Military Service

Christian Churches affirm that military service is morally permissible for believers. There is no biblical prohibition against Christians serving as soldiers, and just war theory is generally accepted as the appropriate moral framework for evaluating warfare. The Restoration Movement, rooted in nineteenth-century America, maintains a just-war consensus rather than pacifism.

Governments are ordained by God to maintain order and punish evildoing (Romans 13:1-4). Military service can be a legitimate expression of civic duty and responsibility to protect the innocent. Believers may serve in the military and participate in just wars without compromising their faith, though individual conscience and careful discernment should guide decisions about particular conflicts.

Unlike the Anabaptist tradition (Mennonites, Amish) or Catholic and Orthodox peace traditions, Christian Churches have not emphasized Christian pacifism as a countercultural witness. The majority affirmation is that military service is compatible with Christian faith, though individual conscience should be respected if someone conscientiously objects.