Military Service

Non-denominational evangelical Christianity broadly accepts military service as a legitimate and honorable vocation, standing within the classical just war tradition. Government authority is divinely ordained (Romans 13), and the defense of innocent life and just order through military force can be consistent with Christian discipleship. Veterans are frequently honored in non-denominational evangelical churches, and military chaplaincy is supported.

The just war tradition — the criteria by which a war may be considered just (proper authority, just cause, right intention, proportionality, last resort) — is the framework most commonly used by non-denominational evangelical ethicists to evaluate military action. Many non-denominational evangelical churches have significant military families in their congregations, particularly in regions near military installations, and pastoral care for veterans and active-duty servicemembers is a common ministry focus.

Pacifism is a minority position within non-denominational evangelicalism, held by some individual Christians but not taught as the denominational norm. Non-denominational evangelical churches generally do not take formal political stances on specific conflicts, but the moral legitimacy of military service itself is not in question across the movement.