If you live in the US and somehow manage to hear some kind of news lately, you’ll hear that a big debate is the repeal of the “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy established by President Clinton. I started getting tired of hearing about it. In my opinion, the only people that should have a say in who is allowed in the military are the people who are actually in the military. No civilian would be affected by that policy remaining or being lifted. While considering this, my mind went to another question: why is this the issue we’re talking about?

Let me pose a second question. As a pacifist, believing that killing of any kind is wrong, shouldn’t I take the stand that *no one* should be allowed in the military? Obviously that’s absurd; only in a world where Jesus really reigns would a military be unnecessary. So then am I saying that the military is a necessary evil?

I never hear anyone in the church talking about banning the military. We holler all the time about sexual immorality, but what about the sanctity of life? Including (especially?) the lives of our enemies (Matthew 5:44). I never hear any talk in the church against the military even though to join it is to forfeit your membership in the ACC. It’s like it’s a topic we just ignore unless it pertains directly to one of us.

So I ask again – does that mean we as a church consider it to be a necessary evil? Answering that question to the positive opens up a whole host of other theological and moral issues. But answering “no” might mean we’re choosing not to do the good we know to do. I don’t have an answer, and I don’t mean this post as a criticism. It definitely has been a thought exercise I’ve been working on in my own head.

-j

*Many people like to use the wars that God encouraged or even started in the Old Testament as a justification for wars now. So called “just wars”. Everyone says war is an evil, but when they’re “just”, it’s somehow better. If there is a place where Jesus authorizes wars (aside from the Final one that He will lead), please show me.