A question for everyone who believes in heaven/ hell, by whatever name?

Question

I was just wondering what your view is on soldiers who fight in wars that have no effect on their homeland; I know many religious sorts say that soldiers do not murder, as they are killing to protect their own countries. This was certainly true in WW2, for example- but what about those who serve in the armed forces today, and are fighting in wars that have no impact upon their homeland?

The Iraqis are not bombing London as the Germans did- and the Vietnamese (40 years ago) did not torpedo Pearl Habour. The soldiers fighting there have answered no call, as our forefathers did when they went to defend the allied nations from the threat of Nazism.

So will these men go to hell or equivalent, in your opinion? As they are fighting and killing whilst defending nothing?

Thanks for serious, open-minded answers.

I wish no disrespect to our soldiers and service-people; do not interpret this question as being so. Thanks

Answer 1

A good Q! But going to heaven or hell has nothing to do with whether a soldier kills anyone in battle (or not), any more than it depends on whether anyone commits adultery (or not), or lies (or not) and so on. That's not to say those things can be dismissed as unimportant. They are immensely important and God has given his Ten Commandments so nobody has an excuse for doing wrong. In Rev. 21:7-8 we're told that outside heaven are the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practise magic arts, the idolaters and all liars. Ponder the problems: some soldiers can be cowards whilst some conscientious objectors to war can be more courageous than soldiers. Some soldiers cannot be accused of murder, others can. Some who engage in war must lie, others don't. Some who engage in war commit sexual crimes, others do not. What a good job God is the judge!

Jesus and the apostles never spoke against believers also being soldiers. It is possible to be a good soldier, but it's far easier to be a good soldier for Christ by avoiding carnal warfare. However, the only people who get to heaven are those who believe Christ and have faith that what he did on the cross saves them from their personal sins. Trusting in Christ alone for salvation saves one from hell. Some soldiers do that. Others don't.

Answer 2

the soldiers have not awnsered the call? it has no effect on our homeland? are you serious!!! they awnser the call to stamp out terrorism which would be far more rife if we sat back and done nothing about it,they are the men and woman who put there lifes on the line for me and YOU! how ungreatful you are!!! if there actions are done for the good and mankind then they will be forgiven,anyone who murders shall be delt with as it's a sin

Answer 3

No, you'd ave to routinely ask for forgiveness, and then you'd be completely good. The weird thing is that allegedly Jesus "paid the price" for your sins 2 thousand years (more or less) before you ever committed them. It seems extremely silly that you need to "believe" or "accept" when the price has all ready been paid in full. Basically if Jesus actually died for all sin, then when you are "judged" you would be completely pardoned, even when you realized the wrongs you had done. This is the major problem/weakness of the Christian claims.

Answer 4

Soldiers do not murder if they are doing it in the cause of war, according to the Geneva conventions, which does not say it has to be for just your own countries defence.

Answer 5

i read a book some time ago that stated no one prays more for peace than the universal soldier caught up in amongst the midst of battle,but his superiors must answer to god,and their superiors likewise,,etc etc etc.i firmly believe this having been a soldier myself.

Answer 6

There are plenty of Christians on the battlefield even today. War is a necessary evil sometimes....and yes....these people are doing their duties to their country and are saved by the blood of Christ and on their way to heaven.

Answer 7

War is a terrible thing! War is always the result of sin (Romans 3:10-18). In the Old Testament, God ordered the Israelites to: “Take vengeance on the Midianites for the Israelites” (Numbers 31:2). See also Deuteronomy 20:16-17, “However, in the cities of the nations the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, do not leave alive anything that breathes. Completely destroy them--the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites--as the LORD your God has commanded you.” Exodus 17:16 proclaims, “He said, "For hands were lifted up to the throne of the LORD. The LORD will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation." Also, 1 Samuel 15:18, “Go and completely destroy those wicked people, the Amalekites; make war on them until you have wiped them out.” So, obviously God is not against all war. Jesus is always in perfect agreement with the Father (John 10:30), so we cannot argue that war was only God’s will in the Old Testament. God does not change (Malachi 3:6; James 1:17).

Jesus’ Second Coming also is exceedingly violent. Revelation 19:11-21 proclaims, “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, "Come, gather together for the great supper of God, so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and mighty men, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, small and great." Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the rider on the horse and his army. But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. The rest of them were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.”

It is an error to say that God never supports a war. Jesus is not a pacifist. In a world filled with evil people, sometimes a war is necessary to prevent even greater evil. If Hitler had not been defeated by World War II, how many more millions of Jews would have been killed? If the Civil War had not been fought, how much longer would African Americans have had to suffer as slaves? We must all remember to base our beliefs of the Bible, not on our emotions (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Ecclesiastes 3:8 declares, “there is…a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. In a world filled with sin, hatred, and evil (Romans 3:10-18), war is inevitable. Some wars are more “just” than others, but all wars are ultimately the result of sin. Christians should not desire war, but neither are Christians to oppose the government God has placed in authority over them (Romans 13:1-4; 1 Peter 2:17). The most important thing we can be doing in a time of war is to be praying for godly wisdom for our leaders, praying for the safety of our military, praying for quick resolution to the conflict, and praying for minimum casualties – on both sides of the conflict (Philippians 4:6-7).

Answer 8

No because they are serving our country and our Queen who is the head of the Church of England.

Answer 9

Hi,I believe once your dead thats it.I wish blair had not sent our troops to Iraq he has there blood on his conscience thats if he as one.Your question is well thought out shame points are not awarded for questions.

Answer 10

The intention is defensive and not offensive