Clear Thinking About Military Service

[Stan]

Clear Thinking About Military Service

By Jan Paulsen

In many ways, I am a child of the Second World War. As a young boy, I saw the terrible devastation of those years—ruined lives, diminished families, and large-scale upheaval of society. My family had evacuated to the country, and for the five years of the war we lived in the caretaker’s flat of an old school building. The classrooms had been turned into dormitories that housed more than 300 young German soldiers.

I remember one day toward the end of the war asking my mother, “Why are the German soldiers crying?” I could hear them sobbing in their rooms. My mother replied: “They are just young boys. They miss their home; they miss their mommies and daddies. They don’t understand why they have to be here in the cold of northern Norway. They don’t understand why they have to be a part of all this.” They were young men, deprived of the chance to grow up and experience a youth of a different kind.

Today, more than 60 years removed from that time, the world has undergone profound changes—political, economic, and technological. Yet the role of the military in the life of many nations, as well as in transnational disputes around the globe, continues to place firmly before us an important moral and spiritual question: How should a Christian—a Seventh-day Adventist Christian—relate to the military? And when faced with a choice to serve in the armed forces—either as a combatant or in some other capacity—what principles should guide us?

Guiding principles

We each feel strong kinship—a sense of solidarity—with our own people and our own country. Our citizenship in a nation commands a sense of loyalty, a sharing in both the struggles and the joys of the people among whom we live. There is no virtue in isolating ourselves from our communities. It is natural to feel civic pride, and it is healthy to participate in the life of the nation to which we belong. Yet how should this sense of solidarity express itself when it comes to the military of our country, when our paramount duty to God raises tensions that are not always easy to reconcile?

I believe any discussion of this topic must rest on two essential foundations.

First, the church is called to be an unambiguous voice of principle.

War, peace, and participation in military service are not morally neutral issues. Scripture is not silent on these things, and the church, as it interprets and expresses the principles of Scripture, must be a voice of moral authority and influence. This is not an “optional” responsibility—one that we can put aside should it become uncomfortable or go against majority feeling. If we are silent, we fail in our duty to God and to humanity.

Second, the church is God’s agent of grace.

When you

carry arms you

imply that

you are prepared

to use them to take

another’s life.

This, also, is a fundamental responsibility. Every human being, no matter what their choices or conduct, is of infinite value to God. As the church expresses itself on this issue and offers counsel to both its own members and broader society, it must never allow itself to forget this one unchangeable fact: the God we serve is a healer and a Savior. Healing and saving are also the first business of the church. As individuals struggle with these questions—and perhaps make choices that, in hindsight, they wish they had not—the church must constantly reflect God’s infinite, healing love.

So, keeping these things in mind, I’d like to reflect on two questions regarding the church’s attitude toward military service, both historically and today. These questions—broad areas of concerns—have come to me time and again over recent years as I have visited with both laypeople and church leaders in many parts of the world.

1. A loss of clarity?

The historic position of our church regarding service in the armed forces was clearly expressed some 150 years ago—very early on in our history, against the background of the American Civil War. The consensus, expressed in articles and documents of the time, as well as an 1867 General Conference resolution, was unequivocal. “…[T]he bearing of arms, or engaging in war, is a direct violation of the teachings of our Savior and the spirit and letter of the law of God” (1867, Fifth Annual General Conference Session). This has, in broad terms, been our guiding principle: When you carry arms you imply that you are prepared to use them to take another’s life, and taking the life of one of God’s children, even that of our “enemy,” is inconsistent with what we hold to be sacred and right.

Through the years, this principle has shaped the conduct of Seventh-day Adventists both in times of peace and conflict. Many have chosen to engage in medical work within the armed forces. They participate as healers. They say to their nation: “I cannot operate as a taker of life; it would destroy me as an individual. But I can help people who are hurt by this conflict. I can function as a Christian if I can function as a healer.”

Today in some countries young people are subject to a draft—a period of compulsory military service. Fortunately, in most instances an alternate service is offered, one that does not require an individual to train with or use arms. This option could simply be spending a year and a half doing hard labor building roads or helping with some other civic project.

There are, however, some countries where the draft deprives you of the ability to conduct yourself as an Adventist believer. You cannot keep the Sabbath. You are given no option but to carry arms. In such circumstances, you have before you a very serious choice. Accepting the penalty of dissent—perhaps even imprisonment—may be the decision you make simply to be faithful to your fundamental convictions and your Lord.

Is there today any confusion about the church’s position? Have we done a good job of articulating these principles? Clearly, this question will not be answered in the same way in every part of the world church. Yet, in talking with church members in many different countries I have sensed, at times, a certain ambivalence toward our historic position—a sense, perhaps, that “that was then, and this is now.” And yet I know of no reason why this should be so.

2. A lack of moral guidance?

This leads me to my second question. Do we provide adequate guidance in our churches and schools for our young people as they face difficult choices regarding service in the military? Have we at times neglected our role as a moral compass on this issue? In the absence of guidance from their church, do some of our young people view joining the military as “just another career option,” rather than a complex moral decision with potentially far-reaching, maybe unforeseen, consequences for their own spiritual life?

It is not difficult to understand the forces that may lead someone to consider a military career. Their choice may be driven by a desire to serve their country, or the military may open up educational and professional opportunities that may seem unavailable anywhere else. Young people may see it as a short-term option, a much-needed stepping-stone to something else. They may view it as a “necessary evil”—a road to the future that, for lack of financial resources or other opportunities, they must take in order to fulfill their potential.

Yet in some instances, to voluntarily enlist in the armed forces is to sacrifice one’s choice not to bear arms, or to request provision for Sabbathkeeping. You freely choose to give up your rights in these things. And so I would ask: “Have you really thought about this? Have you considered the consequences to your relationship with Christ and to your own deepest convictions?”

Some may calculate the risk and say: “Although I technically don’t have a choice about whether or not I will carry arms, the chances are, nine out of ten, that I will not find myself in a combat situation where I will need to use them.”

But regardless of whe-ther you go into combat or not, you have made a decision about certain basic values and declared this publicly. You are accepting the possibility that you may have to go down that road, and this will inevitably do something to you as a person. It will change and shape

you. In proactively choosing to accept circumstances where you may be required to carry arms or forfeit your ability to keep the Sabbath, I suggest that you have placed the spiritual and moral foundations of your life in serious jeopardy.

So, when military recruiters come to our universities and colleges, or even our secondary schools, laying out before young students the opportunities that the armed forces present, is the church providing a clear, alternate message? Is there someone also asking: “Have you considered this? Have you thought about what this may do to you? Have you thought about the price you may pay in terms of the basic values you really treasure?” The Department of Chaplaincy Ministries at the General Conference is developing some specific initiatives to help provide much-needed advice and counsel within our schools and churches, and I welcome this.

I feel especially for those individuals who have taken the “calculated risk” and find themselves drawn into a combat situation, the very position they had hoped and prayed to avoid. They see no way out. What should their church say to them? “I told you so?” “Shame on you?” No! The church is a ministering, healing, saving community. This is the moment when a young person, regardless of poor choices or wrong turns, needs to feel the embrace of their church.

Conclusion

This is not a simple topic, nor is it “complete”; it is just one aspect of the broader issue of war, peace, and Christian responsibility. And the questions I have posed do not lend themselves to sound-bite answers or pat responses. They are questions that generate strong—sometimes visceral—feelings. They reach deep into our self-understanding and identity, as both citizens of our country and members of God’s family. Our responses are shaped in large part by our own experiences and culture, as well as our love for our country and our desire to share in its history and future.

Although these are difficult issues, they cannot be put aside simply for this reason. So let us consider these things together—in our homes, our churches, and our schools—and let us do so with open hearts and a spirit of humility.

Jan Paulsen is president of the worldwide Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Source http://www.adventistworld.org/article.php?id=268

[olger]

I am opposed to believers joining the military, too.

g

[oldsailor29]

I have not forgotten about the draft. There were many boys who were forced to go into military service instead of college, because of the academic policies of our colleges. Boo on those policy makers and holders for sending SDA boys to die on the battlefield. Oh, and Harry Truman was right. The buck always stops at the desk of the president, which in this case was the GC president. When it comes to sending SDA boys into battle, the legacy of the office of GC president is stained with their blood.

And joint venture applies to military service. The military medic or the secretary is killing enemy soldiers just as surely as the infantryman or sniper who pulls the trigger. And, in fact, joint venture reaches all the way to the average citizen who is paying taxes which supports wars. We are paying our service men and women to kill the enemy, so we are equally involved. As long as Jan Paulsen is paying taxes, it seems to me that he should not be so quick to point fingers at the military which he is supporting.

[Dr. Shane]

I certainly disagree with the "joint venture" idea. Nations make decisions that are often beyond the individual's concern. If a young person chooses to serve in the military as a medic, that is commendable. We should avoid combat positions.

I did serve in the military and it was in a combat position. I was not an active Seventh-day Adventist at the time but it was the religion listed on my dog tags. The lack of a positive moral environment is another reason to discourage young people from joining the military. There is a lot of drinking and promiscuous sexual activity that takes place in the military. It is unlike anything I have ever experienced. Women brag about their sexual adventures in a similar way as teenage boys making up such stories. When I was in I had one female soldier ask me point blank if she could take me into a closet and perform oral sex on me. On another occasion a female soldier "pulled a train" with most of the guys in our unit. That means she had sex with one man after another. I had friends that would get STDs on a regular basis. The medics would give out condoms to all the soldiers - including the female soldiers. Married men would mess around on their wives. Porno magazines were all over when we went out into the field. The alcohol abuse was just as bad.

I do think this is a good subject we should be talking about.

[phkrause]

I'm not opposed to us joining the military, if you can do it as a consienous objector. They did allow that during the Vietnam conflict. Not sure that that is exceptable now.

pk

[John317]

You could certainly be drafted as a conscientious objector during Vietnam, which is what happened to me; but I do not believe you could ever join (i.e., volunteer) as a conscientious objector. Perhaps by "join" you simply mean "serve."

By the way, one of the best known conscientious objectors during WW2, Desmond Doss, wanted to be known as a "conscientious cooperator."

[phkrause]

I also was drafted and chose to be a conscientious objector, but I believe that they were needing more medics, so they were allowing them to join and for only two years and not three, which was the requirement when you joined. Because I knew a few guys that had joined and only had to serve 2 years, not sure about the conscientious objectors though, didn't know anyone that joined that way.

pk

[Dr. Shane]

Desmond Doss enlisted, he was not drafted but they tried to get him to change his conscientious objector status and even threatened to discharge him over it.

[John317]

The official biography of Doss for the Congressional Medal of Honor gives the following:

A religious Seventh-Day Adventist, Doss asked for non-combatant status when he was drafted in 1942, but he was told that he could only serve as a C.O.

http://lcweb2.loc.gov/diglib/vhp/story/loc.natlib.afc2001001.32978/pageturner?ID=pm0001001

[Kevin H]

Many college graduates ended up joining the Military under Reaganomics as there was few other choices, especially for those who studied for jobs that usually wold be church employment and the church was not employing.

Shane: Where on earth were you in the military? I've been in for 24 years at the end of this month and yes, I have heard of those stories, but they have been only unusual occurences here and there and nothing that I've ever come across in person. I've found the military to be stricter than the general population. I don't know about the Navy or Marines or Coast Guard, but I found Army life like being stuck in a bording academy for your whole life, and the Air Force like being stuck in an Adventist college all your life. There is some sneeking around to break the rules, but not too easy and not overly avalible, certanly less availble than in the general population, and I think it's noticed more just like those things would be noticed more in an Adventist school than in public school.

[bonnie]

The official biography of Doss for the Congressional Medal of Honor gives the following:

A religious Seventh-Day Adventist, Doss asked for non-combatant status when he was drafted in 1942, but he was told that he could only serve as a C.O.

http://lcweb2.loc.gov/diglib/vhp/story/loc.natlib.afc2001001.32978/pageturner?ID=pm0001001

I am really,really thankful for all those that have served or are serving. We might all be speaking another language if all americans followed our example.

[Kevin H]

On the DVD of Desmond Doss, it said that his job gave him the elegability to not accept the draft as he was in an esenssal industry, but he refused to exercise that right and insisted on going in.

As a child my Grandma read me the story of Desmond Doss from one of our magazines (not the book) and he has been one of my heros since.

[phkrause]

I have a DVD with his story, and without actually double checking I believe you are correct John that he was drafted. But I'll check into it.

pk

[John317]

Yes, his employer offered to help get him a deferment so that he probably could have avoided being drafted. But Doss didn't object to the war. He knew it had to be fought. He just believed he shouldn't be the one doing the killing. He didn't condemn others for carrying weapons and fighting.

He came to Loma Linda about a year before his death and I met him and his wife at the Hill Church. I had heard him give his story several times before, the first time being in 1961. He was an inspiration to me during the time I was in the service.

[Dr. Shane]

Quote:

Doss asked for non-combatant status when he was drafted in 1942, but he was told that he could only serve as a C.O.

I must have gotten some bad information about that.

[Dr. Shane]

Shane: Where on earth were you in the military? ...I found Army life like being stuck in a boarding academy for your whole life, and the Air Force like being stuck in an Adventist college all your life.

That sounds completely foreign to me. I am a member of the American Legion and many of the guys I talk with there have similar stories to mine. I only shared a few here. I could go on and on. In Panama the prostitutes hung out just outside of the NCO club and they charged $5 a pop. Only the most religious soldiers wouldn't take advantage of that, and there were only a few of us. But it was the same story in Fort Bragg or wherever. I got out in 1992. Maybe things have changed since then.

[phkrause]

John the dvd about his life is pretty incredible. And the way he saved those others, unreal. They actually didn't really like him because of his CO status, but after saving all those men, I believe around 75, they couldn't stop talking about him. A real christian hero in my book.

pk

[John317]

Originally Posted By: Kevin H

Shane: Where on earth were you in the military? ...I found Army life like being stuck in a boarding academy for your whole life, and the Air Force like being stuck in an Adventist college all your life.

That sounds completely foreign to me. I am a member of the American Legion and many of the guys I talk with there have similar stories to mine. I only shared a few here. I could go on and on. In Panama the prostitutes hung out just outside of the NCO club and they charged $5 a pop. Only the most religious soldiers wouldn't take advantage of that, and there were only a few of us. But it was the same story in Fort Bragg or wherever. I got out in 1992. Maybe things have changed since then.

Shane, my military experience was pretty similar to yours. I was a field medic attached to an army airborne/artillery unit. What kind of military experience someone has is determined largely by the branch of service and the unit he's with. For me it was during the Vietnam era, when military service was 24/7 and you lived in a barracks with several hundred wild and crazy, young guys with just two things on their minds.

[John317]

Doss told of the guys calling him names and throwing stuff at him when he would kneel by his bed to pray. That was when they were going to the battle. When leaving the battle afterwards, it was a much different situation. Then they would ask if they could hold his Bible while he prayed for them.

[Dr. Shane]

In order to receive the metal of honor a person's comrades have request it for them. It is not a recommendation that comes down from the upper brass. It is the men that actually serve side by side with the person that have to request it. That says a lot about Desmond Doss. The very same people that made fun of him were the ones that later recommended that he receive the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a soldier.

[phkrause]

dgrimm, I actually enjoyed my 2 years, if I had to do it over again, I might even have stayed for my 20 years.

pk

[GreatLakesGramma]

My dad was punished for not drinking alcohol at the Christmas party at the base, when he was in the service. He was under the legal drinking age, but he was told "you're in the air force now," as if the laws didn't apply when you were in the military.

[olger]

Regrettably, Doss also compromised several times in the military (it's in the book). Would have been better not to have been in there, in my judgement.

g

[fccool]

My dad was punished for not drinking alcohol at the Christmas party at the base, when he was in the service. He was under the legal drinking age, but he was told "you're in the air force now," as if the laws didn't apply when you were in the military.

I do apologize to any people who served in any military before saying this. I don't mean to offend you, but I hope you do understand my stand on this issue.

Without soldiers there would not be war. People let themselves be manipulated to get themselves into war by few that sit behind the comfort of their dwelling and hiding behind their "important" titles.

In our town the military recruiting base is located right next to a video game arena. Do you really think it's a coincidence. And since I eat nearby I can sometimes overhear the recruiters telling the kids that they can join the army and turn their lives into the video game... "You can do that(play the game) for real".

The worst part about it is the elevation of the military to the high respect levels in our society. I.e. these people should deserve higher respect because they protect our country. Never mind all of other who serve our the country in other capacity and make their military service possible, but that's the attitude... especially when it comes to the higher ranks.

American indepence was was won by the brown coats. The regular people defending themselves from invasion. That's the ideal "military" that any country should have, and that's what I believe Jefferson meant when he thought that "every citizen should be a soldier". It was truly voluntary and conviction based action... not because it paid money, or because it drawn respect.

Not to say that there are no people like that in our military today, but I encounter less and less military and civilian servants who earn my respect... and more and more who outright demand it.

[LifeHiscost]

We might all be speaking another language if all americans followed our example.

To some extent this like saying "God can't work His plans out in our lives unless I vow to blow somebody away if my country's security is threatened".

I was in the Marine Corps as a volunteer before committing my life to Jesus but felt like I was in prison for the three years I was there.

After maturing (at least to some degree) as a Christian, I eventually came to the conclusion that if I were able to put a gun to Jesus' head and pull the trigger, I could join the military in all good conscience.

"And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." Matthew 25:40 KJV

And how would you be able to tell who your brother was on the battle field? Especially when we can be fairly certain there are some Christians in almost any large body of people. And if not actually Christian, perhaps potential Christians if somebody had delivered a Christian tract instead of a bomb.

I wonder how many servants of God died when the two atomic bombs almost totally wiped Hiroshima and Nagasaki off the earth? As I understand it, there were about a quarter million who lost their lives immediately on the explosion of the bombs while another 150,000 died horrible lingering deaths for the next so many months.

"If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen."1 John 4:20 NASB

Regards!