Ok, this is probably a better post for the Moral Standards category, but I'm not sure if that gets as many views.
I've been thinking about the idea of some jobs being questionable for Christians to do.
I doubt anyone would have a problem with Christians being doctors, nurses, teachers, police officers, carpenters. And I'm sure most would agree it would be wrong for a Christian to be a stripper, a con artist, a liquor store owner, etc. But what about some of those in the middle? in the grey area?
Are there jobs which may or may not be wrong? Or maybe not wrong but better not being done? Or do not serve a productive use to society? What about a production worker at a brewery? A dealer at a casino? A video game designer? A marketing manager? A telemarketer?
I will apologize in advance if anyone reading does one of those jobs. I'm not trying to offend. I'll offer an experience from my own background. A while back I worked at a consulting company and one of the clients I worked with was a large bank. I worked on their credit card campaigns team from a data perspective. I really hated it, there is nothing good about debt or credit cards and here I was helping put millions of people in more debt. Was there anything illegal about it? Absolutely not, in fact it is what our society holds up as a success. Yet, is it wrong from a Christian morals standard? And should a Christian feel good about helping market the selling of more "stuff" in our already consumeristic society?
So no real question, just throwing something out there for discussion.
Ahh, american Christianity at its finest. Running to the OT to justify itself. John 18:36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
People in the military claiming to be Christians will have some serious 'splaining to do on Judgment Day. Would Jesus have taken out targets of opportunity w/ a Hellfire missile, even tho many civilians would be killed and maimed for life?
Chevy, I hate to burst your bubble friend, but they are definately NOT fighting for our freedoms, unless you truly think some boogey-man in a cave in the deserts of Afghanistan is gonna take our rights away. I suggest you research how the Fourth Amendment has been done away w/ via the "Patriot" Act. Visit the FBI most wanted list. Everyone says Bin Laden, who btw, has EXTREMELY close ties w/ the Bush family, was the mastermind of 9/11. The FBI doesn't even mention him as a suspect nor having a hand in 9/11.
Do you hold that same standard if the only job you could find was to become a male prostitute? How bout your wife becoming a street walker? Stripper? Did I cross a line there?
For far too long Christians have turned a blind eye to the u.s. global empire of troops and bases that encircles the world. Many Christians have willingly served as cannon fodder for the state and its wars and military interventions. Christians who haven't died (wasted their life) for their country in some overseas desert or jungle increasingly perpetuate the myth that being a soldier in the u.s. military is a noble occupation that one can wholeheartedly perform as a Christian. It's not so.
The question before us then is whether a Christian should join the military. Although my remarks are primarily directed at the idea of Christian being a professional soldier (a hired assassin in some cases) for the state, they are also applicable to serving in the military in any capacity.
Should a Christian join the military? Should anyone join the military? The u.s. military, although officially called the Department of Defense, is the state's arm of aggression. If it limited itself to controlling our borders, patrolling our coasts, and protecting our citizens instead of intervening around the globe and leaving death and destruction in its wake then perhaps it might be a noble occupation for a Christian. But as it is now, the military is no place for a Christian.
Christians should remember that "the weapons of our warfare are not carnal" (2 Corinthians 10:4), and that we wield "the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God" (Ephesians 6:17). (L.M. Vance)
Imagine what a horror the military would be without any Bible-believing Christians in it!
I know a number of faithful, saved, Christian, disciples, whatever you like to call them - Christ-followers in every way - who serve in the military. Sometimes they struggle with things they're asked to do. Sometimes I struggle with things I'm asked to do in my job, and I'm a bank teller for crying out loud.
And sometimes, jobs the U.S. military performs are simply the right thing to do. Witness the freedom to worship that Christians in Iraq are seeing. No, it's not perfect - but show me one thing on this planet involving humans that is.
"Freedom to worship that Christians in Iraq are seeing" ?????????? I don't know where you are getting your info, but Christians have been slaughtered by the hundreds since the fall of Saddaam. They are leaving too due to the persecution they are now enduring. Under Saddaam, there was religious freedom, cause Iraq was a secular society. You have gobbled up info the media wants you to believe about Iraq I reckon. As bad of a murderous thug as Saddaam was, he NEVER allowed terrorist freedom like what's going on now. He didn't want them coming after him. They had reliable electricity, running water, sewer systems, a some freedom to worship as they saw fit. And now since good ol' empire striving uncle sam is in control they have none of that.
I suggest you folks stop drinking the koo-aid, and do a little research for yourselves.
I never said there are no Christians in the military, but that the military is no place for Christians. And in over 6 yrs in the military I met one--- maybe.
