can a Christian join the Marines?

[Supersquishy]

You could always join the Peace Corps.

[Gary Hall]

I guess it would have been better if all the hundreds of thousand of Christians who fought in WWII just stayed home and gone to church while Hitler and the SS killed a few million more Jews. Would you approve of that as being "Christian"???

The Catholic Church didn't fight, but they also were silent while millions were slaughtered. Is that Christian???

So don't join and you can fulfill the words of Edmund Burke:

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."

Ameriken, if you ever run for office, you got my vote. But more specifically, your words are offered in the Holy Bible. Kindest regards & Gung Ho. Gary Hall

[Skosh59]

Maybe you should read your own signature.
" LIVE for SOMETHING, Or DIE for NOTHING"

[Phantom Blooper]

See I told you..... Theologians are going to beat the hell out of this!

[Isrowei]

Ok, this is from Mr. Vance's website:
http://www.vancepublications.com/about%20lmv.htm

Laurence M. Vance, Ph.D., is a teacher, an author, a publisher, a freelance writer, the editor of the Classic Reprints series, and the director of the Francis Wayland Institute. He holds degrees in history, theology, accounting, and economics. The author of sixteen books, he regularly contributes articles and book reviews to both secular and religious periodicals. Dr. Vance's writing interests include free market economics, taxation, government spending and corruption, the socialism and statism of conservative pundits and Republican politicians, Baptist theology, English Bible history, Greek grammar, and the folly of war. He is a regular columnist for LewRockwell.com, and blogs for LewRockwell.com, Mises.org, and Antiwar.com. Dr. Vance is a member of the Society of Biblical Literature, the Grace Evangelical Society, and the International Society of Bible Collectors, and is an adjunct scholar of the Ludwig von Mises Institute.



First off, how can you expect an honest unbiased view from someone who blogs for such places as "Antiwar.com"? And he proudly claims to write on the "folly of war". Yeah, you see where this is going.

Let me ask you this: Our founding fathers took up guns and killed men to make this country free. They invoked God to make them successful in their endeavor. According to Mr. Vance, the very creation of our country is an affront to God.

In fact, he goes so far as to say (in the article you quoted) that merely repeating the Pledge of Allegiance is taking the Lord's name in vain.

This defies all rational thought frankly.

We could pick that essay apart, piece by piece, but you say you're old enough to make your own conclusion... I suggest you start doing more "research" outside of the small sector of biased theologians you seem to have come up with.

[mjhpgh]

In fact, he goes so far as to say (in the article you quoted) that merely repeating the Pledge of Allegiance is taking the Lord's name in vain.

This defies all rational thought frankly.

Exactly why I posted that part of the article.He portrays the USA as being full of sin (maybe use the word infidel where have we heard that before) . To say God bless America is using the Lords name in vein?

With this logic to say God bless you to any unrepentant sinner would be Taking the Lords name in vein. Does this sound like the way Jesus acted?

There are many who use religion to justify their cause ,be it war or or antiwar .You must decide for yourself what is right or wrong .If a verse is quoted as proof of something look at the context of the chapter and paragraph .

[Phantom Blooper]

can a Christian join the Marines?

Ask your family and friends what the chapels are for on Marine Corps installations....if not for worship....prayer meetings...memorials ect.

Although most chapels are multi-functional for all faiths or at least they were.

[BR34]

A non-Christian would have a lot more trouble in the Marine Corps than a Christian.

[bonedaddy0313]

Simply put, One nation under God......
This country was built on Christianity (All presidents swear an oath on the HOLY BIBLE).Why would the Marine's be any different, as we are cut from the same cloth.

[samthomas]

I am a born-again Christian. My family has been trying to discourage me from joining, mostly because what the Marines do contradicts what we believe as Christians.

Being a Christian is not neceaarily easy while in the Marines. Some elements fo the culture do go against what you should stand for, but this is no reason to avoid serving.

I like to look to John the Baptist, the first of the New Testament preachers (or last of the Old Testament prophets depending on your viewpoint...). When he was baptizing and preaching repentence and faith in the coming of the Mesiah, different groups came to him, and he gave advice. When the soldiers came and asked "What shall we do?" his reply gave him the perfect opportunity to condemn their service, instead he said: "Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages." He addressed the sinful actions that they were committing, and commanded that they be faithful in their duties. If you want to serve, do so faithfully. Avoid the sinful activities that you may come across, and serve both your Lord and nation with honor.

As for Mr. Vance, his article barrely deserves a thought. It is wholey lacking in sound theology. One point that sticks out is his interpretation of the fourth commandment. I am a sabbaterian; I hold to the view that the Lord''s Day is to be set aside, and primarily focused on the worship of God. At the same time, I recognize that military service does not violate this commandment. Jesus is very clear that certain actions are works of necessity, things that can be completed with a clear conscience on the Lord's Day (Sabbath). This would include a number of things, such as paramedics, police officers, military personnel, doctors, and the guy who misses church because he is helping a neighbor out of the ditch.

[samthomas]

His emphasis on the seventh commandment is likewise without merit. It is sinful to join the military because some (many, few, whatever you want) personnel with recreate with prostitutes. This is just ridiculous. While it may be true that some will do this, the point is no more valid than saying that one shouldn’t go to college, because you will be exposed to the opposite sex, and may fornicate…There is a lot of sexual nonsense going on in the Marines, whether literally or in the minds of the Marines. This is about self-control, not the Marine Corps being a sinful institution.

Think about what you believe, don’t just listen to your parents and family. It is ultimately your faith that will determine the outcome. If you want to serve, there are many ways to reconcile your faith with the mission.

[CalahanD]

Psalms 144:1 david says...Blessed be the lord my rock who trains my hands for war and my fingers to fight. Do you not understand christianity? God doesnt frown upon war. Plus not every Marine goes out and fights, it depends on your job. You need to study some more in your beliefs and in the Marine Corps.

[Gary Hall]

Read the Manuals, especially the Rule Book of Life, the Holy Bible. Then you'll be on solid ground. Forget about this diplomatic cheap talk of "dealing with it", read the Word.

In the Book of Joshua, chapter 7, Moses is gone and now Joshua is the CIC of the Lord's Army. Joshua & his troops are now at Jericho and ready to do battle. The Lord has previously told them to "Kill everyone except Rahab the prostitute and anyone in her home, for she protected our people. Don't take any loot for everything is to be destroyed.".

The people of Israel then poured into the city from every side and destroyed everything, men and women, young & old, oxen, sheep, donkeys--everything.

My conclusion would be don't start a war if you don't have the wisdom to win it. Don't bomb a while then shut down a while and let the diplomats loose with cheap talk and make it worse.

Kill 'em all, such that the winner can walk around unopposed, says the Bible. Kindest regards and Gung Ho, Gary Hall.

[Petz]

so where is the OP?? he's prayed on it... has he come to a conclusion?

[BR34]

He's Sunday morning, he's probably at church.