members of the Church of Christ are conscientiously opposed to serving in
the military:
The military openly advocates, teaches and demands of its subjects the use
of carnal weapons against all enemies foreign and domestic.......The
writings of the New Testament, which is the absolute religious standard by
which all true disciples recognize as being authoritative, clearly teach that a
faithful disciple of Jesus Christ, cannot personally under any circumstance
engage in the use carnal weaponry against any peoples who may consider
themselves as our enemy.
In Matthew 26: 52, Jesus forbids the use of carnal weapons in this way by
stating to a disciple of His, “Put up again thy sword.....for all that take
the sword shall perish with the sword."
In John 18: 36, Jesus states to a Roman governor, “My kingdom is not of
this world, if my kingdom were of this world then would my servants
fight that I should not be delivered to the Jews..."
In II Corinthians 10: 4, the Bible says, “For the weapons of our warfare
are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of
strongholds; casting down imaginations and every high thing that
exalteth itself against the knowledge of God and bringing into
captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”
As faithful disciples of Jesus Christ, He has never placed upon us as His
people, the responsibility of using carnal weapons against enemies, and
has actually condemned those who do. Thus as His disciples we are
conscientiously opposed to using them for reasons the military openly
advocates, teaches and demands of its given subjects in given
circumstances. The military openly advocates and teaches to their subjects
the necessity of killing other human beings under certain directive
circumstances, (i.e...in times of war, in defending the constitution of the
United States, or in obeying direct orders from Appointed Officers or the
President of the USA).....
In Romans 13: 6-10, the Bible says, “Owe no man any thing, but to love
one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. 9For
this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt
not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet;
and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended
in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
10Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the
fulfilling of the law.”
In Romans 12:17, there the Bible states, “Recompense to no man evil
for evil”.....In Ephesians 6: 12, the Bible says, “For we wrestle not
against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers,
against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual
wickedness in high places.”
Specifically, one who is a disciple of Jesus Christ is forbidden by the
Authority of the New Testament Scriptures in taking the life of another
human being regardless of the circumstances. His conscientious battle in
life is not to the defending of propositions arranged by physical conflict
between nations, or by political governments, but rather disciples of Christ
carry the solemn responsibility on earth to combat spiritual wickedness in
high places, not physical directive circumstances arranged by military or
governing bodies. Thus as members of the Church of Christ we are
conscientiously opposed to being affiliated to a uniform code of military
justice where it may require by personal involvement the killing of human life
by given order.
It is required of those serving in the military to take an oath by swearing to
give true faith and allegiance in defending the constitution of the United
States against all enemies foreign and domestic......In Matthew 5:33-37,
Jesus Christ said, “Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by
them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform
unto the Lord thine oaths: 34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all;
neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne: 35 Nor by the earth; for it
is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great
King. 36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst
not make one hair white or black. 37 But let your communication be,
Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of
evil.” Jesus clearly reveals in these verses that his disciples were not to
take an oath, by which they could not keep. In swearing by oath to give true
faith and allegiance in fulfilling responsibilities in service to the military and
the United States constitution, the disciple would put himself into a position
of swearing an oath that he possibly and likely could not keep.
For example, if he was ordered by command of a high ranking officials in
the military to directly or indirectly kill another human being according to the
uniform code of military justice and yet he did not follow the order due to
being conscientiously opposed to killing another human being, he would
break the oath he had swore to when he entered the military. Jesus
instructs that one should not take any oath, unless he knows for sure that
he can keep the oath according to his word. As we have already shown, a
disciple cannot under any circumstance personally and with clear
conscience kill another human being according to the revealed precepts of
Jesus Christ, thus it is impossible to swear an oath, which involves directly
or indirectly the involvement of the killing of human lives. Therefore, as
disciples and members of the church of Christ, we are conscientiously
opposed to affiliating ourselves to the military directly or indirectly because
we cannot take an oath which we cannot with our word of integrity keep and
maintain.
Serving in any form of military service, provides an environment of conflict
whereby the disciple of Christ can be religiously hindered in fulfilling his
quest to consistently and with clear conscience faithfully worship on the 1st
day of every week as a faithful member of the Church of Christ....As a
faithful disciple, it is mandatory and appointed by the Authority of the New
Testament Scriptures that all disciples of Jesus Christ are to assemble to
worship with faithful brethren on the 1st day of every week to commune,
have fellowship, and give monetarily as they have been prospered.
In Hebrews 10: 25-26 the Bible says, “Not forsaking the assembling of
ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one
another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. 26
For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of
the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.”
In Acts 20: 7, “And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples
came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them.......”
In I Corinthians 16:1-2 - Now concerning the collection for the
saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do
ye. 2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him
in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings
when I come.
These verses reveal that the Divine rule for all disciples of Christ is that
they have a religious obligation to meet before the Lord and do so with
faithful members of the Church on the 1st day of every week to commune,
worship, and give according to their prosperity into a local treasury. By the
pure nature of serving in the military (even in noncombatant occupations),
these religious obligations can easily be hindered, such as being called to
war in a location where a recognized faithful congregation does not exist.
Because of this environment, and the possible dilemmas that can be
produced, we are therefore conscientiously opposed to serving in the
military.
Please note that we harbor no ill feelings towards current or former
members of any branch of the service. If you are currently serving or are a
veteran, then God has given you time and opportunity (as is apparent by
the fact that you are reading this now) to study these things on your own
and come to an understanding of the scriptural teachings on this important
subject. Many of our dearest brethren, especially those of "the greatest
generation," served during world war II. These men later came home, heard
the Gospel, obeyed its call, and became harbingers of the truth and
stalwarts of the faith. If you are a serviceman or woman or a veteran, we
salute you and invite you now to answer a higher calling in serving God.
Continue to "Conscientious Objector Letter"
