Can a soldier be called a saint?

[Charles With Christ]

As a former soldier I might be a bit biased in this.

If God or Jesus had an issue with soldiers, how would you explain David? I'm limiting my question to this one warrior, though I could go on naming others.

Simply this, I could make a long winded argument on the hebrew used in the 10 commandments on the word "kill" and how it's different then the words used when a soldier kills or God kills, or I could try and make a logical but biblically based argument that would get side tracked.

Instead, if God and Jesus had no issue with David, who am I to say that any other soldier couldn't be a disciple of God.

 

[Digout]

As a former soldier I might be a bit biased in this.

If God or Jesus had an issue with soldiers, how would you explain David? I'm limiting my question to this one warrior, though I could go on naming others.

Simply this, I could make a long winded argument on the hebrew used in the 10 commandments on the word "kill" and how it's different then the words used when a soldier kills or God kills, or I could try and make a logical but biblically based argument that would get side tracked.

Instead, if God and Jesus had no issue with David, who am I to say that any other soldier couldn't be a disciple of God.

The spiritual standards set by Jesus are totally different from that of the OT. Please read the Sermon on the Mount.

 

[Charles With Christ]

Being familiar with the Sermon on the mount I can say with full confidence it doesn't preclude soldiers from being followers of Christ.

Furthermore telling someone "go read this" without bringing up exactly what your position is or specifically what portion of your suggestion you believe stands opposed is a rather poor means of discussion.

Jesus spoke well of David, if he had issue why not bring it up?

Jesus praised a Roman Centurion (Matthew 8:5 and so on) for his faith and healed his servant. Would he not have brought issue here if he had one?

Paul spoke specifically about a Roman Centurion named Epaphroditus (Philippians 2:25). Paul called him a brother and fellow soldier and such.

I stand wondering how anyone could hold a view that all soldiers are incapable of being followers of Christ.

 

[98cwitr]

As a former soldier I might be a bit biased in this.

If God or Jesus had an issue with soldiers, how would you explain David? I'm limiting my question to this one warrior, though I could go on naming others.

Simply this, I could make a long winded argument on the hebrew used in the 10 commandments on the word "kill" and how it's different then the words used when a soldier kills or God kills, or I could try and make a logical but biblically based argument that would get side tracked.

Instead, if God and Jesus had no issue with David, who am I to say that any other soldier couldn't be a disciple of God.

An adulterer could say the same thing: "David was an adulterer and was still in God's favor!": Not trying to compare a soldier to an adulterer! You have to understand that sinners do turn from their sins and are reborn of Spirit, thus 1 John 1 does not contradict 1 John 3. We dont live under the 10 commandments, we live under 2.

 

[Charles With Christ]

You seem to be under the impression that soldiers exist with the express purpose of murder. While I'm sure some do pursue the career with that in mind or hoping to travel to foreign lands, meet exotic people and murder them, that's surely not the aim of every soldier.

 

[Digout]

Being familiar with the Sermon on the mount I can say with full confidence it doesn't preclude soldiers from being followers of Christ.

Furthermore telling someone "go read this" without bringing up exactly what your position is or specifically what portion of your suggestion you believe stands opposed is a rather poor means of discussion.

Jesus spoke well of David, if he had issue why not bring it up?

Jesus praised a Roman Centurion (Matthew 8:5 and so on) for his faith and healed his servant. Would he not have brought issue here if he had one?

Paul spoke specifically about a Roman Centurion named Epaphroditus (Philippians 2:25). Paul called him a brother and fellow soldier and such.

I stand wondering how anyone could hold a view that all soldiers are incapable of being followers of Christ.

All can become believers in Jesus. That is easy to claim like the claim of Paul as an apostle!

John 14
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.

 

[98cwitr]

You seem to be under the impression that soldiers exist with the express purpose of murder. While I'm sure some do pursue the career with that in mind or hoping to travel to foreign lands, meet exotic people and murder them, that's surely not the aim of every soldier.

I went to MEPS twice. I was gunning for 25B - Information Systems Specialist and they offered me 94H, which is doing the electronics work on Patriot Missile systems. Granted, I was a non-believer then, so it really didn't bother me, but I knew that if I signed up that no matter what job I took I was a soldier first. Being a soldier, you may be required to take the life of someone. Hence, why every soldier goes through weapons training.

 

[Charles With Christ]

I went to MEPS twice. I was gunning for 25B - Information Systems Specialist and they offered me 94H, which is doing the electronics work on Patriot Missile systems. Granted, I was a non-believer then, so it really didn't bother me, but I knew that if I signed up that no matter what job I took I was a soldier first. Being a soldier, you may be required to take the life of someone. Hence, why every soldier goes through weapons training.

I'm sorry but what you seem to be claiming here is that your near experience with the military gives you some authority to paint every soldier with the same brush in broad strokes with how you think it is.

I served from June 2001, until June 2006 as a 97B Counter Intelligence Agent, I know people that gave zero cares about the military or being a soldier and were simply there because they wanted to get out of their mothers houses. I know people that joined with the express purpose of wanting to kill as many folks as they could, legally, and get paid for it. I know a man that dropped out of college, signed up for the Army simply because he figured out he could have more time to play Everquest, and that's what he did. He didn't own a car, he didn't make any large purchases, he joined, showed up, went home, played Everquest and saved his money leaving the military with $80,000 in the bank. It's a broad spectrum of motivations for what makes someone want to be a soldier.

I've killed, allow me to make it plain: the killing I did would not be described as the Hebrew word Retzach (The Bible never uses the word retzach in conjunction with war.), it is neither fun nor an experience I ever wish to be placed into again. I did sign up to be a soldier and in various times of my service I was called to act as a soldier and not the Badge and Credentials carrying agent I was back in Fort Hood. You nor anyone else other then He can judge my motivations, or my discipleship.

And if I come out the other end of this Earth and find that I've damned myself by my actions, then I shall have to live with those consequences, but that is between me and my creator, and I'm comfortable saying that all is well.

 

[98cwitr]

As a soldier who has taken life, would you say that you regret your decision to join?