IT IS BETTER TO OBEY GOD RATHER THAN MEN

According to the United States Selective Service the requirements to qualify as a conscientious objector status are given below.

 In the United States, to be classified as a conscientious objector individuals must demonstrate a sincere belief, based on religious, ethical or moral grounds, that they cannot participate in war in any form.  This belief must be deeply held and central to their life, not simply a matter of political opinion or self interest.  The selective service system (SSS) evaluates claims based on these factors, considering the individual’s beliefs are sincerely held and whether they are opposed to participation in all wars, not just specific conflicts.  Failure to register with the SSS is a felony punishable by a fine of up to $250,000 and/or 5 years imprisonment.  Congress passed the selective service act on May 18, 1917.

When I was a member of the Worldwide Church of GOD all men of draft age were to inform the Selective Service of their conscientious objectors status.  The WCG had members all around the world.  If compelled to go to war the possibility existed that one member of the WCG may be forced to kill another.  It could also be that a member could be placed in a circumstance where he would be committing suicide by war. 

 The WCG had to provide the SSS with some proof that members of the church were indeed serious about and morally committed to their belief to not kill anyone for any reason except in instances of personal attacks against self or the innocent.  Self defense is not national defense, there is a huge difference. One is motivated by love but the other by hatred of the enemy and law. Matthew 5:44  Isaiah 29:13  The WCG realized the hypocrisy of their members voting for government officials that have laws which send men to war while claiming conscientious objectors status.  I hope the reader can see the obvious conflict of interest here.  Mark 7:8,9  

It was ruled into official church doctrine that the official position of the church with respect to political participation in government and voting would be a sin because the governments of men attempt to force its citizens to kill others in war. War is not love no matter which side your on.  Romans 13:10  

The church also realized that there were other laws of the nation that conflicted with the law of GOD.  Examples; forcing by law to accept homosexuality, transgenderism, child mutilation, elimination of parental rights, abortion and other matters that directly violate GODS will.  Therefore it was spiritually sound to make it doctrine that the WCG would be totally apolitical and nonpartisan, nonparticipating in any form of human government and acknowledging only the government of GOD.  Members were to truly be spiritual ambassadors of the kingdom of GOD, thus removing them from the governments of men.  This ruling by the church more than met the selective service requirements because the church was willing to give up their “constitutional rights” in order to avoid participation in war. 

 The ignorant of this world labeled the men of the WCG cowards but in reality it took far more courage and dedication to GOD and Christ to obey spiritual commands, or, it is better to obey GOD rather than men.  

 Unconverted people glorify war and those who fight in them but a true Christian is a Christian soldier for Christ and the weapons of our warfare are not carnal like bombs, machine guns or cannons; our chief weapon is love followed by faith, grace and hope.  2 Corinthians 10:4   Do we kill our enemies or do we pray for them ?  Would a true Holy Spirit inspired Christian voluntarily go to war and kill just because some human government says they have to ?  Human governments throughout history have always had laws that are unjust and unGODLY. 

To be able to understand the things written in this article one must use the spirit of GOD.  Even if you are a carnal person perhaps you may remember the Vietnam War.  58,000 young men, some no more than boys, were slaughtered for nothing and many more maimed for life.  The same is true of the Korean War, 36,500 dead. 

 William Tecumseh Sherman, famous civil war general, said, “war is hell” ,  Sherman, in his tactics was extremely cruel to the enemy and had the goal of absolute destruction of them.  While this seems cruel, Sherman’s philosophy was that if war was made so viciously cruel men would not be in such a hurry to fight them, perhaps avoid them. 

General Sherman said, “I think I know what military fame is; to be killed on the field of battle and have your name misspelled in the newspapers” .  “It is only those who have neither fired a shot nor heard the shrieks and groans of the wounded who cry aloud for more blood, more vengeance, more desolation. War is hell.”  

The WCG was wrong about many things but on some things it was right and their decision about war was correct along with what they did to prove the church’s commitment to GOD.  On this subject, the use of violence, many have debated for centuries with no clear cut answer.  

When it comes to the use of violence it must be a personal use not political or governmental.  It is you and you alone that makes the decision to use or not use violence.  Violence is used in love, believe it or not, you act with force to defend self, family or a stranger  from evil people that harm others.  It is not love to watch a man beat up an old woman in an attempt to steal her purse and do nothing. Love is a verb that requires action otherwise it’s an empty word.  Sometimes love may require violence.  I hope you can see that when motivated by love violence is good, it is evil when love is not the motive.  A Christian should never use violence with the goal to end the evil persons life unless the situation demands it.  I hope you know how to distinguish between this. 

 All Christians should crave peace for all people but in this evil world that is not so.  No Christian should even desire to engage in violence, but will in the event it is necessary to combat evil. Christians should always pray to never be in a situation where they have to use violence.  GOD will see the thoughts and intents of your human spirit and HE will know what your motivation is based upon.  Romans 12:18   Proverbs 16:17   Psalm 82:4   James 1:27   How can you truly love your neighbor if you stand by and do nothing when his life is in danger.  James 2:16   1 John 3:17,18   In these verses it mainly deals with lesser dangers but does that exclude greater dangers ?  If it is love to do good to neighbor by saving him from thieves or bodily harm but if you do not do it then this is sin.  James 4:17 

My primary intent in this article was to show true Christians that they must not participate in the evil of the governments of men.  That it is indeed a sin to claim to be a child of GODS kingdom while actively being part of Satans kingdom.  To see the examples I gave and the scriptures I provided. To understand the proper use of violence motivated by love not by hatred and human governments.  To know that GOD sees our true motive for everything and if that motive is rooted in HIS love it cannot be sin.  Hebrews 4:12