Soldiers approached John the Baptist and asked what they should do regarding life in the military and living a life of repentance (Luke 3:14).

John the Baptist did not reject these soldiers, nor did he demand that they take up another profession. John the Baptist did not refer to them as a “Brood of Vipers” as he did among the religious elites that were coming to the Jordan River (Matthew 3:7-10). Instead, John the Baptist invited these soldiers to be baptized for their repentance and the forgiveness of sins as he did with all the others that arrived (Luke 3:3, 10, 18).

And to answer their question about what these soldiers should do, John the Baptist provided two responses on how they can live a life of repentance and forgiveness as soldiers awaiting the Messiah.

John’s first response was that the soldiers were not to take advantage of people because they were in the military. While there is a debate if these soldiers were Israelites serving in Herod Antipas’ military or conscripted soldiers serving in the Roman military, what is shared is that these soldiers had military authority, a legally recognized authority, that could be exercised over the civilian population. And with their work to protect tax collectors, soldiers would use their military authority over the citizenry to demand money, even with threats of violence. That was John’s first answer to the soldiers, which led to the second in that these soldiers should stop complaining about their wages.

I particularly appreciate these words because they show John’s familiarity with military personnel. Soldiers complaining about their wages was common then as it is today! John the Baptist reminds them to stop using their position and authority in the military to take advantage of people and to stop complaining about their wages. In reality, this reinforces good order and discipline within the military.

The military profession is an honorable profession. Even in Scripture. God Himself is described as a man of war (Exodus 15:3). David praised God for his military skills (Psalm 144:1). The people of God were given laws on the conduct of warfare (Numbers 1:3; Deuteronomy 20). 

Why would we think the New Testament would object to welcoming warfighters? Scripture has a strong warrior motif throughout.

Today, we wrestle with ideas about Christians in military service from various views, including a position that Christians should be pacifists. I do not believe that Scripture speaks of pacifism, nor have I ever met anyone who holds a true pacifist view. Most of the debate centers on what a soldier can do in the military, from a restricted view that they can only serve as medics or chaplains so as not to take life, to the unrestricted view that Christians can serve and take life during combat operations. While I am not opposed to the restricted view, I lean more in favor of the unrestricted view. Let us not forget that there are many accounts of those holding to the restricted view who served honorably in the military and performed heroic deeds in combat. Just as there are accounts of Christians holding to the unrestricted view and honorably serving in combat. So while we may differ on the restricted and unrestricted views of military service, soldiers were never expected to leave their profession of arms to follow Christ.

John the Baptist welcomed these warriors to participate in the baptism unto repentance and forgiveness as the people waited for the Messiah. 

And with the Messiah’s arrival, soldiers were never rejected because of their profession.

Jesus welcomed the request of a Roman Centurion and marveled at his faith as a man under authority (Matthew 8:5-13; Luke 7:1-10). Roman authority! There was no conflict here as the Roman Centurion recognized the authority of Rome as a soldier and the authority of Jesus Christ as God incarnate to heal his servant.

Christianity welcomes the warfighter into the body of Christ, knowing that their profession may require them to take life.

Still challenged with the unrestricted view, see Cornelius in Acts 10 as the Apostle Peter was sent to this Roman Centurion’s home to share the Gospel. Cornelius’s family, a military family, was saved! And later in Acts 23, the Apostle Paul appeals to the Roman authorities for military protection because of the assassination plot. Paul sent his nephew to the Roman Tribune for action. And we would never argue that Paul somehow minimized his faith by turning to Rome or to the military for action. Far from it! Paul’s faith allowed him to turn to Rome, which provided military protection because of the plot to assassinate him. And God used those soldiers to move Paul from Jerusalem to Caesarea and later to testify in Rome (Acts 23:11). Soldiers are proficient in tactics, techniques, and procedures for combat operations. Perfect for defending against an ambush. Perfect for protecting Paul’s life. Perfect for defending what is good and to punish what is evil (see Roman 13:4).

Maybe it is our lack of faith in not seeing how God loves the disciplined and honorable warriors who proudly serve in the military!