Home
Forums
New posts
What's new
New posts
Latest activity
Log in
Register
What's new
New posts
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Home
Forums
Living
Living general
Joining the U.S. Military in 2020?
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="RKS" data-source="post: 1435750" data-attributes="member: 19636"><p>Just trying to provide some insight for the OP's original question "<strong>How does God feel about man and military service?"</strong>. </p><p></p><p>I am aware that war can always be justified outside of the scriptures, but for Christians there is no scriptural justification for it. In Jesus day, Israel was under the yoke of the Romans. Jesus had the power and authority to conquer any nation on earth, yet he never picked up arms or enticed his followers to do so outside of one demonstration to teach them that they are not fighting a physical battle. Although he was in a war, it was spiritual warfare. </p><p></p><p>In many conflicts, religious leaders on both sides have claimed that God is on their side. <strong>“Religion has always played a part in every war that was ever fought,”</strong> says the book <em>The Causes of War. </em></p><p></p><h3>WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS</h3><p>Christians are not authorized to fight against their enemies. The apostle Paul wrote to fellow Christians: “If possible, as far as it depends on you, <strong>be peaceable with all men</strong>. Do not avenge yourselves.”—<a href="https://www.jw.org/en/library/bible/study-bible/books/romans/12/#v45012018-v45012019" target="_blank">Romans 12:18, 19</a>.</p><p></p><p>Instead of sending his followers to war, Jesus told them: “<strong>Continue to love your enemies</strong> and to pray for those who persecute you, so that you may prove yourselves sons of your Father who is in the heavens.” (<a href="https://www.jw.org/en/library/bible/study-bible/books/matthew/5/#v40005044-v40005045" target="_blank">Matthew 5:44, 45</a>) Even when the nation in which they live goes to war, Christians should remain neutral, “no part of the world.” (<a href="https://www.jw.org/en/library/bible/study-bible/books/john/15/#v43015019" target="_blank">John 15:19</a>) If God wants his worshippers in all nations to love their enemies and to remain separate from the world, how could he support either side of a violent conflict today?</p><p></p><p>Christians need to avoid association with those who promote or perpetrate violence, and what is more violent that warfare? Clearly, God hates those who promote violence. The Bible states: “Jehovah himself examines the righteous one as well as the wicked one, and <strong>anyone loving violence His soul certainly hates</strong>.” (<a href="https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/102002567/9/0" target="_blank">Psalm 11:5</a>) Christians are admonished to avoid all forms of uncontrolled anger, even verbal violence.—<a href="https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/102002567/10/0" target="_blank">Galatians 5:19-21;</a><a href="https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/102002567/10/1" target="_blank"> Ephesians 4:31</a>.</p><p></p><p>Again, as I mentioned above <strong>you CAN and should defend your family and loved ones from physical attack</strong>. The distinction here is very different than going off to war in Military service for the nations.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="RKS, post: 1435750, member: 19636"] Just trying to provide some insight for the OP's original question "[B]How does God feel about man and military service?"[/B]. I am aware that war can always be justified outside of the scriptures, but for Christians there is no scriptural justification for it. In Jesus day, Israel was under the yoke of the Romans. Jesus had the power and authority to conquer any nation on earth, yet he never picked up arms or enticed his followers to do so outside of one demonstration to teach them that they are not fighting a physical battle. Although he was in a war, it was spiritual warfare. In many conflicts, religious leaders on both sides have claimed that God is on their side. [B]“Religion has always played a part in every war that was ever fought,”[/B] says the book [I]The Causes of War. [/I] [HEADING=2]WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS[/HEADING] Christians are not authorized to fight against their enemies. The apostle Paul wrote to fellow Christians: “If possible, as far as it depends on you, [B]be peaceable with all men[/B]. Do not avenge yourselves.”—[URL='https://www.jw.org/en/library/bible/study-bible/books/romans/12/#v45012018-v45012019']Romans 12:18, 19[/URL]. Instead of sending his followers to war, Jesus told them: “[B]Continue to love your enemies[/B] and to pray for those who persecute you, so that you may prove yourselves sons of your Father who is in the heavens.” ([URL='https://www.jw.org/en/library/bible/study-bible/books/matthew/5/#v40005044-v40005045']Matthew 5:44, 45[/URL]) Even when the nation in which they live goes to war, Christians should remain neutral, “no part of the world.” ([URL='https://www.jw.org/en/library/bible/study-bible/books/john/15/#v43015019']John 15:19[/URL]) If God wants his worshippers in all nations to love their enemies and to remain separate from the world, how could he support either side of a violent conflict today? Christians need to avoid association with those who promote or perpetrate violence, and what is more violent that warfare? Clearly, God hates those who promote violence. The Bible states: “Jehovah himself examines the righteous one as well as the wicked one, and [B]anyone loving violence His soul certainly hates[/B].” ([URL='https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/102002567/9/0']Psalm 11:5[/URL]) Christians are admonished to avoid all forms of uncontrolled anger, even verbal violence.—[URL='https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/102002567/10/0']Galatians 5:19-21;[/URL][URL='https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/102002567/10/1'] Ephesians 4:31[/URL]. Again, as I mentioned above [B]you CAN and should defend your family and loved ones from physical attack[/B]. The distinction here is very different than going off to war in Military service for the nations. [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Home
Forums
Living
Living general
Joining the U.S. Military in 2020?
Top
