Many have fought, suffered and died for this country. If I hold that Christians are to love their enemies and not kill them, what should I think of these who have fought? They include, after all, members of my family, for instance my paternal grandfather who almost died in a mustard gas attack in the Black Forest of Germany in World War I.
1. I honor courage and character wherever I see it. I understand that God works in two different ways in the world. The State operates on the level of an “eye for an eye,” and is “God’s servant” (Romans 13:4) to suppress evil until Jesus returns. The church works on the higher level of the kingdom of God in loving all people including giving mercy to enemies. When soldiers display character, even though it may be below what I think Jesus calls Christians to practice, I still recognize and honor it in its own context. Not as a model for Christians, but as noble nonetheless.
So yes, it is good to honor those who have shown forth character. But it is best to call all people to be soldiers in the kingdom of God; to God’s higher way. It is best for us all to display the character of Jesus in our lives – working hard and sacrificing to spread the gospel, laying down our lives in love for others and showing forth courage even as we face opposition and worse in the work of the kingdom of God.
2. I am grateful for the benefits of peace. I know that it is ultimately in God’s hands who wins a war and whether a nation stands or falls. I also know that we are to trust in the Lord for our peace and not in the military (Psalm 33:16-17). But I also recognize that God uses the State and its soldiers for his own purposes. And this has brought me peace (thus far) in my lifetime.
But I would never ask a soldier to fight or sacrifice for me. Christians have not been promised political peace, security and freedom in this life. As Jesus said, “In the world [we] will have tribulation” (John 16:33). What we are promised is suffering and persecution. For sure, Jesus didn’t have political peace and freedom. He had suffering and persecution. Paul and the early Christians had the same. So I cannot make an idol out of peace, so that I hate my enemies in order to gain it. Nor can I ask others to do this for me. Peace is not the highest good. Following Jesus is. As a Christian I must be willing at any time to suffer the loss of my peace.
