As strange as it may seem, military metaphors are very common among Christians. Even though they follow the one who said, “Blessed are the peacemakers,” the Christian vocabulary includes terms like “spiritual warfare” and “prayer warriors.”
However, this imagery is not a recent development. The same Jesus who called His followers to be peacemakers also said that He Himself did not come to bring peace but, rather, a sword (Matthew 10:34). In other words, Jesus anticipated that there would be sharp division, even within families, between those who believe in Him and those who don’t. Jesus also warned the church of first century Pergamum that He would war against them if they didn’t repent of their sins (Revelation 2:16).
Even the angels of God are described as an army. When Jesus was arrested, he declared that He could call upon His Father who would dispatch more than twelve legions of angels to defend Him. A Roman legion consisted of 6,000 armed soldiers. Far from being pudgy little cherubs or blonde haired women (as angels are so often portrayed in our popular culture), the angels of God are more like Navy SEALS, Army Rangers, or a divine Delta Force.
Jesus, however, isn’t the only one to talk in terms of wars and warriors. The early Christian missionary, St. Paul, urged his fellow believers to prepare for spiritual battle on a daily basis. Using the phrase “the armor of God” Paul characterizes certain Christian traits, such as salvation, righteousness, and faith, as different pieces of a soldier’s equipment: the helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith. He concludes by encouraging believers to take up the sword of the Spirit, or God’s Word, as they ready themselves for spiritual combat. Nowadays, Paul no doubt would refer to body armor and M-16s, the 21st century equivalents to swords and breastplates.
How can those who advocate peacemaking speak in such warlike terms? Doesn’t the notion of warfare run counter to the meek inheriting the earth? Strapping on armor doesn’t sound too meek or peace-loving, does it?
I think that it’s important to note that the warfare of the Christian life is fought on a spiritual battlefield. Paul, who advocates the use of the armor of God, is also the one who says that our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces of evil. In other words, Christians are not called upon to overthrow a non-Christian government. On the contrary, they are urged to pray for their leaders. Nor are they free to declare the pro-life movement to be a war against abortion, thereby making doctors who perform abortions targets for violence. The same Jesus who said that the Father could dispatch twelve legions of angels also told His disciple Peter to put his sword away after Peter cut off the ear of a soldier who was arresting Jesus. Christians are not called to violence, because violent acts do violence to Jesus’ command to love one another.
But what about Christians who serve in the military or law enforcement? Doesn’t their very job description include the use of force, even deadly force? How can a Christian in good conscience be a soldier or police officer? How is the use of deadly force in line with the command to love one’s neighbor as oneself?
First of all, we need to recognize that soldiers and police officers are agents of the government, and God has given permission to the governing authorities to make use of the sword (Romans 13:1-5). Therefore, the commandment “You shall not commit murder” is directed toward individuals, not the government. According to God’s law, as a private individual I am not permitted to take the life of another human being, except in the defense of myself or others. I don’t have the God-given authority to do so. God has given such authority to the state. When a soldier or police officer takes another person’s life, they are acting under the authority that God has given to the government.
Moreover, when a police officer is forced to kill in the line of duty, he or she is, in fact, loving his neighbors, namely the citizens that he or she is sworn to protect, as well as fellow officers whose lives may be at risk. In the same way, when a soldier kills an enemy who would do our nation harm, that soldier is loving his or her fellow servicemen and countrymen by defending them from their enemies.
This weekend we set aside time to remember those men and women who have given their lives in service to our country. Not only is it right to be grateful for their sacrifices which have preserved our freedoms, but we need to remember that they have served God’s purposes. All those who have served in our nation’s armed forces in the past, or who are presently serving today, have been God’s instruments to promote peace for our nation as they have loved their neighbors, their fellow citizens. Onward, Christian soldiers!