Should Christians Join The Military?

[WayneB]

Oh, and those living quarters you described on ship? LUXURY compared to what you sailors give to the Marines to sleep on! A piece of canvas strung at least 4 high, so close together that a guy in the middle doesn't even have enough room to roll over because the guy on top's canvas is sagging down almost touching you! At least you had a mattress and a curtain! 

I thought Marines didn't need sleep. You must have served in the "new" Corp.

[irishcowboy]

we had a couple leather necks ( not going to use the other term used for Marines.... ) on our ship, they had their own compartment ( two man room )...

here is a bit of unknown trivia.....

the average sailor, has less personal space then the average prisoner in the federal pen........ and less free time........

what a person has to has to keep in mind, is that is the average sailor, this would also include those that are married and living in base housing and in the barracks ( dorms as the Airforce calls them )...... the Navy/Marine housing is concidered to be substandard housing to the air force, and they are given a substandard housing allowance when assigned to a navy / marine base....

we thought we was doing good just to have housing.....

hehehehehehe

mike

[Guest rmj7]

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[Guest rmj7]

Hmmmm, I think it is the third chapter of Ecclesiastes which speaks of times for everything. In verse 8 you'd notice that the last subject of timing is peace and war.

Even though King Solomon was going through a hard stage of depression when writing this book, he does make a very good point.

Then there is the example of God, Himself. He had Israel be His disciplinary nation as well as His chosen nation. He had them destroy cities numerous times. However, the reason for this was not all out of wrath, but out of justification.

Now, I'm not tryng to say we oughta just bombard any and every nation which may seem out of order, but I am trying to point out that God, Himself, told the Israelites to wage war against those specific places.

However, the greatest point we should remember is God did not originally have such things as war and death in the role of man-kind, but such is the world we live in, and sometimes we have no other choice but to fight in order to maintain justicefied clauses.

So, I for one support all military forces and I thank God for those people all across the world who are fighting for us...especially in such bad living conditions! Yeesh! And I used to complain and nag about the roaches in my dorm! God Bless you all

[Jedi4Yahweh]

the average sailor, has less personal space then the average prisoner in the federal pen........ and less free time........

what a person has to has to keep in mind, is that is the average sailor, this would also include those that are married and living in base housing and in the barracks ( dorms as the Airforce calls them )...... the Navy/Marine housing is concidered to be substandard housing to the air force, and they are given a substandard housing allowance when assigned to a navy / marine base....

we thought we was doing good just to have housing.....

Thats weird I am currently in the USAF and there was talk of the air force buying a prison and turning it into dorms. The reason the prison was closing was because there was not enough personal space for prisoners. Yet the Air Force thinks it has adequate space for Airman to live. lol

I personally dont see any wrong in joining the military as a christian unless the military requires you to do something that is against your conscience or if you believe that the military is serving a evil cause. If I felt like the USAF was not serving a good purpose I would not be apart of it. The US military stands for liberty, Justice and Freedom for all people. We are agaisnt goverments that harm and oppress their on people and others. We are agaisnt goverments that take away individual freedoms and God given rights. The US military serves more as an humanitarian aid rather then a fighting force. I was just reading somewhere that 80% of the US militarys missions are humanitarian.

The bible says that God uses goverment to punish evil doers and to protect those that do good. I believe God uses the US goverment and military to fill that calling.

I read in the gospels and book of acts of military leaders that believed and had great faith.

One of the provided links says that we cant serve God and the military at the same time because that would be serving two masters. To believe this means you cant work anywhere because that would mean your serving somebody. Even if you owned your own business you are still serving your customers or clients. Military is nothing more than a job with a cause.

God bless,

[Adstar]

JP1, you are welcome

to the person who first asked this question, and to any others who may agree with him, let me ask the following:

should a Christian join the police department? after all, there are corrupt cops, there are incidents of police brutality.

should a Christian run for political office? I'm not even talking about the big offices, i'm talking about ANY office, including your local schoolboard, state representative, town mayor, whatever. after all, corruption is rampant in politics.

should a Christian be employed as a fire fighter? after all, some of the most notorious arsonists in history have worked for their fire department.

Hello LadyC

Since you have asked questions I will give you the thoughts I have.

should a Christian join the police department? after all, there are corrupt cops, there are incidents of police brutality.

The fact that corruption exists in the police force all over the world is not the reason i would not join. The reason is that policemen are armed. They carry those guns for a purpose. If someone resists the Law (attempts to evade capture) it is their duty to gun them down and they are trained to empty the whole magazine into the offender. So to become a policeman is to become an agent of state law and when the situation calls for it one is required to kill their fellow man. So there is little difference between the Armed forces and police forces. Both are called on to kill.

should a Christian run for political office? I'm not even talking about the big offices, i'm talking about ANY office, including your local schoolboard, state representative, town mayor, whatever. after all, corruption is rampant in politics.

I think most if not all holders of public office are required to swear an oath of allegiance to the state? Please correct me if I am wrong? The Messiah Jesus said not to swear oaths.

should a Christian be employed as a fire fighter? after all, some of the most notorious arsonists in history have worked for their fire department.

I'd have no problem joining the fire department. It is about saving lives and property. The fact that many arsonists join fire brigades has nothing to do with ones decision to fight fires.

All Praise The Ancient Of Days

[Jedi4Yahweh]

So there is little difference between the Armed forces and police forces. Both are called on to kill.

The military and police forces is not called to kill but to protect. Yes, sometimes protecting others from bad people requires requires deadly force.

If someone broke in to my home with the intent to kill or harm my wife and children I would absoultly shoot to kill that person in attempt to proctect my family and not think twice about it.

I believe the person that does not do anything to protect and defend others is an absolute selfish evil person.

[Guest LadyC]

thanks for your answers, i respect the fact that you answered them with conviction. however, i will correct you on one point. while police officers are trained to kill when necessary, they are also trained how to avoid killing when possible. if someone is evading arrest, and a cop must shoot, they do not shoot to kill, they shoot to disable. use of deadly force is to be used only as a last resort to save one's own or someone else's life. of course i do not deny that there are some corrupt officers who use deadly force when circumstances do not warrant it.

one more question for you... if someone broke into your home and was about to murder your child, or your spouse, would you hesitate to kill that person to protect those you love? (with or without a gun)

[WayneB]

the average sailor, has less personal space then the average prisoner in the federal pen........ and less free time........

Not only that, didn't you guys "hot bunk" or was that just with the submariners?

[WayneB]

I am currently in the USAF

Looks like I stuck my foot in my mouth with the "chair force" comment. Sorry Jedi! Well, it ain't the first time and won't be the last. Now we are a well rounded group --- we have all four branches of the military represented, that is if you don't count the Coast Guard. Do they count? Any of you Coast Guardners?