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QUESTION 78:
Should a Christian go to war to fight and kill people?

ANSWER:
In the Old Testament they were commanded to go to war and kill their enemies. Numbers 26:2 "Take the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, from twenty years old and upward, throughout their fathers' house, all that are able to go to war in Israel." 2 Samuel 22:35, David could say, "He teacheth my hands to war; so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms." The reason is clear. God was dealing with their enemies in judgment and He used His people to do that. In the New Testament this is not so. God is not dealing with His enemies in judgment. When Peter thought to used the sword, but Jesus said, "Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?" (John 18:11) Again, Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom vants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. (John 18:36) Again, "And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit of the Old Testament was in this world and His servants were to fight, but not so in this day of grace.

A Christian would violate every one of the nine fruits of the Spirit to fight.(Galatians 5:22) When the disciples wanted to call down fire from heaven and consume the enemies He rebuked them.

All comments and questions to: Harold Smith

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Updated July 2009, by Shelly Allen