COGs, Military Service, and Veteran’s Day

There were riots in Rome yesterday over a soccer incident–violence seems not to know any boundaries.

Today is a day off for most Americans. It is called Veteran’s Day–a day to remember those who served in the military.

FWIW, I happen to be a veteran myself as I served four years in the US military.

The historical position of the true Christian Church is that its members do not become part of the military, and if they are in for some reason, that they “do violence to no man” (Luke 3:14, KJV).

However, since the break-up of the old WCG, some relative few affiliated with the COGs have changed and believe it is acceptable for true Christians to be part of the military and kill others.

Furthermore, some of these few are somewhat vocal. And some seem to wish to poke fun at those of us who hold to the original Christian teachings on this matter.

The Journal: New of the Churches of God sent out an email today with a listing of some articles that came out in its last issue (which was about two or so months ago). The headline of one was:

Are there CO hawks in the Churches of God?

By Wes White

The satirical article basically hints that many in the COGs advocate military intervention, but we hold to a pacifist position because we are afraid that we or our children may be hurt in war. The term “hypocrite” seems to be used to describe those that Wes White feels are “chicken hawks” (those who favor military intervention, but are afraid to participate in the military).

While there are hypocrites pretty much everywhere, those of us who hold to actual Christian teachings know full well that we hold to them because we believe that the Bible teaches them. The fact that many in the COGs understand why governments will intervene militarily neither makes us “hawks” (war-mongers) nor “chickens” (pacifists due to cowardice).

Actually, while those unrepentant who break the commandment against killing will not be in the Kingdom of God (Revelation 22:15), neither will the “cowardly” (Revelation 21:8).

It is not cowardice to stand up for true Christian teachings–even if people call us names that imply it.

As far as Veteran’s Day itself, we in the COGs, even though we are pacifists, do respect the fact that many have made the ultimate physical sacrifice for their own ideas of duty or some other calling. But we do not advocate carnal warfare and do not believe that true Christians should be part of the military in this age as Jesus taught in John 18:36.

An article of related interest would be Military Service and the Churches of God: Do Real Christians Participate in Carnal Warfare?