Joining the armed forces, is it the christian thing to do?

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
J

Julien7

Guest
#1
#1
Hey folks,

So I have always admired the sacrifice and commitment of the armed forces. And I am even considering joining them in the future. But I was wondering in light of some passages I recently read from the bible if it is right by god to join the armed forces. Also I was wondering when if ever is it okay to kill?

Ill gladly hear from you. God bless you.
 
Duskey

Duskey

Banned
#2
May 31, 2020
1,706
1,559
113
#2
Read Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
And blessings on your journey wherever it is God leads you.
 
T

TheIndianGirl

Guest
#4
#4
Yes, it should be fine. But, if you get orders to do something that goes against Christianity (rape, pillage, torture, etc.), I would leave. This happened not so long ago with Germany, Russia, and Japan, and still happens today. Or, if you work side by side with a foreign military and are forced to turn a blind eye to how a foreign military acts (as in Afghanistan, rape of little boys), I would quit under those circumstances also.
 
T

TheIndianGirl

Guest
#5
#5
I don't know how I'd feel if I was ordered to throw a bomb into a building with civilians (women, elderly, children, etc.) where the military from the opposite forces is hiding. But, this is a common tactic it seems especially in Gaza. I spoke once to a Vietnam veteran who did this and he still had some PTSD about this.
 
T

Truth7t7

Well-known member
#6
May 19, 2020
7,685
2,495
113
#6
Julien7 said:
Hey folks,

So I have always admired the sacrifice and commitment of the armed forces. And I am even considering joining them in the future. But I was wondering in light of some passages I recently read from the bible if it is right by god to join the armed forces. Also I was wondering when if ever is it okay to kill?

Ill gladly hear from you. God bless you.
Click to expand...
I just watched (Greyhound) with Tom Hanks last night, WWII Navy Destroyer Escort, a real nail biter.

I recommend watching (Hacksaw Ridge) a true story about a World War II, (7th Day Adventist) conscientious objector (Desmond Doss) who joined the Army, ole Mel Gibson hit the bullseye with that flick!

Godspeed
 
G

Graceguy

Member
#7
Sep 15, 2019
61
25
18
#7
Julien7 said:
Hey folks,

So I have always admired the sacrifice and commitment of the armed forces. And I am even considering joining them in the future. But I was wondering in light of some passages I recently read from the bible if it is right by god to join the armed forces. Also I was wondering when if ever is it okay to kill?

Ill gladly hear from you. God bless you.
Click to expand...
Conscientious Objectors have wrestled with this question for many, many years. For the millions of Christian service men and women who sign up over the years , it’s simple : render unto Caesar what is his. Military service is a high calling where you voluntarily (Potentially) put your life on the line for your country. History is rife with examples where believers stepped up to do the right thing. Whether you choose to do this is your choice. Taking another’s life, as terrible as that is, is completely acceptable in the military service for your country.
I hope this reply is a benefit to you. God bless.
 
Mii

Mii

Well-known member
#8
Mar 23, 2019
2,082
1,330
113
#8
Consider being a chaplain if you have any ministerial leanings. Just know that you would most likely have restrictions that you need to be fully aware of before going that route. Some wouldn't even consider it possible at this point to minister biblically with your hands tied in a lot of ways. I haven't researched it deeply but anecdotally I've heard enough to be realistic that there are serious challenges to effective ministry in the military. @dcontroversal do you find the above accurate? Or do you have any current info?

If killing is not alright with you unless it is self-defense I would seriously consider this purpose with extreme scrutiny.

Most often I presume that you would be killing based off "national self-defense" (i.e patriotism) which is different. Debate can be had about whether this is for believers or not, but you are going to get a split opinion. Hopefully we can all agree that direct self-defense vs patriotism is a different issue. You could be unpatriotic "unto death" but that isn't anything to be ashamed of, but it isn't something to be applauded necessarily either.

It depends on your conscience but I do think it is an honorable purpose in life...I had more I would have liked to say but I am missing some data since I don't live in the Netherlands.

Perhaps there is a Coast Guard equivalent or some humanitarian arm?

Also, I am currently not of the opinion that just because you are working for the government that it by definition means that you are in full support of everything the government does...do with that what you will.
 
B

bluto

Senior Member
#9
Aug 4, 2016
2,103
531
113
#9
Julien7 said:
Hey folks,

So I have always admired the sacrifice and commitment of the armed forces. And I am even considering joining them in the future. But I was wondering in light of some passages I recently read from the bible if it is right by god to join the armed forces. Also I was wondering when if ever is it okay to kill?

Ill gladly hear from you. God bless you.
Click to expand...
I think the following site my help. https://www.gotquestions.org/military-Christian.html

IN GOD THE SON,
bluto
 
B

bluto

Senior Member
#10
Aug 4, 2016
2,103
531
113
#10
TheIndianGirl said:
Yes, it should be fine. But, if you get orders to do something that goes against Christianity (rape, pillage, torture, etc.), I would leave. This happened not so long ago with Germany, Russia, and Japan, and still happens today. Or, if you work side by side with a foreign military and are forced to turn a blind eye to how a foreign military acts (as in Afghanistan, rape of little boys), I would quit under those circumstances also.
Click to expand...
Umn, Indiangirl, you can't just decide your going to leave ,or quit when you think something ends up being wrong. And no, you will not be given orders (at least not on purpose) to throw a grenade or something else into a house if you know there are women and children.

I was in Vietnam in January 1968 when the Tet offensive started. Let me tell you that war is absolutely horrible. I also realize that World war 1, 2, the Korean war, the Vietnam war and war in Afghanistan etc. are fought differently, I'm just blessed and thankful I can wake up everyday and God brought me back home in tact. The bottom line, God does condone war for good reason. Please read the following. https://www.openbible.info/topics/joining_the_military

IN GOD THE SON,
bluto
 
S

soggykitten

Well-known member
#11
Jul 3, 2020
2,322
1,369
113
#11
Julien7 said:
Hey folks,

So I have always admired the sacrifice and commitment of the armed forces. And I am even considering joining them in the future. But I was wondering in light of some passages I recently read from the bible if it is right by god to join the armed forces. Also I was wondering when if ever is it okay to kill?

Ill gladly hear from you. God bless you.
Click to expand...
It is absolutely of God. And if you do choose to join, may God bless and protect you.
 
dcontroversal

dcontroversal

Banned
#12
Dec 12, 2013
46,515
20,402
113
#12
Mii said:
Consider being a chaplain if you have any ministerial leanings. Just know that you would most likely have restrictions that you need to be fully aware of before going that route. Some wouldn't even consider it possible at this point to minister biblically with your hands tied in a lot of ways. I haven't researched it deeply but anecdotally I've heard enough to be realistic that there are serious challenges to effective ministry in the military. @dcontroversal do you find the above accurate? Or do you have any current info?

If killing is not alright with you unless it is self-defense I would seriously consider this purpose with extreme scrutiny.

Most often I presume that you would be killing based off "national self-defense" (i.e patriotism) which is different. Debate can be had about whether this is for believers or not, but you are going to get a split opinion. Hopefully we can all agree that direct self-defense vs patriotism is a different issue. You could be unpatriotic "unto death" but that isn't anything to be ashamed of, but it isn't something to be applauded necessarily either.

It depends on your conscience but I do think it is an honorable purpose in life...I had more I would have liked to say but I am missing some data since I don't live in the Netherlands.

Perhaps there is a Coast Guard equivalent or some humanitarian arm?

Also, I am currently not of the opinion that just because you are working for the government that it by definition means that you are in full support of everything the government does...do with that what you will.
Click to expand...
There is a time of war and a time of peace, also a time to kill and a time to heal. Thou shalt not kill is directed at murdering someone...it is not directed at the "a time to kill" statement by Solomon. God has consistenly used faithful men of the bible such as David, Joshua and even Abraham to make war and kill people....even unfaithful believers such as Samson, which made the 11th chapter of Hebrews, the chapter of faith, to kill the Philistines......God honored his request for hus strenght back which he used to not only kill himself, but also 7000 Philistine Lords that were about to sacrifice him to their false god....Obviously, murder is contrary and wrong, however, killing is justified on some occasions....

David.....TEACH my hands to war he prayed.....and God did exactly that.
 
Lion222

Lion222

Banned
#13
Jul 6, 2020
905
328
63
#13
Julien7 said:
Hey folks,

So I have always admired the sacrifice and commitment of the armed forces. And I am even considering joining them in the future. But I was wondering in light of some passages I recently read from the bible if it is right by god to join the armed forces. Also I was wondering when if ever is it okay to kill?

Ill gladly hear from you. God bless you.
Click to expand...
I would say for starters. When you don't really want to.
 
Mii

Mii

Well-known member
#14
Mar 23, 2019
2,082
1,330
113
#14
dcontroversal said:
There is a time of war and a time of peace, also a time to kill and a time to heal. Thou shalt not kill is directed at murdering someone...it is not directed at the "a time to kill" statement by Solomon. God has consistenly used faithful men of the bible such as David, Joshua and even Abraham to make war and kill people....even unfaithful believers such as Samson, which made the 11th chapter of Hebrews, the chapter of faith, to kill the Philistines......God honored his request for hus strenght back which he used to not only kill himself, but also 7000 Philistine Lords that were about to sacrifice him to their false god....Obviously, murder is contrary and wrong, however, killing is justified on some occasions....

David.....TEACH my hands to war he prayed.....and God did exactly that.
Click to expand...
In your experience did you ever encounter a time where it presented a conflict of conscience? Also did you notice any changes regarding chaplainship in the military? Thanks for you time.

I had a discussion after this thread offline about it and in some instances even if you were an objector, still there might be times where it would be kill or be killed presuming the issue at hand were not about martyrdom. I do agree that the fact that OT examples are in the NT should make people less inclined to think that violence (self-defense/patriotism) is unchristian...but at the same time it could be easily applied to a spiritual battle unless it directly becomes physical. It's hard for me to get through a lot of this stuff...I am aware that when you in the thick of things rarely (if ever) do you have the option to consider things like this.

I don't know what all your experiences were you are just the only person I know of that I think was probably in the military at one point.
 
dcontroversal

dcontroversal

Banned
#15
Dec 12, 2013
46,515
20,402
113
#15
Mii said:
In your experience did you ever encounter a time where it presented a conflict of conscience? Also did you notice any changes regarding chaplainship in the military? Thanks for you time.

I had a discussion after this thread offline about it and in some instances even if you were an objector, still there might be times where it would be kill or be killed presuming the issue at hand were not about martyrdom. I do agree that the fact that OT examples are in the NT should make people less inclined to think that violence (self-defense/patriotism) is unchristian...but at the same time it could be easily applied to a spiritual battle unless it directly becomes physical. It's hard for me to get through a lot of this stuff...I am aware that when you in the thick of things rarely (if ever) do you have the option to consider things like this.

I don't know what all your experiences were you are just the only person I know of that I think was probably in the military at one point.
Click to expand...
Yeah, was a Marine in the 80's....never had to kill anyone, but will say....I have no issue with smoking someone that is threatening me, my family, friends etc. with violence and for sure would step in lethally if need be to protect a woman being raped or child being molested....I have a preacher friend that is a pastor that joined the Marines and ended up being an officer and a chaplain....
 
J

Julien7

Guest
#16
#16
Duskey said:
Read Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
And blessings on your journey wherever it is God leads you.
Click to expand...
Thank you!, I appreciate it, interesting lines, will take a while before I understand their full meaning but it sounds wise like always.
 
Duskey

Duskey

Banned
#17
May 31, 2020
1,706
1,559
113
#17
Julien7 said:
Thank you!, I appreciate it, interesting lines, will take a while before I understand their full meaning but it sounds wise like always.
Click to expand...
Those verses mean you have God’s blessings to serve your country in the greatest of all manners. Always remember to obey orders with integrity and diligence provided those orders fall within the guidelines of the UCMJ, and always serve with your country with the utmost of honor. Godspeed, my brother.
 
Blade

Blade

Well-known member
#18
Nov 19, 2019
1,776
624
113
#18
Go for it! Be awesome! Praise GOD glory to JESUS!
 
S

Scribe

Guest
#19
#19
I wanted to be special forces but I don't like to exercise.
 
tourist

tourist

Senior Member
#20
Mar 13, 2014
42,571
17,039
113
69
Tennessee
#20
Julien7 said:
Hey folks,

So I have always admired the sacrifice and commitment of the armed forces. And I am even considering joining them in the future. But I was wondering in light of some passages I recently read from the bible if it is right by god to join the armed forces. Also I was wondering when if ever is it okay to kill?

Ill gladly hear from you. God bless you.
Click to expand...
There are many war campaigns orchestrated by God in the Old Testament. Without the armed forces in the United States we would all be reading from the book of Marx instead of Mark. As a former soldier of the 101st Airborne Division in the US Army I would say that serving in the military defending this country is an honorable profession. I admire the sacrifice and commitment of those who serve as well because I was once one of them. Not everyone has the fortitude to carry on the proud military tradition of honorable service. I thank God for those few that hear the call and answer it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.