The following "Question" was asked by a member of the congregation at Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, and "Answered" by their pastor, John MacArthur Jr. It was transcribed by Anjela Paje of Spokane, WA, from the tape, GC 1301-I, titled "Bible Questions and Answers Part 11."  A copy of the tape can be obtained by writing, Word of Grace, P.O. Box 4000, Panorama City, CA 91412 or by dialing toll free 1-800-55-GRACE.  ©1980. All Rights Reserved.

Question

What do you think of Christians in the armed forces? Do you feel that it’s not wrong?

Answer

I don’t feel it’s wrong. No. The Apostle Paul had a great time with the soldiers, didn’t he in Philippians, and he said, he was winning the soldiers to Christ. At the end of Philippians, he said that the saints in Rome greet you, chiefly, they of Caesar’s household. You know, those soldiers that were chained to Paul were getting evangelized. And, so, I don’t see any problem with that. I think, the Roman Centurion came to Christ and was never a comment about it being wrong to be a soldier. If it was wrong to be a soldier, I don’t think Paul would have taken so many wonderful metaphors in the New Testament from the soldier to use as illustrations of spiritual truth. I think, there’s something right about that.

Now, I’ll tell you how I feel about it from the biblical viewpoint. I believe that you have responsibility, right? to the subject of the powers that be that are ordained of God, right? And, if your government asked you to be a part of that, then, I think, you need to respond to that. Now, I could fight for my own country against an evil, godless, oppressive, aggressor because I would be upholding the right and defending the innocent, and, I think, that is a very right thing to do. For example, I could, I could take a role in my own government in a war against godless, atheistic, communism trying to oppress. I’ll put it simply. I wouldn’t have any trouble fighting in Viet Nam for America. Not so much because I’m war-like, because I’m not. But, because when we didn’t fight, we didn’t defend a right thing against an evil, godless, aggressor and oppressor that swept in there and just slaughtered millions of people. And, I think, that there needs to be a preserving influence in society. And, I think, that was a reflection of the loss of our Christian values and the dignity of man. Okay? But, if I were in Russia, I could never fight, because Russia is the aggressor. I could defend the innocent and I could defend the right and I could protect the poor and the needy, but I would not be an aggressor in attacking and consuming other people. So, I think, it’s the perspective that you have. I think, Paul even dignifies in his metaphors the place of a soldier. I think, he gives it great dignity by talking of a Christian as one who is a soldier of Christ who takes the armor of Christ.

Added to Bible Bulletin Board's "MacArthur’s Questions and Answers" by:

Tony Capoccia
Bible Bulletin Board
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