Bearing Arms

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>I remember reading in a D.K. Bernard book (_Handbook of Basic
>Doctrines_, if my memory serves me correctly) that observance 
>of the biblical commandment "thou shall not kill" necessarily 
>includes refusal, on the part of a Christian, to assume a 
>combative position in the armed forces

Thou Shalt not Kill is one of the ten commandments originally
given to the Israelites.  Yet God led them to battle many 
times.  They were instructed by God not to leave any remnant
of the peoples they took land from.  So God led, even those He 
gave that command to, into to combat.  

I don't think this command, then, was meant to apply to war
or national defence.  It is commanding an individual not to 
make the decision of life or death for someone else.  But 
nations must make this decision at times of war.  That blood
is not on the fault of the soldier, but of the government.

-Dee Goepel
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