|
HOUSMAIL HM005 1998 SHOULD CHRISTIANS BAPTISE MILITARY PERSONNEL? We receive many questions about Christian Pacifism. This one
arrived this morning. QUESTION Should Christians baptise military personnel and officers of the
law as the apostles did in the first century? ANSWER Perhaps the question is a bit too simplistic. There are a number
of OTHER important questions which should be asked, ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS,
before deciding whether it is appropriate to baptise a soldier (or anyone
else for that matter). One soldier might qualify ..... another might not! (It would be
no different for a bank robber, or an adulterer!) Baptism is for "Remission of Sins". (Acts 2:38) It is the response
to belief in the Gospel. If it is what it should be, it is the visible
outward sign of a repentant heart. The Gospel preached by JESUS, calls ALL of us (soldiers
included) to become peacemakers ..... and forgiveness does depend on BOTH
Repentance AND Baptism. (Acts 2:38) The NEW COMMANDMENT given by Jesus, calls us to love one
another, as sacrificially as Jesus loves us. Jesus said that ALL MEN would be
able to know whether we are disciples or not, by our response to that
commandment. (John 13:34-35) Could you be convinced that another Christian loved you, while
he was busy shooting at you, or dropping bombs on you? Could you convince
yourself that you were doing what Jesus meant, while you were busy doing
those things to other people? And could Christians who were making war on
each other, convince UNBELIEVERS that they were doing what Jesus would do? It comes down to how we measure REPENTANCE on the part of a
soldier who is responding to the Gospel. It is difficult to understand how a
soldier could make a commitment to become a peacemaker (Matthew 5:9) without at the same
time REPENTING of war making. It would seem to be logical to at least ask the
question about his plans for the future, before proceeding with a baptism! If he was determined to remain a war maker, ready to either to
give orders, or obey orders, to kill on command (including other
"Christians" on the opposite side!) one would have to ask whether
he yet understood the REAL cost of becoming a disciple of Jesus. Disciples who have committed themselves to follow Jesus in
radical obedience to the Sermon on the Mount, ought to be very uneasy about
proceeding with the baptism of a soldier, who did not yet understand what
Jesus meant when He called us to become "Peacemakers". The early history of the Church records the cases of many Roman
soldiers who became Christians and laid down their arms, at great personal
cost. Of course, there is still the specific case of Cornelius to
consider. (Acts 10) Suggest you read: Bible Digest No 16 - CORNELIUS AND
PACIFISM Allon |