Christians: Do soldiers that have killed go to hell?

Question

So you can kill people and still go to heaven in certain circumstances?

Answer 1

Think not that I am come to send peace: I came not to send peace but a sword. Matthew 10-34

The Bible does not speak against war, nor does it protest. It speaks out for circumstance.

A soldier that kills in a Holy War for the defence of his God and his religion will be forgiven by God because he did what he thought was right. A soldier who kills in a war just 'because he can' will be punished by God yet I believe he will be allowed into Heaven once he has paid for his sins.

Jesus sacrificed himself on the cross so that all those who have disdain for the Ten Commandments and the word of God would be forgiven and granted access to the Gates of Heaven.

All people will reach Heaven one day, you just may have to spend a little longer atoning if you commit an injustice.

However, war is not pre-mediatated by a soldier and therefore he is not committing murder and breaking a commandment. He is merely sinning in God's name.

If you have a just reason for the killing, God will forgive all for we are only human and cannot be expected to know what God knows.

Answer 2

One of the 10 commandments: Thou shalt not kill.

Funny how the Christian religion seems to have forgotten these commandments. They're pretty darn useful.

Is each and every Christian fit to judge everyone? I'm not even a Christian, and I don't do it. It causes harm to think you are greater than another.
I'd imagine that's what the commandment are about. Compassion, respect, and not harming others.
But I see it happen on a daily basis.

Would the soldiers go to hell. I'm sure the Christian God is apparently a lot wiser than me, so that's a definite no. If I can see that each soldier is only carrying out an order, and does not necessarily agree with it, I'm sure God can. The orders come from above, from people who are mistaken, not wrong, not evil.

So who's going to hell?
Nobody.

We all hate the enemy. We all judge too soon. We're all human. If we are to be punished for being what we are, then your God would be a hypocrite. In short, Hell is a human invention, as hypocrisy is a human flaw. It couldn't exist in a divine being.

Edit:
I have just looked at some of the other answers and have come across justification for killing at war, and how it is not murder. If it suddenly became right to take another person's life, in ANY circumstances, then I might begin to agree.

War killing, and murder. War is eliminating 'evil' and murder is pre-meditated. Gangs are at war on the streets. It is war, nothing less. Do you justify these people taking each other's lives (at war)?
We need to show compassion to our enemies before they become so desperate that they begin taking their own lives for our own. We need to understand that they wish to fight as much as we do. If we are so willing to crush their homes, they might forgive us, but they might do the same to us.
If we throw down our arms, they have a problem. They could kill us all, but then they would have to recognise the wrong they have done. Or they might follow us and become peaceful.

Answer 3

Of course not, didn't Jesus cure the Centurians's daughter? wasn't one of Peter's first conversions in Acts, within the home of a Roman soldier and the whole family was converted at that time.?
Justifiable war happens, and there is no sin there. To defend yourself against the enemy, especially those that oppress their own people is being helpful not harmful.
If Jesus was against the soldiers he would not have cured nor gave them the grace of conversion. If anything soldiers have more integrity and know more about right and wrong than their civilian counterparts... so when a soldier does do wrong its shatters the whole but doesn't not discourage them from continuing to do what is right.

Answer 4

The commandment is actually "Thou shall commit no murder" not "Thou shall not kill". Soldiers are in a position to protect or to remove enemy presence from their location. If lethal force is required then obviously this is not murder. The United Nations and many other declarations of war standards (including those that focus specifically on war crimes) differentiate between murder and killing, God does too. After all, if someone broke into your house, held you at gunpoint and wanted to rape your wife or kids then God would hardly be a just God (or even a good God) if He sent you to hell for killing this intruder. But if you shot your boss because he fired you then this is obviously different.

Answer 5

That relies upon on if my perspectives of hell are distorted or to no longer me hell is for the intense sinners.. murders, rapists, infant/animal abusers. different than that I dont think of human beings will bypass to hell in basic terms via fact they mandatory extra information and information to obtain faith. And if i'm incorrect then particular i'd ask him to think again what the heck is going on. Have a stable one! Cinn =) *EDIT* no what's humorous is that Mrs Heathen feels the would desire to ***** whilst persons are asked a question. First if we dont answer a hypothetical question there is ridicule, then if we do it incredibly is extra ridicule?? and apart from my answer became on no account definitive. additionally became this question directed at you? no it wasnt and in case you cant coach understand then kindly dont answer and belittle. ok Mrs. Heathen =) i think of I incredibly have had adequate R&S for this morning.. didnt advise to take it out on you or be rude, yet I felt attacked in spite of if i became below you lol ciao 4 now

Answer 6

The only reason one goes to hell is if they are not saved. King David killed people and he is in heaven. But he was saved too.

Answer 7

I second what The Cricket said. I never personally make judgments on someone's soul/eternal destiny because I can never know for sure and it's not up to me. And I would never ever make such a statement about a whole group of people, like soldiers in general.

Answer 8

Jesus paid for all sins of all mankind including the sin of murder. As Jesus has redeemed us from God's judgment of all our sins, past, present and future, even killing would not stand in the way of anyone from going to heaven. Our qualification for going to heaven is that we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Any sin we committed after we are saved is because we have fallen from the grace of God and are not walking in His righteousness in Christ. A Christian who sins is just a poor witness for Christ and will not enjoy living God's kingdom on earth.. He is a loser for not living in Christ and walking in the Spirit.

Answer 9

Not necessarily.

Are you speaking in general or the ones who adhered to the Christian faith?

Killing is different from murder.

Killing is a causulty and result of war or self-defense.

Murder is premeditated.

So, I would say "No" to your query.

Answer 10

In any religion a soldier will go to hell if he kills as an offensive act, and will go to heaven if he dies defending his religion. country, money and loved ones.