Thankyou, I did find that interesting. I don't recall the topic of pacifism having any teaching in my Pentecostal youth. I do recall going to Remembrance Day services where the Salvation Army and other Christian faith groups had a memorial service at a memorial place in the city. It was anything promoted by the Pentecostals. I looked forward as a youngster to them shooting off a canon during these services.
I remember showing up one Sunday in my early years at the MB church wearing a poppy on my lapel, around Nov 11th, and was a bit surprised that few wore them. Mostly those who wore had come from non-Mennonite backgrounds. Later in life I attended a Baptist church and most showed up wearing poppies and a part of the service was had to remember those 'who had died for our freedom' and the names of previous church members who were killed in the wars were read.
I still buy and wear a poppy to donate to what I believe is a good cause and for me, wear it as a reminder of how terrible wars are and how often they are caused by a single individual who can sway the masses of people for their cause. I guess the Hitlers and Putins and the anti-Christ will keep doing this until Jesus comes back and establishes His Kingdom in fullness over His world. YMMV.
Meanwhile we are in a spiritual war that requires spiritual warfare equipment and warring techniques. This is probably where we should be focusing our attention for this war is not against flesh and blood but is a war we are to be engaged in. It is the tearing down of strongholds in people's minds that keep them from becoming Kingdom citizens and soldiers of the cross. Satan loves to get us side-tracked and fighting with each other over whatever and he can do it in a way of convincing us that this is what 'taking a stand' is about. But are we taking territory for the Lord or not.
Well, I am feeling pretty guilty so I best get practicing more of what I'm preaching.