The Bible does not explicitly prohibit or endorse Christians serving in the military. There are various passages that can be interpreted both for and against military service by Christians. Ultimately, it is a matter of individual conscience and seeking God’s guidance on whether to serve in the armed forces.
Biblical passages on peace and nonviolence
There are many verses that promote peace, love of enemies, and nonviolence. These could suggest military service is incompatible with Christian values:
- “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” (Matthew 5:9)
- “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.” (Matthew 5:38-39)
- “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5:43-44)
- “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.” (Matthew 26:52)
These suggest nonviolence should be the Christian approach, rather than participating in war or violence. However, they do not specifically prohibit military service itself.
Biblical allowances for the use of force
There are also verses that show force or war may be permitted under certain circumstances. These could justify military action:
- “For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.” (Romans 13:3-4)
- “The Lord tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.” (Psalm 11:5)
- “Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay everyone according to what they have done?” (Proverbs 24:11-12)
These show thatUse of force may be justified and necessary to restrain evil, protect life, and punish wrongdoers. This could provide grounds for Christians to participate in military action under lawful authority.
Examples of soldiers and warriors praised in the Bible
The Bible depicts righteous men who were soldiers or warriors and served God faithfully. While their military service is not specifically endorsed, they provide examples of those who served in the armed forces yet were considered godly:
- Abraham organized a small army to rescue his nephew Lot who had been taken captive (Genesis 14).
- Joshua led the Israelite army, with God’s help, to conquer Canaan.
- David served as a soldier under King Saul’s army before becoming king himself.
- Centurion servants under authority, like the centurion who had faith in Jesus’ power to heal.
These examples show military service does not preclude someone from righteousness. However, their participation in war is not presented as an ideal model to follow.
Balancing competing values
Ultimately, the Bible presents various principles that may compete in the context of military service:
- Pursuing peace, reconciliation, and love for enemies
- Upholding justice and protecting the innocent from harm
- Showing faith in God’s sovereign power versus taking matters into our own hands
- Submitting to worldly authorities that bear the sword versus prioritizing the kingdom of God
Well-intentioned Christians can pray and come to different conclusions on how to balance these values regarding military participation. There is wisdom in seeking counsel from other believers and carefully examining one’s motives and the role being called to fill.
Different types of military roles
It is worth considering that the military encompasses a variety of jobs besides combat roles. Christians may feel more comfortable serving in non-combat capacities such as:
- Logistical support
- Engineering and infrastructure
- Cybersecurity and intelligence
- Medical services
- Chaplaincy and spiritual counsel
- Civil services and reconstruction
These may alleviate concerns about directly engaging in violence. However, any military service indirectly supports the overall mission.
Personal conviction and liberty of conscience
The Bible does not give a definitive prohibition or endorsement of military service. Scripture tells believers:
- “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” (Romans 14:12)
- “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” (Romans 13:1)
- “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” (Colossians 3:23)
This suggests each Christian should thoughtfully examine their own conscience before God regarding military participation. Other believers should extend liberty and refrain from judgment on personal decisions of conscience.
Seeking godly counsel
Given the gravity of choices about military service, it is prudent to seek counsel from spiritual leaders and mature believers. Important considerations include:
- Prayerfully examining motivations and alignment with Christian values
- Studying biblical principles on peace, justice, submission to authority
- Seeking wisdom and discernment through meditation on Scripture
- Talking throughdecision pastorally with elders, mentors, accountability partners
- Considering whether capability and temperament are well-suited for military service
Wise counsel can help test and clarify whether military service or alternatives like conscientious objection are the right personal choice.
Conscientious objection
Some Christians conclude they cannot participate in military service based on strong personal or moral opposition. Reasons may include:
- Belief that killing or use of force is always wrong
- Judgment that modern warfare is unjust or immoral
- View that their nationality is strictly the kingdom of God
- Conviction that military hierarchy compromises religious obedience
Most democratic nations provide accommodation for conscientious objectors to avoid military service through alternative forms of service. However, this typically involves extensive documentation of sincerely held beliefs.
Serving with humility and eternal perspective
For Christians who do choose to serve in the military, important considerations include:
- Maintaining ethical behavior and conduct, especially regarding treatment of prisoners, civilians, and enemies
- Avoiding idolatry of nationalism or idealizing of war itself
- Being a ambassadorand light to fellow servicemembers
- Finding opportunities to pursue peacemaking within military contexts
- Remembering that our true citizenship is in the eternal kingdom of heaven under Christ’s reign
Military service can present challenging dilemmas for Christians desiring to uphold both patriotic duty and kingdom values. This requires walking in the Spirit’s guidance with humility, wisdom, and grace.
Conclusions
In summary, the Bible does not definitively settle whether Christians should serve in the military. There are principles and examples that can be used to argue both for and against military participation. Christians have historically come to different conclusions as a matter of conscience. If choosing to serve, Christians should retain eternal perspective and uphold conduct that glorifies Christ. As in all areas of life, wisdom comes through seeking godly counsel, studying Scripture, and following the Spirit’s promptings in our hearts.