Choose Between War and Faith

I always thought it would be impossible for me to go to war and have to kill someone. I had read a lot about pacifism and Quaker theology about man being creating in the image of God. I had watched many war movies about WWII. I've studied the evils of the Nazis. I understand the reasons why the USA had finally entered the war after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

I had watched the TV series M*A*S*H and had seen the horrible effects on human bodies during war. I had seen the movies for and against the Vietnam War. Still, I felt I wouldn't be able, in good conscience, to go to war and fight. That is, to kill another human being. I thought my faith in Jesus Christ meant that I should love my enemies.

Then, I read about the Just War Theory. It states that while a terrible option, war is not always viewed as the worst alternative to injustice. This theory holds that war should be morally justifiable and that there should be moral conduct in a war. But I wasn't sure, no matter how justified, that I could go to war.

But something happened after September 11th, 2001. First hand, I saw in my generation, the slaughter of innocence on a large scale, right on my TV. The rhetoric of those that hated the USA rang in my ears and decided that my faith would no longer allow me to love my enemies. Someone had to stand against evil in this generation. My heart was so heavy with the pain of life and death. Why should we live in fear that the enemy will strike again in our sleep?

I began to read my Bible anew. Moses, Joshua, and David all stood against God's enemies, against evildoers. I felt that it was my time to take my stand against evil. I couldn’t fight the enemies myself, but I knew what I had to do.

"The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, and dust will be the serpent's food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain," says the LORD in Isaiah 65.25 (NIV)

Isaiah 2.4 says, "He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore." (NIV)

These two verses are for a future time, when the Lord will establish His Kingdom on Earth. I wish that all men could turn their swords into plowshares, their words of hate into words of peace. When face to face with the enemy, I will fight. Until He does set up His Kingdom, I decided I must stand up against evil, so I joined the Army.

One of my closest friends wrote this poem for me the day I shipped out.

Man of God

But you,

Man of God,

sword in hand,

armor in place,

full of grace,

take your stand,

in a needy place,

meet your enemy,

face-to-face.

But you,

Man of God,

His Power in hand,

His Peace in heart,

in which you stand,

play your part.

Stake His Kingdom,

in the land,

take His Victory,

as He planned.

But you,

Man of God.

His Name do praise,

your voice now raise,

a new song in the land

lift your holy hands,

to praise His glorious grace.

© 2013 ajwrites57

A Long