The Prophet’s Advice to Soldiers.
By W. N. G.
When John the Baptist was preaching to the people, on a certain occasion, the soldiers “demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do?” His reply was, “Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.” This incident is cited by certain religious “patriots” as an argument that Christians may properly join the world’s armies. They say that “John did not exhort the soldiers to leave the army.” That is very true; but he was preaching to men already in the army, and of course he would not advise them to desert, and, if captured, lose their lives. However, if they would “do violence to no man,” of how much use would they be in battle? A soldier is especially drilled to do all the violence in his power to the enemies of his country, while the Christian is emphatically enjoined to “resist not evil; but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.” To “be content with one’s wages” was good advice; for being discontented would not raise the wages, and in whatever place one may be situated, “godliness with contentment is great gain.” If one should be converted while in the army, let him do as any other convert should, trust his case to God, who will work out the problem for him. But no one can point to any words of John the Baptist counseling his converts to enlist in any worldly army.