Christians, War, and the Teachings of Christ (ritual, blood, pray)

[angellous_evangellous]

Originally Posted by kai

got you, my mistake i should have known that, but what about being a cog in the killing machine? taking your pay from the same machine

[Popeyesays]

Which clarifies that in both Hebrew and English there is a more than subtle difference between "killing" and "murder".

Regards,
Scott

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Originally Posted by angellous_evangellous

I'm considering being a chaplain, so I won't be killing anyone.

Are you worried about the potential for having to "serve two masters" in a job like that? I've sometimes thought that military chaplaincy must be one profession where people are pulled in opposite directions quite a bit of the time.

However, the idea of any insertion of religion into the military or the military into religion gives me the secular screaming heebie-jeebies, so you may want to take my opinion with a grain of salt.

[angellous_evangellous]

Originally Posted by Popeyesays

Which clarifies that in both Hebrew and English there is a more than subtle difference between "killing" and "murder".

Regards,
Scott

That distinction is not made in the teachings of Christ... we are neither to kill or murder our enemies, but provide for them...

[Popeyesays]

Originally Posted by angellous_evangellous

That distinction is not made in the teachings of Christ... we are neither to kill or murder our enemies, but provide for them...

The King James is "tradition" but translations from the Hebrew say "Thous shalt not murder."

I believe that Christ taught forgiveness for sure, and forgiveness is a personal responsibility. A government does not deal in forgiveness so much, and Jesus did say "render unto Caesar what is Caeswar's."

Regards,
Scott

[Michel07]

Originally Posted by angellous_evangellous

I am by no means a pacifist, and I know that many Christians aren't either. I am actually toying with the idea of joining the military to help pay back student loans.

However, some teachings of Christ and Paul have been on my mind. It seems to me that we can't love our enemies by killing them, but by passively sacrificing ourselves.

After reading a lot of good reflections I would say just don't go against your own heart and conscience because you are already weighing in the important factors and asking the right questions.

[angellous_evangellous]

Originally Posted by Popeyesays

The King James is "tradition" but translations from the Hebrew say "Thous shalt not murder."

I believe that Christ taught forgiveness for sure, and forgiveness is a personal responsibility. A government does not deal in forgiveness so much, and Jesus did say "render unto Caesar what is Caeswar's."

Regards,
Scott

Yes, but I'm talking about another verse that calls Christians to love their enemies. Killing them or murdering them both breaks that command.