i am a christian. i am pretty moral for my age or at least try to be. im not prude and i dont force this behavior on others i do it for me. anyway i will go into the military soon and want a one-way ticket to combat in iraq afghanistan or africa. i have my own personal reasons for this. my question is when can i justify taking anothers life. i donte want to kill anyone ,but i know that there is evil in this world that must be stopped. my only answer to this is to kill that which is evil (terrorism). byut, in the bible it clearly states that thou shall not kill. so, how do you get rid of this evil if you cant kill it. i am beating myself up everyday on this question and i'm just looking for some help. please help and thanks to everyone who took the time to read this!

I have always learned that the original Hebrew text is not simply "to kill" but "to murder" - meaning an unjust killing, the taking of an innocent life. In that context, dealing with the evil of the world would not fall under the true interpretation of the 6th commandment. On the flipside, there are times when the English "kill" is used elsewhere in Scripture where the Hebrew does not translate to "murder". It was a specific word choice, and unfortunately, watered down English translations can only do the original so much justice.

A good concordance (like Strong) would help you study this more if you'd like to do a personal in-depth study on the word choice.

Hey koscherness, I don't think you want a one way ticket to a combat zone. You might want to go but we always look for that return trip.

You may also want to do some research into the rules of engagement in Iraq right now...

When Hubby last left Iraq, they were not allowed to shoot unless first shot AT....... so,I would certainly say that falls into a moral action - defending yourself or others from a murderer...

God bless you!
Amy

What Flynn and Amy said are exactly what I was going to say. No worries...keep praying and know you're okay.

There is honor in being a soldier. Providing that you serve with honor.

The proof of this is the Centurian and his servant that Jesus healed from a distance.

As Jesus approached the Centurians house the Centurian hailed Him and asked that Jesus stop outside as he, the Centurian, felt that his house was unworty of being honored by the presence of Jesus. There is a passage there about a man being "under authority". In it, the soldier speaks of being a man under authority, and that he can tell a man go and he goes. He can tell a man come and he comes.

It was the Centurian saying this that is illuminating, in that it shows the Centurians understyanding that Jesus is under the authority of God and only acts with the power and authority that God has given him!!

It is after the Centurian speaks that Jesus says, Verily, I have not seen such faith in all of Israel, as I see in this man." It was to acknowledge, that the centurian understood, even better thsan some of the disciples did, just who, and WHAT, Jesus was!!

Go and serve with honor and remember that to use the sword "in vain" or for your own purposes instead of to protect the innocent or the weak is murder. To defend them to provide justice, is honorable indeed!! Even the Lord Himself recognised this!

Be well young friend,....Tawodi