Someone asked If soldiers go to hell? Christians explain the following ....
"War is not murder, it is killing of course. God can be in war - but not murder - two totally different things" How is it two different things? WAR= Murder and in my opinion the people participating in these man made wars will go to HELL....Doesnt the bible say Thou Shalt Not Kill?????????? Or is it ok to Kill for certain reasons?
2006-11-12 21:46:32 · 17 answers · asked by @ubreY 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
God judges the hearts of men. If it's in the hearts of soldiers they are protecting innocent lives, that is not murder.
2006-11-12 22:01:31 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
No, the Bible does not say "Thou shall not kill." Exodus 20:13 says, "You shall not murder." (NIV)
The King James is really a horrible translation in many points, and here is one of those points. The New International Version has the following footnote:
"The Heberbew language employs several words to express the idea, TO KILL. The verb used here is a special word wich can only mean MURDER and always indicates intentional slaying."
We can clearly see that not all killing is murder, for just a page later we have the following verse: "Anyone who has sexual relations with an animal must be put to death." Exodus 22:19.
Clearly capital punishment is not murder.
Many times God called his people to go to war. War is clearly not murder, either. In fact, there are passages in the Bible where God punishes people because they left people alive when they went to war.
War may equal murder in your opinion, and you are entitled to your opinion, but that opinion is still wrong. No major religion nor government has EVER taken that position. As to your statement, "and in my opinion the people participating in these man made wars will go to HELL..." Many of these people probably will, but it won't be because they killed an enemy soldier. God will never ask you if it is okay to let someone into heaven! Your opinion does not matter at all.
***EDIT***
Now, this isn't to say that we shouldn't try to avoid war, nor is it to say that we shouldn't be merciful when it comes to punishing certain crimes. I don't think we should love war, nor should we love capital punishment. We just should understand that these are not equal to murder. Love and mercy are always preferable. However, sometimes war is an act of love and mercy. I don't see how it was loving or merciful to let so many Iraqis suffer under Saddam's regime. As Christians we ARE called to rescue the oppressed.
2006-11-13 07:06:40 · answer #2 · answered by Serving Jesus 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Good question. Even God burned to KILL the sinful people of Sodom and Gomorrah. The 5th Commandment does say to man, "Thou shalt NOT KILL." There are war stories too in the Bible. Remember Gideon and his men? 300 men waging war against thousands and won, because of God. Another thing, David, blessed by God, killed Goliath and he was later crowned king. Your question should be left I think for God to decide on Judgment Day. For God knows our innermost thoughts or motives behind killings like why would a government official command an army to kill? God through His prophet told David He was angry and would punish Him when the same David above killed his neighbor in order to slyly aquire his neighbor's land.
But we cannot by our own sinfulness judge another person's actions. Judging is God's.
2006-11-13 06:12:47 · answer #3 · answered by onlyme_6000 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Put it this way.
In the bible they talk about killing the Cananites in battle.
The run away from the Egyptians and God drowns a bunch of those people in the red sea, etc.
David killed Galieth. That was o.k.
He sent a soldier to the front so he'd die and David would be able to have sex with his wife. That was not ok.
So war is not the same at all. In addition, the bible has death as punishment. Somebody has to administer the death penalty.
2006-11-13 05:53:20 · answer #4 · answered by rostov 5 · 3⤊ 2⤋
War is not necessarily evil. If someone goes to war to defend his country from being attacked or defend the life of his family, then the person or soldier is not committing sin, and therefore will not go to hell.
Pre-emptive war or killing someone or attacking other people's country just because they do not follow your opinion or ideology is evil. This is the war that the religion prohibits.
Look at this scenario: America has nuclear weapons but no one can instruct America to banish it nuclear weapons. Can other countries attack America just because the country has nuclear weapons. But when Iran want to use nuclear technology to develop energy, America is threatening to attack Iran.
Iran is a sovereign country. Someday fuel energy will decrease. So is Iran committing any wrong doings if Iran is preparing for shortage of fuel energy by producing energy using nuclear technology? What right do America have to attack Iran? If the reason is nuclear, then America has also nuclear in its own country but no one said they will attack America just because America has nuclear.
2006-11-13 06:10:10 · answer #5 · answered by Ray Mystery 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
If it sounds biased, then the body of the subject seeks to persuade an audience of a general truth based on one way of looking at a big picture to which they only have a piece of the puzzle......
Is it truth?...... Certainly not.... it is biased....
Who can know if soldiers go to hell?....
I tell you... two soldiers out in a field.... One kills because he has learned to hate the enemy.... and it is well with him...... the other kills because he has learned to defend himself and it has worked well with him..... As they go home and reflect upon the things that were done in a day, they become judgemental of each other.... One because he has not taken the initiative of taking down the enemy at all costs... and the other because he has not learned mercy in the reason why he was here.......
As they return to the administration, who do you think will be dealt more harshly?.............
your sister,
Ginger
2006-11-13 06:07:38 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Just because you kill someone does not mean you will go to hell. That's why you can ask God to forgive you.
As for war, it may not be to your liking, but unfortunately, it's a necessary evil. I can see why you think it's murder as murder is premeditated, but war is different.
If you killed someone, whether in self defense, or because they were threatening someone you cared about, would you go to hell?
2006-11-13 05:52:42 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
Big difference bt. Murder and War.
2006-11-13 06:02:56 · answer #8 · answered by <><><> 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Hello AubreY.. :)
Great Question..
I have been called a pacifist..because I do not believe in war, nor fighting back for ANY reason..Jesus said we are to turn the other cheek..do not repay evil for evil..we are to Love our enemies.. :)
How can we say we Love Everyone, yet shoot someone in a war..that makes no sense at all..
There is no where in the New Testament that says it is alright to go to War..some may say that we are to obey our leaders..but will they obey when it comes to telling us we must stop our belief in the Lord..
I probably will get a lot of thumbs down from my brothers and sisters in Christ..but I still Love them all.. :)
In Jesus Most Precious Name..
With Love..In Christ.. :)
2006-11-13 06:00:46 · answer #9 · answered by EyeLovesJesus 6 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Its supposed to say in the original hebrew "murder" from what I undersatnd.
If your fighting for your life then its not murder. Regaurdless of the situation or men that put you there...
2006-11-13 05:50:26 · answer #10 · answered by fiveohh92 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋