If you voluntarily enlist in the Armed Forces and kill someone, can you still call yourself a Christian?

I am a Christian.

That is a good question.

Violence is prohibited in Christianity, even in self defense.

I have to admit, your question is a fearsome thing for some people.

Peaceful nations do not have a chance without an army to protect them. WHether that army is made up of their own citizens, or the citizens of another country doesn't matter. They need an army, or they won't stand long.

Just as we need an army to protect us from other countries, we also need a government to protect the peaceful law abiding citizens from citizens who are not peaceful nor law abiding.

Both violence (armies), and the control of our countrymen through threats of violence and intimidation (police arresting folks for crimes; prison; the i.r.s. stealing money from citizens through taxation) are prohibited in Christianity.

But since we don't have a chance without most of that, we do it. And the Christians who accept that we must do these things, usually either deny that it is prohibited by Christianity, citing bible verses that don't appear in the gospels...or they overlook questions like this and don't answer, or give evasive answers.

All I can say for myself is this: I will let the Lord sort it out. I prefer that we should keep our military and that we should have a government (though we truly should have a more libertarian one).

This may well be apostasy. If so, I will be judged.

Namaste.

EDITED TO ADD:

In the gospels, Jesus said to turn the other cheek. He didn't say to turn the other cheek *in certain situations only*, or until you run out of cheeks. He said to turn the other cheek. Period.

You may want to read that bible again... god is strongly in favor of killing.

The original translations read closer to "Thou shalt not murder", but were changed along the way. Also if you consider the context and surrounding passages it pretty obviously claims that the ten commandments, the golden rule, and other things only apply to the Jews. So really it goes "Thou shalt not steal from other Jews", "Though shalt not murder other Jews", etc.

Also it probably helps that most people we're fighting are muslims... The biblical God is also specific as to what must happen with muslims - all people of other religions should be killed: men, women children and animals. This is mentioned several times, but this is what Deuteronomy 13:13-17 says in particular when you see people who worship another god:

"Then shalt thou enquire, and make search, and ask diligently; and, behold, [if it be] truth, [and] the thing certain, [that] such abomination is wrought among you;

Thou shalt surely smite the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, destroying it utterly, and all that [is] therein, and the cattle thereof, with the edge of the sword.

And thou shalt gather all the spoil of it into the midst of the street thereof, and shalt burn with fire the city, and all the spoil thereof every whit, for the LORD thy God: and it shall be an heap for ever; it shall not be built again."

Again, read the whole bible, you may be terribly surprised just how evil and cruel a bastard your god is.

Defending yourself, your fellow soldiers, and your country does not equate to premeditated murder.

The occasional story you hear of some wack-job in the service who rapes and kills a civilian, however, DOES equate to premeditated murder.

Killing the enemy during a legitimate mission--and defending yourself during one--are part of what battle is. There will always be gray area, but following the Rules of Engagement and knowing what is obviously right and what is not aren't that gray.

There is a difference between killing someone with malice aforethought, versus in battle.

John the Baptist when asked by soldiers what they should do, didn't tell them to drop their arms and quit being soldiers, the conversation went like this: "Even some soldiers were asking him, "And what should we do?" He told them, "Never extort money from anyone by threats or blackmail, and be satisfied with your pay." (Luke 3:14)

Jesus, when speaking with the Roman Centurion, didn't tell him to quit being a soldier, instead the conversation went like this: "For I, too, am a man under authority and have soldiers under me. I say to one 'Go' and he goes, to another 'Come' and he comes, and to my servant 'Do this' and he does it." When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those who were following him, "Truly I tell you, not even in Israel have I found this kind of faith!" (Matthew 8:9-10) He was commended for his faith, and not condemned for being a soldier.

There is no inconsistency with faith and service as a soldier.

So now we're also bashing on the brave men and women in our armed services?

Who's next, the Red Cross? The Salvation Army?

The Bible is full of examples of justified killing in wartime (any soldier in a war who is following moral orders falls under this category) and unjustified killing (like the kind that David got in trouble for by having his illegitimate lover's husband killed in battle)

EDIT: Hey, when you ask an intelligent question, then you can start demanding intelligent answers.

No one goes over there to kill someone willingly unless they have mental problems. When it comes down to them shooting you or you shooting them isn't that considered self defense? I have yet to shoot anyone, but when I joined the military I did it to defend our country not go kill Iraqis like most Americans think the military does. Kill or be killed. Period.

Doesn't even the Christian God allow for self-defense?

if you are at war, and you kill one of the enemy, then it all depends on why you are fighting. if you are fighting to defend a nation being taken over for unjust reasons, it would be okay, but if you were the country taking over just for the spoil or the oil, it would not be okay to kill someone.

In Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 It says there is a time to kill & a time toheal, a time of war & a time of peace, Many Christians today thinks that if you are in a war, you are not to kill someone, Thou shall not kill refers to thou shalt not commit murder for your own selfish gain. Yes in time of war it is scriptures to kill your enemy.

another point to consider is civilian casualties.

They are an ever-present, though unintended (usually) consequence of war.

How does that sit with the christian soul?