"Christian" Soldiers?

There was a prophet (John, the baptizer) of whom God (Jesus Christ) said “Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist (Matthew 11:11).” Apparently, the Lord, Jesus Christ had a very high regard for John.

One day some soldiers came to John and asked him, “what shall we do? (Luke 13:14).”

John’s answer is instructive. He answers them, “do violence to no man.”

Since violence is the soldier’s business, what he (John) is really saying to them is “find another job.”

In syllogistic form,

Major Premise:     Christians should not be violent
Minor Premise:     The ultimate job of a soldier is to do violence
Conclusion:             A Christian should not be a soldier.

This was the consensus of the Church fathers, and the practice of Christians until the Constantinian creation of “Christendom” (for more on this, read The Reformers and their Stepchildren, by Leonard Verduin).

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap (Galatians 6:7).”