My Objections to Christian Participation in the Military

The setting sun gives some last light to a bunch of fireweed with McDonald Peak and lhe Mission Mountains looming in the background. Courtesy Leon Kauffman

My Objections to Christian Participation in the Military

By Jon Kauffman

I considered arguments for Christian Participation in the Military. I have several objections to this philosophy. Please feel free to offer arguments that overcome my objections.

1. Objection One: Jesus taught Non-violence. Nowhere in the New Testament or in the writings of the early Christians nearest to Jesus is violence taught to be acceptable.
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2. Objection Two: Jesus demonstrated Non-violence. Even when men were killing him, Jesus refused to fight back. The apostles and many early Christians died without fighting because they took seriously the command of Jesus to love their enemies.
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3. Objection Three: If Christian refused to fight Christian, many wars would not take place. Wars that would not have happened include the hundred-year war between France and England, The American Revolutionary War, The American Civil War, World War I, World War II, The Vietnam War, and many other wars.
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4. Objection Four: the US has an evil Foreign Policy. The US bombed every village in North Korea during the Korean War. The US bombed Laotian villages during the Viet Nam war if they would not send their 13-year-old boys to fight the Viet Cong. Every day the US kills innocent men, women, and children with drones. I could give many, many, more examples.
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5. Objection Five: Soldiers cannot refuse to take unjust actions if their commanding officers tell them to take that action.

If you know convincing arguments for why I am wrong, please “Leave a reply”.

Copyright © 2019 by Jon Kauffman. Permission to reprint in whole or in part is gladly granted, provided full credit and a live link are given.

Picture: Copyright © 2019 by Leon Kauffman

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