I'm curious about how to reconcile Jesus' attitude towards enemies with the Old Testament's. Further, I'm curious how a Christian is to view the maintenance of a standing army to protect a country's way of life. Can a Christian soldier ever attack an enemy? -- Geoff (Los Angeles)

This question brings us into waters seldom plowed by the vessels of most Bible readers! In Matthew 5, Jesus absolutely forbids us from being uncharitable towards our enemies, and in Matthew 7 adds that we are to do to others as we would have them do to us. This means it is wrong for a Christian to abuse, kill, or otherwise harm his enemy. (It's wrong even not to forgive them or pray for them, isn't it?) Accordingly, the early Christians chose consistently to be killed rather than to kill their enemies. This is not to say that there were not Christians in the imperial armies; yet they had joined the army before baptism, and after conversion refused to take up the sword, as their Lord enjoined them (Mathew 26:52).

As an American, I enjoy many privileges secured and preserved by our nation's standing army. I freely admit nearly all the reasons for the powerful US military are economic. (As a younger man, I cherished a somewhat loftier and nobler view of politics!) Often I am deeply ashamed of the crass materialism behind much of the politics of our nation, especially when it masquerades as honorable and noble. You ask me how I, as a Christian, view this standing army. I ask you a question: Was it the way of Jesus to use force to preserve his life, let alone his "way of life"?

Finally, under the old covenant, the church and state were one, and on some occasions warfare was tolerated or even commanded (see Deuteronomy 20, e.g.). But today we as a church are separate from the state, and the way of Christ is not political (John 6:15, 18:36). Around 400 AD, after the fires of persecution abated and church and state became one again (the Holy Roman Empire), killing one's enemies was authorized. So was torturing "heretics" (those who disagreed with the church party line). During the Reformation (1500s), Luther and Calvin brought the church back to the 4th century (not the 1st, as they claimed), approving of killing. This has remained the mainline Protestant position ever since. I believe you would appreciate Driver's little book on Christians and the military, though I urge you to study the Bible for yourself and come to your own conclusions on the matter.

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