IS IT LAWFUL FOR A CHRISTIAN TO BE A SOLDIER? 

The Law/instruction given by Moses from God can be divided up loosely into 3 categories; moral law, civil law, and ceremonial law or atoning law.  

A multitude of laws were given unto Abraham’s seed, a covenant people. They were/are set forth because of the fallen nature of all men. [Romans 5:12] The idea being to set apart a certain people as witnesses of the one true God.  

A multitude of moral and atoning ceremonial laws, with accompanying blessings of promise for the obedient, and curses for the rebellious, are set forth by Moses that contrast their/our nature with that of our Creator.  These laws begin to reveal the depths of their/our sin nature and the height of holiness/wholeness. The very depths and height being comprehended in the awful necessity of the shedding of innocent blood for atonement.   

The many laws of God speak to the depths of our darkness and manifold corruption of our being, spirit, soul and body. Laws that would naturally be unnecessary had we retained our original created state of innocence.  

Relinquishing that state in the Garden, man fell under the curse (loss of presence) of God. This manifest is the law of sin and death; the continual and increasing corrupted state, (This runs parallel with the increasing loss of His presence. See 1 Thessalonians 4:7-12) that state of unawareness of our corrupted state.  

Therefore, in accordance with what is understood from Galatians 3 & 4 and Romans 7, the law served the purpose of revealing our sad state as individuals in light of God’s Righteous ways. And it additionally provided an inferior atonement that pointed/points toward THE Atonement for sin, and THE means. That is to say, as there was no means by the Mosaic law by which we may acquire the wholeness title.  That being a true adopted son of God (Romans 8) with Christ’s nature of an Overcomer, (Revelation 1-3) short of Jesus Christ’s selfless sacrificial offering that led to His Victory with the subsequent outpouring of the Holy Spirit power. [Acts 1-3] 

THE MORAL LAW OF THE OLD COVENANT…. The dictionary definition for “moral law” is: An absolute principle defining the criteria of right action (whether conceived as a divine ordinance or a truth of reason).  

“If men strive…and if mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life; eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.”  [Exodus 21:22-25] 

Civil laws were/are for the most part enacted or applied according to moral standards. Here in Exodus 21, the law of civil justice is being strictly directed/administrated according to moral behavior under the Mosaic standard.  This justice may be satisfied by mercy. The principle of retribution remains sound, as strict justice is justly prescribed, even if mercy is extended. (As it was, as money was used as compensation for loss most generally.)  Whereas the moral law of the Old Covenant and the just penalty for its transgression remain unchanged, God, as our Father, has given a higher standard of conduct in New Covenant law. Requiring a Christ follower to turn the cheek, and not to strive in the first place. And if damage does occur, forgive the debt, take no thought for the suffered wrong,….etc. What is discovered is that the moral law standard in the New Covenant far exceeds that of the Old Covenant. 

Recently I heard a young man, a Christian, make this statement justifying his having joined the Air Force. “But I am just defending, I am not looking for trouble.” THE QUESTION BEING: Is it lawful for a Christian to bear arms that he may defend?  

Is It “lawful” for a Christian to be a soldier or a policemen? 

Is it “lawful” for a Christian to arm themselves? 

The Christian will have to take their ground on Old Covenant morals. The answer depends on what Jesus Christ reveals and directs (Mark 9:7) as our duty is to Him. The truth is found in enlightened conscience to the Word of God. 

“The Law was given by Moses; but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ”.  [John 1:17] “For the (Mosaic) law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.” [Hebrews 7:19] 

THE OLD COVENANT AND THE NEW COVENANT TEACH GOD’S HOLINESS. And the necessity is for His redeemed out of the World to be holy as He is Holy that they may draw nigh.  “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God…” [Hebrews 12:14] 

THE LAW TEACHES A MORAL STANDARD OF HOLINESS WITH BLESSING BASED UPON OBSERVING JUSTICE. It has allowances for short fallings through the sacrificial blood of certain animals, the efficacy of which would allow for a certain (although limited) drawing nigh unto God.  

THE GOSPEL TEACHES A HIGHER MORAL STANDARD WITH A GREATER BLESSING BASED UPON THE OBSERVANCE OF GRACE. It has allowances for short fallings through the sacrificial Blood of the spotless lamb, Jesus Christ, with the greater efficacy by which would allow him greatest intimacy. 

Now the New Covenant law of Christ is that since Grace has been received, grace must be given. The Mosaic Law permitted those in covenant to hate and slay an enemy in war.  [Deuteronomy 18:3-6; 25: 17-19] The Old Covenant priests encouraged the people to fight.  The priests of the New Covenant teach, “The servant of the Lord must not strive; (fight) but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves…” [2 Timothy 2:24] 

But now Jesus commands His disciples to love their enemies, to pray for persecutors, to return good for evil.  “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? Do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” [Matthew 5:44-48] 

In the Grace (the Divine influence upon our heart by the Holy Spirit) provided by God in Christ, His calling to us as Christ followers is to a higher and more challenging standard of holiness. More like unto the Father, capable of being carried out only by the sons of God; that of love of our brethren and the love of our enemies!  “The Lord make you to increase and abound in LOVE one toward another, and TOWARD ALL MEN.”  [1 Thessalonians 3:12] 

Although we have been granted the gift of redemption in eternal life, we are now called/commanded to be like our Father who sends the rain on the just and unjust. Our testimony is one of Christ–likeness and self-sacrificing. Showing grace and peace towards all men says the Gospel. This is the Christian disciple’s commission to all men. We have been called to pursue the hope of being residents of another place other than this earth. We are to be strangers and pilgrims here. Having in view and seeking another country, and that being a heavenly one. [Hebrews 11:13-16 with John 18:36]  

THERE IS A CALL TO BE CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS & CHRISTIAN POLICE…. 

What war are we now to fight? To what battle are we called? Israel was commissioned to fight upon the terra firma (land) of Canaan against the occupying Gentile Nations (Deuteronomy 25:17-19) who were aligned with spirits against God. Israel had no rights afforded them in the first heaven wherein those spirits abode. But Jesus Christ, the Son of man/Son of God, “…having spoiled (striped) principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.” [Colossians 2:15] “Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity (margin says a multitude of captives) captive, and gave gifts unto men. [Ephesians 4:8] The first part of that verse has to do with His obtaining authority and striping satanic spirit forces of authority. And the second part of that verse has to do with granting those who by faith receive Him. “…..he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire….” Granting to men access (spiritually speaking) into those previously unassailable realms and places wherein satan rules from as the god of this World, the prince of the power of the air. Ephesians 6 says, “Put on the whole armour of God….For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness (marginal wicked spirits) in high (marginal heavenly) places.” Also see 2 Timothy 2:3, “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” 

A new type of warfare has been opened up unto the Christian. He is a very unique soldier, not one tied to this world’s service, not one outfitted with guns doing war with foreign nations, but with an enlistment to a higher war. He’s enlisted to a spiritual war, equipped with the armour of God. And by perseverance, in  prayer and supplication in the Spirit, we may prevail against wicked forces and help save men, not kill them. See Luke 9:54-56. “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds.) Casting down imaginations (reasonings) and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.…” [2 Corinthians 10:3-5]