God and War

[Ernie]

War is never the answer or appropriate response. There are always better ways.

Tell that to God the Father, He seems to have (& will) show otherwise.

If in the next life I get asked to help conquer the enemies of God in war, if I still think like I do now, I will ask if there is a possibility of conscientious objector status and whether I can do something like serve at the wedding banquet instead.

[Valerie]

War is never the answer or appropriate response. There are always better ways.

.
Tell that to God the Father, He seems to have (& will) show otherwise.

If in the next life I get asked to help conquer the enemies of God in war, if I still think like I do now, I will ask if there is a possibility of conscientious objector status and whether I can do something like serve at the wedding banquet.

I’d feel the same way.

[ken_sylvania]

War is never the answer or appropriate response. There are always better ways.

Tell that to God the Father, He seems to have (& will) show otherwise.

If in the next life I get asked to help conquer the enemies of God in war, if I still think like I do now, I will ask if there is a possibility of conscientious objector status and whether I can do something like serve at the wedding banquet instead.

I'm not even sure how to interpret that? That sounds like the people who, when God asks them to do something, ask if they can't do something else for Him instead of what he asked them to do.

[ohio jones]

Tell that to God the Father, He seems to have (& will) show otherwise.

If in the next life I get asked to help conquer the enemies of God in war, if I still think like I do now, I will ask if there is a possibility of conscientious objector status and whether I can do something like serve at the wedding banquet instead.

I'm not even sure how to interpret that? That sounds like the people who, when God asks them to do something, ask if they can't do something else for Him instead of what he asked them to do.

One of the prophets learned a lesson about that. But of course that was Old Testament.

[Ernie]

Tell that to God the Father, He seems to have (& will) show otherwise.

If in the next life I get asked to help conquer the enemies of God in war, if I still think like I do now, I will ask if there is a possibility of conscientious objector status and whether I can do something like serve at the wedding banquet instead.

I'm not even sure how to interpret that? That sounds like the people who, when God asks them to do something, ask if they can't do something else for Him instead of what he asked them to do.

I have no idea how things will be in the next life,
but my point is, if I am asked in this life to have my mind and heart renewed and transformed to be like the mind of Christ, and I enter the next world in the same frame of mind that I am in now, I expect that Christ will understand my hesitancy to take up the sword.
But whether or not he will ask me to do that is beyond my realm of knowledge or understanding as a human on this earth.
I trust the Judge of all the earth and will wait to see what is in store for us.

[barnhart]

If in the next life I get asked to help conquer the enemies of God in war, if I still think like I do now, I will ask if there is a possibility of conscientious objector status and whether I can do something like serve at the wedding banquet instead.

I'm not even sure how to interpret that? That sounds like the people who, when God asks them to do something, ask if they can't do something else for Him instead of what he asked them to do.

I have no idea how things will be in the next life,
but my point is, if I am asked in this life to have my mind and heart renewed and transformed to be like the mind of Christ, and I enter the next world in the same frame of mind that I am in now, I expect that Christ will understand my hesitancy to take up the sword.
But whether or not he will ask me to do that is beyond my realm of knowledge or understanding as a human on this earth.
I trust the Judge of all the earth and will wait to see what is in store for us.

I once had a strong dispensationalist type ask what I will do when Jesus returns and leads his people into the battle of armeggedon. I told him I will keep doing the same thing, follow Jesus. I don't always do it well currently and sometimes I don't understand it, so maybe I won't be that good at it then either.

[joshuabgood]

If I read the OT the way some folks seem to, and believed about God what some folks do, I'd be pro-war too. And it would feel good to have a man like Pete Hegseth in charge.

Here am I send me.

But I don't, I think Jesus is the full revelation of God and the OT is and was insufficient to reveal God, hence he came in the flesh.

[JohnH]

If I read the OT the way some folks seem to, and believed about God what some folks do, I'd be pro-war too. And it would feel good to have a man like Pete Hegseth in charge.

Here am I send me.

But I don't, I think Jesus is the full revelation of God and the OT is and was insufficient to reveal God, hence he came in the flesh.

How do you reconcile that with the description of Jesus' return in the New Testament, where he's described as leading an army and wielding a sword against his enemies in the greatest battle of all time?

[Silentreader]

If in the next life I get asked to help conquer the enemies of God in war, if I still think like I do now, I will ask if there is a possibility of conscientious objector status and whether I can do something like serve at the wedding banquet instead.

I'm not even sure how to interpret that? That sounds like the people who, when God asks them to do something, ask if they can't do something else for Him instead of what he asked them to do.

I have no idea how things will be in the next life,
but my point is, if I am asked in this life to have my mind and heart renewed and transformed to be like the mind of Christ, and I enter the next world in the same frame of mind that I am in now, I expect that Christ will understand my hesitancy to take up the sword.
But whether or not he will ask me to do that is beyond my realm of knowledge or understanding as a human on this earth.
I trust the Judge of all the earth and will wait to see what is in store for us.

If Rev. 19:11-21 is being referred to, I am not sure that any striking or slaying is said to be done other than by He who is called "The Word of God". At that point judgement has been given into His All-sufficient Hand.

[Ernie]

I'm not even sure how to interpret that? That sounds like the people who, when God asks them to do something, ask if they can't do something else for Him instead of what he asked them to do.

I have no idea how things will be in the next life,
but my point is, if I am asked in this life to have my mind and heart renewed and transformed to be like the mind of Christ, and I enter the next world in the same frame of mind that I am in now, I expect that Christ will understand my hesitancy to take up the sword.
But whether or not he will ask me to do that is beyond my realm of knowledge or understanding as a human on this earth.
I trust the Judge of all the earth and will wait to see what is in store for us.

If Rev. 19:11-21 is being referred to, I am not sure that any striking or slaying is said to be done other than by He who is called "The Word of God". At that point judgement has been given into His All-sufficient Hand.

Revelation 2:26–27
“He who overcomes, and he who keeps my works to the end, to him I will give authority over the nations. He will rule them with a rod of iron, shattering them like clay pots; as I also have received of my Father.”
Revelation 17:14 — “They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”
Revelation 19:11-15
11 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.

I read Revelation as apocalyptic-symbolic-metaphoric so I don't know what the saints will do or not do.
Others read these things very literally. My comments were made lightly, while recognizing that if it turns out that Revelation to be very literal, then there are things that will need to be resolved in my mind and heart in some way.