President Paulsen reaffirms Adventist Church’s noncombatant position

Pastor Jan Paulsen, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, has an article in this week’s Adventist World to answer the question of the Church’s official stance on military service.For some people this is a non-issue, either because they have decided that they are going to serve regardless of the Church’s official position, and others have decided that they will not serve, regardless of the Church’s official position.

However, many young people struggle with this issue, especially as tensions mount. If the United States were to be attacked on our soil again, there would be another surge of volunteers ready to defend our country.

Paulsen affirms that the official Seventh-day Adventist position has not substantially changed since the 1867 General Conference resolution that stated that “the bearing of arms, or engaging in war, is a direct violation of the teachings of our Savior and the spirit and letter of the law of God.” Historically Seventh-day Adventists who were served (usually drafted) in the United States Armed Services were encouraged to serve in a medical capacity, helping to heal, rather than killing the enemy. My personal hero when I was growing up was an example. Private Desmond T. Doss endured hardship for his tenacious refusal to break the Sabbath or carry a weapon, even in training. However, he served with honor and was given the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military honor.

But what about now. Do conditions now really warrant a change in the church’s official stance on serving only in non-combatant roles? Paulsen doesn’t think so.

I agree with Pastor Paulsen that these issues need to be discussed. The Church needs to “be an unambiguous voice of principle.”

Is this truly a biblical principle that we should hold on to? If a person in a country with compulsory military service chooses, as Paulsen advises, to serve time in prison rather than violate the Sabbath or serve as a combatant, will the Church help them? What help can we give?

Link: World church leader reaffirms Adventist Church’s noncombatant position (Adventist News Network report)