How can Christians be in the military and kill people, without sinning?

I've always wondered, how can Christians be able to be in the military, and fight in war, and kill people?





Its my understanding that the vast majority of the military are Christians, and I'm under the impression the military as a whole is primarily christian oriented. So how do they justify killing people in war without it being a sin?|||It's still a sin. They're still killing god's children.|||another tool the devil brings forth, it's a sin, those in the army that have went on their own, very lost! those who force people to fight in an army will have god to answer to. those who choose to fight in the army instead of facing possible jail time is also wrong, i would do anything i could if i were a guy, to keep from killing gods people. it's pointless to fight in a war when god already won! don't let the devil fool you, god won the war, the devil is just being a brat thats all!|||I cannot reconcile military service with my religious beliefs. It's that simple. However, I don't wish to bash anyone who does choose to serve in the military. It takes intense courage to do so, and many people feel that it is right. I do not believe in war, but I also do not believe in denigrating people who feel that they are defending their country. It is their choice to do so. As for me, I feel that Christ's statement, "love thy neighbor", includes not slaughtering your neighbors.|||They can't. Ironically, the most religious Christian I know is in the Army and he is the only one of my Army friends that has no real qualms about killing. The ones who are lapsed Christians, agnostics, and even atheists are the ones that find the taking of human lives immoral, even though it is part of the job.|||A sin is a sin, whether you are Christian, Muslim, Agnostic, Atheist,or Jew. David slew Goliath in battle and it was not sin. Cain killed Abel and it was murder. Do gays molest children because they think that neither homosexuality or pedophilia are sins. Would an atheist steal and murder, because he is not a Christian and does not see it as sin.|||The military is in no way Christian oriented. There are many services on most army posts for Jews, Buddhists, Wiccans, and many other religious views.





I am Jewish and yes I follow the 10 commandments. Yet, if one is ordered to kill as a job, then it is not his idea to kill. The military is not in the least bit all about killing either. Look at alot of the building efforts put into place in Afganistan to erect structures such as schools, water towers, city halls, and so on, all paid for by the US Military, and built by Engineers.





Yes killing is part of war, we can't get past this. And yes, no matter what we do, it will still happen.





The typical soldier does not want to kill. It doesn't matter what religion he or she is. Mainly all they wan't is a decent paycheck, good health benefits, and their college paid for upon the end of service.





I've never had to kill anyone, but I think however if would have had to, that it would have been forgivable and not looked at as a sin. As I would have been only following orders.|||The correct translation of the commandment is to not murder. War isn't murder, generally speaking, except for those few news stories like happened recently. To murder is to kill someone without just cause and/or for personal gain. Wars, accidents, self-defense, it's not sin.|||Cuz it's self defense dummy..

I'm a Christian and u tellin me i would be wrong if a burglar came breaking in to my house and i dont cap his azz??? what planet u come from genius? Kill or be killed dumbazz...

but i guess ur dumbazz would just sit there and be killed cuz it's the "Christian way"... well, I guess I'm not a Christian anymore...



go ahead give me a thumbs down lol

but all u ppl who do give me a thumbs down u all r just so fake to urselves.. like ur really gonna just stand there n let someone kill u? regardless of what religion u r it's almost like suicide to not protect urself. it's like u dont care.. i would think God would condemn that actually... it's not like ur murdering someone for absolutely no reason, no this person is about to take ur life...|||The Bible speaks of murder, and killing in warfare is not considered murder.





However you also seem to be under the impression that everyone in the military kills people, which is certainly not the case.|||"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword."





Matthew 10:34





[Jesus] said to them, "But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one..." The disciples said, "See, Lord, here are two swords." "That is enough," he replied.





Luke 22:36,38





"Jesus said... ‘all who live by the sword will die by the sword.'”








Luke 22:51





“Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you.”








Matthew 5:44|||Like Lightning said. Killing in war is not murder. They do it to defend our country and to protect us. Would you say someone in the military is evil because they kill? Even if they're not Christian? That'd be very ungrateful.|||Serving in the military is not considered murder but protecting one's country from harm. It's the same principle as defending yourself or your family and the one who presents the danger gets killed in the process.|||The Hebrew translates more accurately to "Thou shalt not murder." Killing in warfare is not murder, unless you go about killing innocents in direct disobedience to your superior officer.|||Quakers, and I believe there are others, would agree with you.



Many "Christians" also favor the death penalty.



edit: also Mennonites. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_p…|||I don't know. I've had this disagreement before, I'm not sure how to justify joining the military, let alone killing on someones orders. Great question though, I hope someone smarter than me answers.|||all through the Bible there was war and people were killed and God honors killing the evil ones. Proverbs 1:7 you'll see God does honor war.|||I think that "thou shallt not kill" means murder. If your defending innocent lives I doubt their God will punish them.





Besides, I've never met an athiest soldier in my life.|||For some, there is the art of equivocation. I see no stipulation against the commandment not to murder.|||According to the bible, absolutely not. Our military kills innocent civilians every day.|||maybe they're not religious.|||Ask George Washington|||Read the bible because it's full of murder.|||Read the OLD testament.|||We are not to murder











but if one comes after me or mine, I'll drop them like a hot potato|||Catch 22|||God said it's okay?|||The apostle Paul warned the early Christians that some would use Christianity for evil ends. He said: “Oppressive wolves will enter in among you and will not treat the flock with tenderness, and from among you yourselves men will rise and speak twisted things to draw away the disciples after themselves.” (Acts 20:29, 30) One who spoke “twisted things” was the Roman Catholic theologian Augustine. Jesus had taught his followers to convince others by reasoning from the Scriptures. However, Augustine twisted the meaning of Jesus’ words recorded at Luke 14:23, “Compel them to come in,” to mean that it was all right to use force in the work of converting people. (Matthew 28:19, 20; Acts 28:23, 24) Augustine used religion to control people.





Satan, a rebellious angel, is behind the misuse and corruption of religion. He provoked religious men in the first century to try to corrupt Christian congregations. The Bible says of those men: “Such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself keeps transforming himself into an angel of light. It is therefore nothing great if his ministers also keep transforming themselves into ministers of righteousness.”—2 Corinthians 11:13-15.





Satan still uses religion that makes a pretense of being Christian, moral, and enlightening in order to make people live by his standards rather than God’s. (Luke 4:5-7) You have probably noticed that many clergymen today use religion to elevate themselves with high-sounding titles and to obtain money from their flocks. Governments have also used religion to persuade citizens to sacrifice themselves in war.





The Devil employs religion more extensively than most realize. You might imagine that only a few religious extremists are serving Satan’s interests. But according to the Bible, “the one called Devil and Satan . . . is misleading the entire inhabited earth.” The Bible also says: “The whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one.” (Revelation 12:9; 1 John 5:19) How does God feel about religion that is used by leaders who just want to draw people after themselves?





“What Do I Care?”





If you are shocked at the conduct of some churches of Christendom, know that Almighty God is greatly displeased with them. Christendom claims to have made a pact with God; ancient Israel made a similar claim. Both have proved unfaithful. Jehovah’s denunciation of Israel therefore applies with equal force to Christendom today. Jehovah said: “They have not listened to my words and have rejected my law. What do I care about incense from Sheba? . . . Your sacrifices do not please me.” (Jeremiah 6:19, 20, New International Version) God did not recognize acts of worship performed by hypocrites. He was not interested in their rituals and prayers. He told Israel: “Your festal seasons my soul has hated. To me they have become a burden; I have become tired of bearing them. And when you spread out your palms, I hide my eyes from you. Even though you make many prayers, I am not listening.”—Isaiah 1:14, 15.








How does God view this kind of festival?


Is Jehovah attracted to festivals that the churches present as Christian but that originally honored false gods? Does he listen to the prayers of clergymen who corrupt Christ’s teachings? Does God accept any religion that rejects his law? You can be sure that he reacts to church rituals today just as he reacted to the sacrifices of Israel of old, regarding which he said: “What do I care?”





Nevertheless, Jehovah does care deeply about worship rendered in truth by sincere people. God is pleased when individuals express appreciation for all that they receive from him. (Malachi 3:16, 17) So can you be good without worshipping God? A person who does nothing for his loving parents is hardly justified in considering himself good, is he? Can a person who does nothing for God be good? Reasonably, we should take an active interest in the true God, with whom life itself originated. In the following article, we will see how true worship not only honors God but also benefits us.





http://www.watchtower.org/e/20060901/art…|||Are you crazy? The bible is full of murder. It's totally ok in Chritsianity. Just ignore those 10 whatchamacallits.