A Soldier’s Quest For Truth

By Justin Combs

(Applicant for Conscientious Objector Status in the US Army)

I have served in the military for just over eight years, but at the present time I am trying to be released from the US Army as a conscientious objector. My current commitment runs out in December of 2003, and it would be much more practical and easy to just ride it out, but I feel that not to act upon what I know is the truth is sin.

I’ve never been very good at writing lengthy papers or essays on any topic, but I’ll try my best to lay out my beliefs as clearly as I can. These are the reasons I cannot continue to serve in the military in any capacity, under any terms:

1. War, killing, and destruction are all manifestations of hate. Hate is contrary to the teachings of Christ, and the general “tone” of the New Testament. Recent unbiased study has revealed to me that Jesus meant what He said on the mount, and that part of bearing my cross is to be totally non-resistant. (In all matters-legal, physical, etc. relying only on the only Righteous Judge.)

2. While some may argue that the governments of this world have authority to wage war, I would not argue. I simply maintain that as a citizen of heaven, and of the Kingdom of God first and foremost, it is not my place to be entangled in the affairs of this world. I have no obligation and will accept no obligation to kill another human for worldly lusts or desires. (ie-freedom, oil, security, money, etc.)

3. I am no more justified in serving for the United States military than I would be in serving in China’s, Hitler’s, or Stalin’s armies. They are all earthly governments, put in place by God. Perhaps the US affords its citizens more freedoms than the others, but that does not make it God’s chosen nation.

I have for too long accepted the heresy and garbage fed to me by mainstream Christendom, among the heresies being the “justification” of Christians serving in the military. This concept (of it being alright for Christians to kill) can only be found in scripture by gross twisting and misapplication. The Holy Spirit has convicted me of these truths, and I am acting upon them. I feel that I should go about being released legally from my commitment, as opposed to going AWOL.

I have, of course, come under fire for this, and am for the most part an object of pity and scorn for most other soldiers. The worst reactions, however, have almost without exception come from other professing Christians. (Perhaps seeing the truth, counting the cost of obeying, and then ignoring or explaining it away?) For the most part, the mainline evangelical church in America has become horribly corrupt and apostate. The subject of war and violence is merely one area. The idolatry of nationalism, worldly entertainments, ecumenicalism, and many other heresies abound. We, as a church, have radically missed the New Testament pattern. That is, at the most basic level, a summary of my beliefs.

Justin Combs has been serving in the United States Army for the past 8 years. He has now applied for CO status however due to his reading of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This entails risks, and humiliation while that application is in process. He says that he and his “wife hope to raise our children to fear the Lord, and to follow Him no matter the cost.”