Should PROTESTANT Christians Participate in War?

Question

PLEASE ONLY ANSWER THIS QUESTION IF YOU ARE PROTESTANT.

Should they? And why or why not?

Answer 1

In a word, "yes".
Allow me to explain: in His ministry on earth, Jesus gave us a number of commandments. Some are more well known than others.
One of the lesser known commandments deals with this question:
Mark 12:17 means that we are to submit to the laws and order of those who govern us as a society. As a citizen of your country, you are to obey the laws of your government so long as those laws do not have you disobeying God as an individual. The distinction is whether you act on your own behalf or as an agent of the government.
If you have joined the military and are bound to duty by your oath of service, then you go to war when so lawfully ordered.
There is a whole can of worms that can be opened up about what constitutes a lawful order to go to war, but that is a topic best posed as a separate question.
There is an excellent example of this in an old black and white movie called "Sgt. York". I highly recommend this movie if you are struggling with this. It was very helpful to me when I went into the military. I made up my own mind, but this movie allowed me to see things in a light I had not considered before.

Answer 2

Yes. And I believe a good portion of those currently serving are Protestant. Why would your religious sect have anything to do with whether or not you participate in war? I hardly think God would want us to stand by and allow a dictator to take over the world, torture his people, and kill for no reason when he gave us the knowledge and the ability to try and stop it. Do you?

What an odd question.

Answer 3

The Land letter was a letter sent to U.S. President George W. Bush by five evangelical Christian leaders on October 3, 2002, outlining their theological support for a just war pre-emptive invasion of Iraq. The letter was written by Richard D. Land, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention. It was co-signed by Chuck Colson, founder of Prison Fellowship Ministries, Bill Bright, chairman of Campus Crusade for Christ, James Kennedy, president of Coral Ridge Ministries, and Carl D. Herbster, president of the American Association of Christian Schools.


but Jesus said in Matthew 5:44 "However, I say to YOU: Continue to love YOUR enemies and to pray for those persecuting YOU"

Answer 4

Isn't the goal of war to either defend or take property? What did Jesus say about the need to defend or take property? If he is the origin of the faith then all other opinions after should be rejected right?

Didn't he coin phrases like 'offer the other cheek' and ' worry not where your next meal comes from'?

Didn't he note that his army was not of this world and his battle was not physical? What example did he set when another government came and took him unjustly? Did he declare war and call all of his followers to his defense?

You read his words and don't even know what he means.

Answer 5

Not to sound uneducated...the only dumb question is the one you never ask, right...so, what exactly is protestant? I profess that i know Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior and believe that the Bible is indeed the sole source of revelation...does this make me a protestant?

Answer 6

It is a personal choice.

I believe scripture gives authority to wage righteous wars for the defense of the downtrodden. I do not believe we are obligated to serve in an unrighteous war.


Ath

Answer 7

Yes. War is a necessary evil. Evil must be opposed. Otherwise, evil will control everything. War is a last resort.

Answer 8

Yes.....

Because we are called to defend our nation.....Christian or not.
If I had any guts, I would have enlisted the day after 9-11.

But I was about to get married and all so.........didn't want to leave her behind.

Answer 9

Absolutely That would be their Godly duty .....

Answer 10

I did.