Jan Paulsen, President of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, has reaffirmed the church’s historic noncombatant position. Via Tim.
Clear Thinking about Military Service.
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. …
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.
And yet he will not turn his back on those who have made the choice and entered military service.
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.
See also this page: Adventists in the Military.
2 Comments
March 12, 2008 at 11:37 pm
Bill,
I have your blog on my rss reader and noticed you posted this article. It’s great isn’t it?
Good to find an Adventist post on Oak Leaves.
Be well!
March 13, 2008 at 5:33 am
Ha. I think my readership is still largely Catholic, with some Lutherans, some Jews, some Muslims … and yes, some Adventists.
Did you know you can’t find “Seventh-day Adventist” in The Great Controversy?
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