Originally posted in 2008, reposted with editing.
* * *
A common question when discussing a born again Christian’s participation in war …
“Regarding war, how do you think from our Christian point of view, what we should have done with Hitler or a Stalin? Are we not allowed to fight evil men and women? Or are we to stand on the sidelines praying?”
A Biblical answer …
The people in the true story at the link below were Baptists. They were about their Father’s business in the midst of Nazi occupied Yugoslavia during WW2. The father/husband was an evangelist who eventually started and pastored a church. His wife was a praying woman, and like her husband, received tangible answers to prayer which ministered to the needs of many. They prayed for friend and foe alike. They never picked up a weapon nor killed anyone. The modern day church has lost it’s way and has apostatized from basic Christian teaching.
We, as Christians, are called out out of the world to be peacemakers and ambassadors for Christ. There is a great conflict of interest between a born again Christian, who is an ambassador for Christ, and the military goals of any nation.
See … OF WHOM THE WORLD WAS NOT WORTHY
John 18:36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
2 Corinthians 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
Matthew 26:52 Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
2 Corinthians 5:20-21 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech youby us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
2 Corinthians 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
A thought to ponder… What if in a conflict there are born again believers on opposing sides? Should we be fighting each other either within our own country or in a foreign war? Do we, when we participate in war as born again Christians, put ourselves in a position that it would be possible to kill a brother or sister in Christ?
