More On The War Question
In the April 16, 1970 issue of the Gospel Guardian there was an article entitled, Please Cite The Passage. In this article the author refers to a previous article of March 5, 1970, in which a brother concluded that his three sons should not serve their country in a military capacity because no one could cite a Bible passage which teaches that a Christian should kill those whose political beliefs are different from our own. Our Texas author considers the question absurd. He says, "If the Bible taught such a thing, Christianity would be self-destructive." He further said, "His question is completely irrelevant to the matter of a Christian serving his country in a military capacity." I am willing to agree with our Texas brother that if the Bible taught Christians should kill those of different political beliefs that Christianity would be self-destructive. In fact you would have Christians killing Christians. If Christians, in the United States should or could kill for their country; then Christians, in Russia or North Vietnam could kill for their country. Therefore Christians could kill one another and Christianity would be self-destructive.
Our Texas brother then proceeded to, and I quote, "Help this brother see the fallacy of his question," by posing a similar question. The question was, "Where is the Bible passage which teaches that a Christian should imprison those whose political beliefs are different from his own?" He asked this brother the above question because, as he said, "We assume our brother believes (as most conscientious objectors do) that it is right for the state to imprison lawless men, and that a Christian could rightfully serve in a capacity to bring about their imprisonment." Our Texas brother talks about the fallacy of a question, but cannot see the fallacy of his own reasoning. He reasons that since Christians serve in a capacity to bring about the imprisonment of those whose political beliefs are different, without scriptural authority; then Christians can serve in a capacity to kill for their government, without scriptural authority. I wonder what he would say to our liberal brethren about their statement, "We do many things for which we have no scripture?" How can we condemn our liberal brethren for building benevolent institutions, missionary institutions, and many other things for which they have no scriptural authority; and turn around and admit that Christians can kill and imprison others without scriptural authority? Our brother tells us most conscientious objectors believe a Christian can serve in a capacity to bring about imprisonment of those whose political beliefs are different from his own. I don't know how he knows what most conscientious objectors believe. Personally I don't know what most conscientious objectors believe. I only know what I believe. I believe Col. 3:17, "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him." Why would this passage apply to benevolent work and missionary work and not apply to killing and imprisoning others?
— 41 Catskill Drive, Franklin, Ohio 45005