Can a soldier be called a saint?

[Digout]

I found that being done in "Our Daily Bread" book!

Imagine a Nazi soldier involving himself in a holocaust claiming that title!

 

[USCGrad90]

I found that being done in "Our Daily Bread" book!

Imagine a Nazi soldier involving himself in a holocaust claiming that title!

I guess it depends on how you define "saint" and what that means to you.
My understanding of it is synonymous with believers in Christ.
One trait I think most Christians value is humility - so I would hope most (including me) would not claim any title. It's not about anything I do - but what He did that matters, and ultimately comes down to whether I choose to accept Christ as my savior and follow his will versus my own.
I think too much emphasis is put into categorizing people and comparing people to one another by actions from the past, present, or future. I think it's best left up to God.

 

[classicalhero]

The list of Saints in the Bible is full of people who were one very awful people, but God has the power to changes people's lives.

 

[th1bill]

I found that being done in "Our Daily Bread" book!

Imagine a Nazi soldier involving himself in a holocaust claiming that title!

I served 3 Combat Tours during 8 years of service and the last half of the first tour in Vietnam the LORD called me and had I been smart enough not to run from God for 23+ years, I would have, likely, made my thirty year goal as a Christian American Soldier.

Now, about the Nazis; no, they were under the power of Satan through Hitler, thus being deluded.

 

[Yekcidmij]

In the New Testament, "saints" seems to just be synonomous with "Christian." Seems to me that one can be a Christian and soldier. There's nothing that prohibts this identification necessarily.

There's the Roman soldier who Jesus helped (Lk 7). Then there's Cornelius (Ac 10). Neither of them were told to stop working for the Roman state; nor is there any indication that they did.

Israel always had a standing army as well with no indication that they should have thrown away their arms.

 

[classicalhero]

I think in the story of Corrie Ten Boom's life how many years after the war she met former prison guard from her concentration camp when she was at church. Her first reaction in her mind was anger but God put it in her heart to go and meet the man and show a Christian attitude. So she walked up to him and found out the in between he had become a Christian and h asked to forgive him what he did to her. Even the most vile person can be forgiven.

 

[Rhamiel]

In the New Testament, "saints" seems to just be synonomous with "Christian." Seems to me that one can be a Christian and soldier. There's nothing that prohibts this identification necessarily.

There's the Roman soldier who Jesus helped (Lk 7). Then there's Cornelius (Ac 10). Neither of them were told to stop working for the Roman state; nor is there any indication that they did.

Israel always had a standing army as well with no indication that they should have thrown away their arms.

thank you for using the Bible and giving a thoughtful answer that a serious question like this deserves

also, we can look to what St. John the Baptist, a prophet of the living God, told the Roman Soldiers, no where does he say that they should stop being soldiers

Luke 3:12
Then some soldiers asked him, "And what should we do?" He replied, "Don't extort money and don't accuse people falsely--be content with your pay."

 

[98cwitr]

Cant kill your neighbor and love them at the same time. just my .02 on the matter.

 

[Digout]

In the New Testament, "saints" seems to just be synonomous with "Christian." Seems to me that one can be a Christian and soldier. There's nothing that prohibts this identification necessarily.

That appears to be an assumption.

There's the Roman soldier who Jesus helped (Lk 7). Then there's Cornelius (Ac 10). Neither of them were told to stop working for the Roman state; nor is there any indication that they did.

But they were not recognized as saints!

Israel always had a standing army as well with no indication that they should have thrown away their arms.[/QUOTE]

That is the OT standard and life.

 

[Digout]

thank you for using the Bible and giving a thoughtful answer that a serious question like this deserves

also, we can look to what St. John the Baptist, a prophet of the living God, told the Roman Soldiers, no where does he say that they should stop being soldiers

Luke 3:12
Then some soldiers asked him, "And what should we do?" He replied, "Don't extort money and don't accuse people falsely--be content with your pay."

I am referring to people called for the ministry of Jesus in sharing the Gospel.

 

[Yekcidmij]

That appears to be an assumption.

Which part? The part about the saints? No, I got that from reading the New Testament.

But they were not recognized as saints!

The NT usually refers to all believers as saints. I'm not going to just give a list of verses but here is one example:

Ac 9:32 Now as Peter was traveling around from place to place, he also came down to the saints who lived in Lydda.
​

"Saints" in the NT is just one way of the Church refering to themselves. They weren't called "Christians" until after some time:

Acts 11:26 ..... Now it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians.
​

That is the OT standard and life.

No, we have standing armies today too.

 

[Digout]

Which part? The part about the saints? No, I got that from reading the New Testament.



The NT usually refers to all believers as saints. I'm not going to just give a list of verses but here is one example:

Ac 9:32 Now as Peter was traveling around from place to place, he also came down to the saints who lived in Lydda.
​

"Saints" in the NT is just one way of the Church refering to themselves. They weren't called "Christians" until after some time:

Acts 11:26 ..... Now it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians.
​

No, we have standing armies today too.

That was the early Church period. Many were living together and sharing in common. Are the modern Christians following any of the life of sacrifice now?

They were the army of worshippers unlike offensive system of a secular governments!

 

[Yekcidmij]

That was the early Church period.

Right, so the essential answer to the thread is, "yes." One can be a soldier and saint using the definition the earliest church was using.

Many were living together and sharing in common.

Sure, some were in the very beginning.

Are the modern Christians following any of the life of sacrifice now?

Do you think we should all live together in a commune?

They were the army of worshippers unlike offensive system of a secular governments!

Huh?

 

[Digout]

Right, so the essential answer to the thread is, "yes." One can be a soldier and saint using the definition the earliest church was using.

Can we fit the same definition for a different scenario now?

Sure, some were in the very beginning.

Why not now?

Do you think we should all live together in a commune?

Why not? Catholics, Coptics and Eastern and Greek Orthodox do exist something like that even now.



[/quote]Huh?[/QUOTE]

Prayerful people are different from secular army with their war thirsty machinery.

 

[Yekcidmij]

Why not? Catholics, Coptics and Eastern and Greek Orthodox do exist something like that even now.

No, most of them don't live together in communes.

 

[Digout]

No, most of them don't live together in communes.

Don't they have monasteries and exclusive seminaries?

 

[Skala]

If sin discounted someone from being a saint, there would be exactly zero (0) saints.

 

[Yekcidmij]

Don't they have monasteries and exclusive seminaries?

Are most Catholics monks?

 

[Digout]

Are most Catholics monks?

No. They have very relevant groups with them, such as, friars. monks, nuns, priests, laity etc.

 

[Digout]

If sin discounted someone from being a saint, there would be exactly zero (0) saints.

A person in possession of a sword is considered as a transgressor.