<>< said:
In The Review and Herald of March 7, 1865, the position of the SDA Church was set forth as follows:
Admittedly, I don't know all that much about Seventh Day Adventism but if the following is representative of their official stance, then I have to assume that they're pretty weak on the Bible.
1. They could not keep the Lord's holy Sabbath. 'The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God; in it thou shall not do any work.' Ex. 20:10. Fighting, as military men tell us, is the hardest kind of work; and the seventh day of all days would be the least regarded in the camp and field.
The Christian is no longer under such law and, for the church, Christ has become our Sabbath. Remember that we are told in the New Testament not to "esteem one day over another".
The sixth command of God's moral law reads, 'Thou shalt not kill.' To kill is to take life. The soldier by profession is a practical violator of this precept.
Actually, the command is, "thou shalt do no
murder". Notice that the word translated murder here is
ratsach and that we don't see this word applied anywhere in scripture to killing in battle, capital punishment or self defense.
'God has called us to peace'; and 'the weapons of our war fare are not carnal.' 1 Cor. 7:15; 2 Cor. 10:4.
This is referring to spiritual warfare and prayer, not defending one's country.
The gospel permits us to use no weapons but 'the sword of the Spirit.'
So then, was Jesus confused when He told His followers to go and buy swords to protect themselves on their missionary journey?
When Peter cut off the servant's ear, notice that Jesus didn't rebuke him for the act of violence, itself, but for his lousy timing and instructed Peter to put away his sword, not because his actions were wrong, but for his own safety.
Further, notice that Paul, in his letter to the Romans, tells us that God has ordained civil governments to "wield the sword" in order to enforce their laws and protect the innocent.
And all of this is not even to mention the scores of men in the OT who were soldiers and warriors (David comes to mind) who were called great men of faith by the Bible.
Our kingdom is not of this world. Said Christ to Pilate, 'If my kingdom were of this world then would my servants fight.' John 18:36. This is most indisputable evidence that Christians have nothing to do with carnal instruments of war.
Actually, it's not such evidence. Jesus was being charged with treason against the state. He is explaining that there is no evidence of insurrection on the part of His followers. This is no way can be considered to be a blanket condemnation of war.
We are commanded to love even our enemies. 'But I say unto you,' says the Saviour, 'Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you, and persecute you.' Matt. 5:44. Do we fulfill this command when we blow out their brains with revolvers, or sever their bodies with sabres? 'If any man have not the spirit of Christ he is none of his.' Rom. 8:9.
And we
should love our enemies but remember that Jesus was speaking to His followers about how they should react on an individual level to persecution for the sake of the Gospel.
That is not the case here.
"6. Our work is the same as our Master's, who once said, 'The Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them.' Luke 9:56. If God's Spirit sends us to save men, does not some other spirit send us to destroy them? Let us know what manner of spirit we are of.
Luke 9:56 here is taken so far out of context as to be rendered practically meaningless.
Even a cursory reading of this passage shows us that Jesus is not condemning warfare but rebuking James and John for demanding judgement that is solely the authority of God.
The New Testament command is, 'Resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.' Matt. 5:39. That is, we had better turn the other cheek than to smite them back again. Could this scripture be obeyed on the battle field?
See #5.
Christ said to Peter, as he struck the high priest's servant, 'Put up again thy sword.' Matt. 26:52. If the Saviour commanded the apostle to 'put up' the sword, certainly his followers have no right to take it. Then let those who are of the world fight, but as for us let us pray."
Read that passage again. Nowhere in it does Jesus condemn or rebuke Peter for drawing his sword, only for attempting to stand between Jesus and the cross. Notice also that when Jesus tells Peter to put up his sword (which Jesus told him to buy in the first place!) it isn't a condemnation of Peter's actions, but out of concern for Peter's own safety.
