As I reflect a little more on Gormam’s post and Peterson’s quote on war, I have some questions to throw out:

1. It seems Gorman’s position is the Church is to remain neutral. We oppose war. This is much like the Catholic Church’s official position today.

2. He doesn’t seem to support the Church honoring soldiers in any way that would glorify them for killing others.

3. He seems to be saying that the government has its role and the Church has their role, so if the government has to go to war, well, that’s the government.

My question:

What if the leader of the nation that is charged with being “commander in chief” of the nation’s armed forces is a Christian? If that nation is attacked, how does he rectify his governmental charge with his “Christian” charge? What then?

Suppose that national leader sees no other other alternative but war to defend the nation. Does his church then excommunicate him?

There are some sticky questions here.

Then, if we insist, as Christians, that nations NOT go to war… are we mixing religion and politics? Are we not then treating our leader as our “spiritual” leader as well? Are we not asking him to step up to something spiritually “required” when he needs to look at other issues?

I have conflicts with all of this. Last year I was at a conference for church leaders where the worship service flowed right into singing “God Bless the USA” as they had military chaplains march in with flags. There was something that didn’t settle right with me in that atmosphere. Should I be drafted into the military, I believe I would ask for an exemption as a conscientious objector. I would serve, but only in a way that would not require me to take up arms against another combatant. Yet, I know the need for military in our world. We live in a violent world where there are enemies ready to take us out as a nation, and they are no longer willing to do it on a battlefield. They are taking civilian lives on the streets of New York if possible.

I am conflicted on this issue, to say the least.

What are your thoughts?