Objector or Draft Dodger?

[JimB]

I feel for our brothers and sisters in both Ukraine and Russia. I'm guessing that Ukraine has a little more freedom than Russia but people are being tested.

https://www.justsecurity.org/104728/ukraine-constitution-conscientious-objectors/

Simple Draft-Dodging or a Constitutional Issue?

In November 2023, Dmytro Zelinsky, a Seventh Day Adventist, began serving a term of three years in prison for the crime of evading conscription during mobilization (Article 336 of Ukraine’s Criminal Code). A refugee from the eastern Ukrainian region known as the Donbas, where the fighting is ongoing and part of which is now occupied by Russia, Zelinsky (not related to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy) fled to western Ukraine amid the full-scale Russian invasion in February 2022. Later the same year, being recognized as medically fit, he was called up to commence his service. But Zelinsky failed to comply, and later appealed to the local military authority of the Kremenets district to fulfill his duty with alternative (non-military) service instead, as is provided for in Article 35 the Ukrainian Constitution: “No one shall be exempt from his/her duties to the State or refuse to abide by laws on religious grounds. If the performance of military duty contradicts the religious beliefs of a citizen, the performance of this duty shall be replaced by alternative (non-military) service.” The military authority of the Kremenets district refused the request for alternative service based on the argument that no such service is envisaged in wartime.

[rahab]

Sad  :'(

[Richard Myers]

We have some light on the issue from the days when a prophet was in the church. The Civil War drafted men into the military. But, if a certain amount of money was paid, the draft could be averted. The church did pay for some to escape the draft. I was drafted during the Vietnam War, but God made a way of escape. It has been a truth that soldiers often become cannon fodder. So it was in the Vietnam War and US wars ever since.

When one is drafted, he no longer can live according to his conscience. He is to do as he is told. From what I understand today, if one enlists he cannot keep the Sabbath. But, if drafted (which is not being used today) he apparently has some ability to keep the Sabbath. A question to consider is what happened in WWII. Americans were drafted, but most signed up. Why? Because our freedom was at stake. The Sabbath was an issue as we saw with Desmond Doss. Testimony  What if you were a German who was drafted or a Japanese? Is that different than for an American? England suffered greatly. They refused to prepare for war and if not for the United States would have lost the battle against Germany.

The question then comes up "what will the world church do regarding the draft?"  Have we taken a position on the draft which is active in many countries at war, or do we let countries draft our brothers and sisters without complaint? This is a subject which is to be addressed not by the GC out of session, but in session. Like the refusal to support church members who refused to be vaccinated, this is a matter of great importance that requires the church to take a position. And, not by a few at annual council.



We have a long discussion on  The Role of Seventh-day Adventists in the Military. Defending others is something we would do. If given the opportunity to stop the killing of children on a school playground by shooting the killer, I would hope all Seventh-day Adventists would do so. If it were your child playing in the group, what would you want me to do if I were there?  There is a difference between commanded to kill someone (war) and doing so out of your conscience. The Bible tells us that the murderer is to die at the hands of man. "Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man." Gen. 9:6.

God blessed Desmond Doss as He did the army in Israel when they did what He told them to do. And, at the hands of angels thousands upon thousands of the enemy were killed.  Two other points ought to come up in our discussion. David could not build the temple. Why was it left for Solomon to do?  And Jesus tells us that "All they that take the sword shall perish with the sword." Matt. 26:5.

[Richard Myers]

The church has addressed the issue in 1954 at its General Conference Session, as it ought to be. According to Pastor Ted Wilson, the Annual Council addressed and "refined" the church's position in 1954 and 1972 which it not have been done. It is something that needs to be addressed by the world church's GC Session. Like the Covid mandate to be vaccinated needs to be addressed at the GC Session, not an annual council. There are religious matters that are two important for the GC Executive Committee to usurp the authority given to the GC in Session. The annual council meetings are to address matters that cannot wait for the Session. All religious matters are to be decided by the Session of the world church. And, five years is too long a time to choose new leaders. We are told that new leaders are to be selected every year.

Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's." Matt. 22:21. Our mind, heart, and body belong to God, not Caesar. Therefore, we do not give to the civil authority our mind, heart, nor body. It is a personal decision to be supported by the church just as taking anything into our body is a matter of religious beliefs.  And just a little off topic, it may be that those who taught the Covid vaccine was safe, what if it was not safe? A refusal to support those who chose not to take the shot will be seen to have been very wrong and led to suffering and death that need not have happened. We can continue that discussion in the proper thread.  General Conference Committee Decides What is Right


Published on: 07-31-2018

The question of military service arose early in the history of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Officially organized in 1863 during the height of the United States’ civil war, the new denomination almost immediately had to wrestle with how its members would respond to the call to arms.

As with other difficult questions, the pioneer leaders studied the issues using the Bible as their guide and concluded the position most consistent with biblical principles was noncombatancy (the conscientious objection to bearing arms).

By 1864, the young church had successfully appealed to the United States’ federal government for an official designation of noncombatancy, a position that it has consistently held ever since.

Position Reaffirmed Following World War II

In the years following World War II, the Seventh-day Adventist Church further elaborated on its noncombatancy position by approving a document, “The Relationships of Seventh-day Adventists to Civil Governments and War,” at the General Conference Session in 1954. The statement was reaffirmed and further refined at the 1954 and 1972 Annual Council of the General Conference Executive Committee. The statement reads, in part:

“Genuine Christianity manifests itself in good citizenship and loyalty to civil government. The breaking out of war among men in no way alters the Christian’s supreme allegiance and responsibility to God or modifies their obligation to practice their beliefs and put God first.

“This partnership with God through Jesus Christ who came into this world not to destroy men’s lives but to save them causes Seventh-day Adventists to advocate a noncombatant position, following their divine Master in not taking human life, but rendering all possible service to save it.”

Noncombatant Service Defined

“Noncombatant service” is defined as “(a) service in any unit of the armed forces which is unarmed at all times; (b) service in the medical department of any of the armed forces …; or (c) any other assignment of the primary function of which does not require the use of arms in combat; provided that such other assignment is acceptable to the individual concerned and does not require them to bear arms or to be trained in their use.”

In addition to taking a noncombatancy position, the Seventh-day Adventist Church encourages its members not to join the military. Nevertheless, it is not a test of church membership. The Church “does not seek to be the conscience for any member or commander, but rather seeks to inform the conscience and behavior of both, so decisions can be made with maximum understanding and thought.”

The Seventh-day Adventist Church understands that in some countries, noncombatancy options are not available, and Adventists are required to serve in their country’s military. Even then, these young believers are encouraged to find ways to be faithful to God while serving their country. If members find themselves in the military, whether by personal choice or conscription, the Church, through Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries and other avenues, tries to spiritually minister to them.

Historic Witness

Seventh-day Adventists have maintained their historic witness in favor of peace and noncombatancy throughout the 151 years of the Church’s existence, and this position has not changed. This position has not been hidden: in the most public manner possible, church leaders periodically have called on world leaders to avoid conflicts and seek the Prince of Peace. (See “To Save Life, Rather Than Take It” in the August 2018 issue of Adventist World).

Probably the best-known Seventh-day Adventist noncombatant soldier was Desmond Doss, who served as a medic in the United States Army during World War II. Doss is best known for saving the lives of 75 of his fellow soldiers during a fierce battle on the island of Okinawa.

This act of courage earned Desmond Doss the U.S. Congressional Medal of Honor. He was the first and one of only three conscientious objectors to ever receive this honor.

Another, lesser known, but equally inspiring story is that of fourteen Seventh-day Adventist students drafted into the British Army during World War I. The inspiring experience of these faithful yet persecuted young men who stood firm in observing the seventh-day Sabbath and in refusing to bear arms is told in the 28-minute film, “A Matter of Conscience: Adventist Heroes in World War I,” produced by Victor Hulbert, communication director of the Trans-European Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Click here to read the article, “14 Soldiers in God’s Army” by Hulbert; click here to watch the film.

People of Prayer

As Seventh-day Adventists, we need to be people of prayer. While the world is engaged in battles that can be seen, many invisible but very real battles of the great controversy are going on every day. Satan and his angels are battling against each one of us, striving to at last claim this world as their own.

We need to pray for our countries, wherever we are in the world, and for the leaders of our countries. We need to pray for each other to be firm in our noncombatancy position and pray for Seventh-day Adventist church members who find themselves in the military for whatever reason. Most of all, we need to pray for peace — the peace that only Jesus can bring now, and in His kingdom to come, where there will be no more wars.

“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” (Rev. 21:4).

Ted N. C. Wilson is president of the worldwide Seventh-day Adventist Church.