The 1973 Selective Service draft for Vietnam was a gut-wrenching season that began in late summer ‘71.
Two things happened that summer.
The first was the day of my redemption when I first asked Jesus to adopt me as His son. To be sure: This changed my perceptions of everything and redefined the whole trajectory of my life.
The second event was the day I realized that when I turned 18 soon, I would be eligible for the Selective Service’s Vietnam draft.
Both put the fear of God in me.
Together, these two revelations triggered a theological and soul-searching question: Should followers of Jesus from the United States kill North Vietnamese soldiers?
As a new believer, I was encouraged to read the Gospels and found myself camping out in the Sermon on the Mount (Mt 5-7). For months, I just kept reading these three chapters over and over. And as I did so, Jesus’ perspective became clearer: “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies…” (5:43ff).
Long story short, I poured over numerous scriptures and eventually concluded that the Vietnam conflict was not a just war. (FYI: My assessment of WWII was the exact opposite.) Accordingly, I began the process of becoming a “conscientious objector”. It was sobering to say the least; I didn’t know what might result from this decision. Ultimately, it did not matter as my draft number was 184 as the war was winding down.
Today’s Strong Conviction
In hindsight, this process and decision profoundly shaped my life. And Jesus’ words deftly summarize what I learned and have believed to this day: “What is highly valuable among men is detestable in God’s sight” (Lk 16:15).
In other words, oil and water don’t mix:
The values and purposes of all human governments are always at odds with the House of Jesus—God’s Kingdom.
Still a “stranger in the world”,
