person serving in our
military helps a nation provide that type of society. Of course our military,
like all human institutions, is flawed and needs careful oversight and
management. But, in some larger sense militaries and police forces when used in
a restrained fashion serve God’s purpose in blunting the power of baser human
desires. The New Testament offers other intriguing possibilities.
John, Jesus’ cousin and prophet, preached
a stringent message of repentance and changed lives. So stringent in fact that
he lost his head over it. Buried in his story is a quick reference to the
military. It seems that soldiers, perhaps Roman soldiers, came out to hear this
wild eyed, bizarrely clad, bad haired prophet speak. They, like everyone else
asked, “What should I do?”
He responds, “Do not extort money from
anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.”
(Luke 3:14). As a career soldier, I always found the later part of his
instruction hard to follow. Interestingly John does not instruct his
questioners to give up soldiering. He calls them to behave with justice, but
does not urge them to seek new employment; a very challenging passage
considering the context of occupied Judea. But this is not the only interesting
passage in the gospels.
Later on, while Jesus is teaching in
Capernaum, a centurion approaches him, asking Jesus to heal a favored servant.
When Jesus indicates a willingness to come, the centurion famously replies,
“Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word,
and my servant will be healed. 9 For I too am a man under authority,
with soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another,
‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” Impressed
by the man’s faith Jesus exclaims, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel
have I found such faith.” You find this account in Matthew 8 and Luke 8. The
centurion’s life prepared him for faith. Here we see a Roman soldier whose
boots had printed the sands of many places lifted up as an example of
faithfulness. And like John, Jesus passes on the opportunity to urge a change
in profession.
Another example, this time from Acts 10.
Cornelius, a God fearing man, sends for Peter upon instructions from God. After
receiving instructions from on high, Peter takes action. He travels and
preaches. And, after hearing Peter, Cornelius and his entire family become
Christians and are often counted as the first Gentile converts. Luke, the author
of Acts, provides a few items of interest concerning Cornelius. He was a
centurion, another Roman Soldier. Luke, the faithful historian, adds this
detail; Cornelius was a centurion in the “Italian Cohort.” Once again, we read
of no instruction given to leave the service of the Roman military. So what do
we make of all this?
I think we can make three general
assumptions from scripture. One, at some level God desires good order and
discipline. He does not favor a society out of control where those with money
and power run rough shod over the weaker elements of society. Two, He uses
human institutions, such as governments and militaries, to bring about justice
in the world. And three, service in the military does not necessarily exempt
one from membership in the His kingdom.
This does not mean that I would advise
anyone to serve in the military. The military life is fraught with spiritual
peril. Many men and women have lost their way while wearing the uniform. The
temptations for a wide variety of sins are great. As one rises in rank and
leadership the need for great moral courage arrives. More than once I’ve had to
face very senior officers and say, “Sir, we cannot do that. It is immoral. If
you insist, you must find someone else to do it.” Fortunately for me the
American military provides for such moments and in all cases those in authority
over me relented. As a leader and soldier I’ve seen and done things that I do
not speak of. As with all soldiers who’ve engaged in armed conflict, I bear
mental and emotional marks. These experiences shape who I am and how I think
and God has used them to make me into a better vessel for His service. This
does not mean that I think those who feel led to adopt a more pacific view are
wrong.
I can understand how a person can read
scripture and feel that bearing arms would conflict with their understanding of
God’s will for their life. Pacifism is long and noble tradition which God has
used to help forward His kingdom. In many ways only the bravest need apply for
the role of pacifist. Despite our different roles the soldier and the pacifist
must work toward the same goals of peace and justice. As one who’s stood in
dark cells with the floors still damp with the blood and gore of torture and
whose walls had recently echoed with the screams of the tormented, I know the
work for justice must needs be done. I also know that all human institutions
fail and those who bear the name of Christ must often labor and sacrifice to
redirect these institutions. As a failed sinner I approach all these issues
with great humility, knowing that save for God’s action, I would be permanently
lost and that God may call my brother and sister to a very different role than
mine. He is the one who makes all of us stand.
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