A Christian's Perspective on Killing

First Lieutenant Jonathan Carl, United States Army

Prior to my deployment I had many questions about my mission as a leader in combat. I was a brand new lieutenant; Operation Iraqi Freedom would be my first field problem. Many of my questions were answered, but some were left unanswered.

As a combat arms officer, I realized that my main task was to close with and destroy the enemy. Destroy the enemy…what is it like to kill the enemy? How will I handle it? How will my soldiers handle it? What about civilian casualties? What do I tell my soldiers? As a Christian, what should be my response? Killing is often a 'taboo' issue. Few actually have to do it, and those who do prefer not to talk about it. The only information I had on killing and its spiritual and psychological effects was from the movies and Old Testament stories.

Now I have completed a yearlong deployment. Most of my time was spent as a tank platoon leader in the cities of Mosul and Samarra. The battles we fought were far different from the conventional battles that we trained for. Our enemy took his family with him on the battlefield, using them and other civilians as shields. This enemy does not wear a military uniform or fight in the open, but seeks refuge within the city streets and alleyways. Every soldier in my platoon was decisively engaged with our enemy, pulling the trigger and killing them or maneuvering our tanks on them. We have seen the enemy collapse, explode, and vaporize at our own hands. We have seen civilians caught in the crossfire. As a Christian leader, what am I to do with these experiences? What can I share to help those leaders who are currently engaged with our enemies?

For the Christian, the Bible provides a wealth of guidance on warfare and killing. Numerous examples abound of warriors serving the Lord. Joshua, Samson, and David are three that come to mind. The Lord instructed Joshua to establish cities of refuge for those who "…killed his neighbor unintentionally and without malice aforethought" (Joshua 20:5). That provides comfort to me and those I know who have seen civilians fall at their hands in the crossfire of battles. It shows how the Lord looks at our heart when evaluating our actions. David spent much time in battle, evading Saul and defeating his enemies. David sings a song of praise after the Lord delivered him from all of his enemies. Here are some excerpts that are particularly relevant to what I have experienced.

"He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior-from violent men you save me…The waves of death swirled about me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me. The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me…I beat them as fine as the dust of the earth; I pounded and trampled them like mud in the streets…Therefore I will praise you, O Lord…" (2 Samuel 22). Upon completion of a successful battle, the Lord's warriors are called to give praise and glory to God. We are also cautioned; "Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice" (Proverbs 24:17).

Some may ask the same question that I asked about killing. "What is it like to kill the enemy?" It is a very sobering experience. Killing is not hard. It happens very quickly, and when done, your principal thought is that you are happy that you and your soldiers are still alive. Killing causes you to question why the enemy is so ready and willing to die for their cause. It makes you wonder if they are brainwashed by religious or fanatical propaganda, or if they are simply seeking a payoff for attacking Americans. You wonder about what family and friends they are leaving behind. There is a satisfaction of knowing that you did your job well; knowing that you destroyed the enemy before he killed you or your friends and family. Killing causes you to evaluate your own mortality and death. The issue of one's own mortality is what I think bothers most of my soldiers and others who have killed in combat.

"Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul" (Matthew 10:28).

As a Christian, I do not fear death. I think Paul put it best when he said, "To live is Christ; to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21). But for those who do not know of their own salvation, death is a scary thought. I think one of Satan's best tricks is to prevent us from thinking about our own mortality. Satan would love for us to live moment to moment, focused on worldly pleasures and not thinking about our eternal future. I believe that this is why you see so many salvation experiences as soldiers deploy to combat and experience it firsthand. My experiences with killing and combat do not bother me. I know why I am here, what I have done, and am willing to talk about it. Many of my soldiers are quite the opposite. They prefer never to think or talk about the killing they have done or close calls they have had. The reason is simple…they are afraid of death and what lies beyond. This presents an amazing opportunity as a Christian leader to share the Gospel through word and lifestyle evangelism.

The ministry opportunities in the military are abundant. Where else do you find so many people pushed to their limits by the stresses of war, deployment, family and marital issues, and financial problems? Many non-Christians (and some Christians, too) see a conflict between being a Christian and killing. I have had countless soldiers inquire as to my platoon's experiences in Iraq. Each discussion is an opportunity to show and tell them about my faith and hope in Christ. They are intrigued to know why I am different and how I handle such events. I praise and thank God for every day he kept me safe and provided us victory. I pray for our soldiers and their safety, but most importantly I pray for their salvation. I also pray for our enemy, for their salvation and for the Americans and Iraqis whose lives are greatly affected by their actions.

What lessons can I pass on to others? As a Korean War veteran once told me, "Do not underestimate the importance of spiritual readiness." Keep a spiritual mindset in all that you do. Do not forget that God is in control and that no matter what you are doing, you must do it for Him. Whether we are deployed to war, or in the comfort of our own home, as Christians we are all called to be warriors. Do not forget that there is a spiritual battle raging around us daily. No matter where God places you, look at everything you do as an opportunity to serve and glorify the Lord and to share His love with others.