Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Church of God (Anderson, Indiana)
Affirms

Military service permitted; no pacifist theology; Christians may bear arms in defense

The Universal Church of the Kingdom of God does not forbid military service or bear arms. There is no pacifist tradition within the UCKG, and believers are not prohibited from serving in the military or from using force in self-defense. This stance reflects the UCKG's evangelical Protestant heritage and its context in Brazil and other regions where pacifism is not culturally salient.

The UCKG's theology of spiritual warfare does not translate into rejection of physical warfare or military service. Rather, the church distinguishes between spiritual warfare (prayer, fasting, rebuking demonic forces) and physical warfare (military conflict, self-defense). Both are understood as legitimate forms of resistance to evil and oppression. Believers who serve in the military are expected to maintain their Christian commitments and to conduct themselves with integrity and moral seriousness.

The UCKG does not celebrate violence or warfare, but it acknowledges that in a fallen world marked by evil and demonic opposition, physical conflict and military service may be necessary and justified. Believers are called to engage in both spiritual and physical resistance to evil in their respective contexts.

Key Distinctions

Official stance:
believers in military expected to maintain Christian integrity
Practical stance:
both recognized; spiritual and physical resistance to evil

Scripture References

Sources

  • UCKG Teachings on Church and State
  • Macedo, Edir. 'Believers in the World' — UCKG perspective on Christian civic engagement