National Allegiance
Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2015 2:59 am
What is your guys' opinion of holding national allegiance, or pledging allegiance to a nation?
What level, if any, do you feel comfortable with?
I see two distinct levels of commitment - regular citizen & armed service:
At a citizen level, I feel fine with submitting to and supporting the government whose sphere of rule I find myself under. I pay my taxes, I follow the speed limit (usually), but is it correct for my to pledge citizen allegiance to a "state" other than the kingdom?
Beyond a regular citizen level, I do not believe I could swear an oath of service again to the military - or any other police/armed function of the state. I do not believe I should partake in pledging to support and defend - inherently with violence - a piece of paper which was made by man. I don't think I can again pledge to partake in killing another human because they stand opposed to "our" piece of paper. I do not see how a man-made paper is worth laying down my life for, or a biblically justified reason to take another life.
Additionally, inherent to national defense is the preemptive strike defense, or the "fight them there so we don't have to fight them here" methodology. This means I would partake in inflicting war and causalities on another people base, presumably because "my" fellow citizens hold some greater position to the other humans, and it is better them than us.
Not only is it decided that the outright attacker here is deserving being engaged in combat, but it is justifiable to bring the war to the supporter and the plotter, and such justification also covers any other collateral damage which might ensure from such a "proper" course of action.
There seem to be many justifiable reasons why a Christian should not be in armed service. But I waiver on the regular citizen pledge of allegiance issue.
I'm curious about any other positions here.
What level, if any, do you feel comfortable with?
I see two distinct levels of commitment - regular citizen & armed service:
At a citizen level, I feel fine with submitting to and supporting the government whose sphere of rule I find myself under. I pay my taxes, I follow the speed limit (usually), but is it correct for my to pledge citizen allegiance to a "state" other than the kingdom?
Beyond a regular citizen level, I do not believe I could swear an oath of service again to the military - or any other police/armed function of the state. I do not believe I should partake in pledging to support and defend - inherently with violence - a piece of paper which was made by man. I don't think I can again pledge to partake in killing another human because they stand opposed to "our" piece of paper. I do not see how a man-made paper is worth laying down my life for, or a biblically justified reason to take another life.
Additionally, inherent to national defense is the preemptive strike defense, or the "fight them there so we don't have to fight them here" methodology. This means I would partake in inflicting war and causalities on another people base, presumably because "my" fellow citizens hold some greater position to the other humans, and it is better them than us.
Not only is it decided that the outright attacker here is deserving being engaged in combat, but it is justifiable to bring the war to the supporter and the plotter, and such justification also covers any other collateral damage which might ensure from such a "proper" course of action.
There seem to be many justifiable reasons why a Christian should not be in armed service. But I waiver on the regular citizen pledge of allegiance issue.
I'm curious about any other positions here.