A Christian has no homeland in this world. Therefore the little piece of this earth on which we are born is not worth risking either one's life or that of another. Those people whose patriotism and highest good are centred only on this present world and live only for military glory will make much better defenders of any nation state. There is never any shortage of such people; there will always be on earth more mud than gold!

There will always be others ready to take the place of Christians who keep themselves aloof from war so that they can spend their lives instead to the glory of Christ and the salvation of their fellow-men.

Murder, even of an attacker, is still murder. Indeed, there is a sort of hidden vengeance in it which is the worse because it is carried out before the attacker has managed actually to commit the sin. If we let ourselves be killed by an enemy, it is not necessarily because we love him directly, but because it is for us to show Christian patience. And we should certainly not place defence of property on a level with defence of life. If a believer refuses to go around armed, God will surely not forsake him. Far more people have perished in the world when armed than when unarmed. In any case, we never know when it may be God's will to punish us for secret sins through some evildoer.

We have to be consistent in our position. The only alternative to an unconditional stand is to allow our youth to be educated in another manner altogether, training them in shooting and the use of weapons. In that case it would be better to encourage them to enter the army, for nowhere can they better learn the use of weapons! It is inconsistent not to approve voluntary service in the army, for if war is good when convenient to the defender, then a man ought to go to it without being compelled by law.

The argument about Tartars and guerillas in the hills is not convincing. If the Tartars raid even the heart of the country, accept in humility this as a visitation of the Lord God upon the world, for nothing takes place without His knowledge. In time of war, act like the sojourners we are, withdrawing little by little

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to places of safety, and if even these are not available, remove to another country. Christ's teaching to his disciples instructs us to emigrate from our country if we cannot live a godly life within it, and to choose one where we may serve God and live in His fear.

War is usually God's judgment on the wicked, among whom a few of God's elect may happen to briefly sojourn. Therefore the faithful should not attempt to defend themselves against God's wrath side by side with unbelievers. To the faithful, God indicates flight or some other way of escape. Defensive war is today just the same as offensive, and even in a so-called Christian state it would be no better than in that of today.

Nothing forces the Christian to go to war. The civil laws of the Republic in this matter are not binding upon his conscience. Thus it would hardly be these laws, but the flesh or worldly goods or the esteem of men or temporal privileges which would push him into war. It is hard to renounce these things; we make money, buy property, and then we shelter ourselves by pleading that we are compelled to abide by the law of conscription!

You say that you are going with the others into the national service, but you will not kill! It is just at that point that you are breaking the law, for the same law which conscripts you commands to kill the enemy. You imagine that you are free to fight or not to fight then? You know that in that situation really you are not free at all.

I know the many arguments in the discussion of this subject. For example, that our brotherhood will be threatened. Of this I am not sure, but even if it were to be so, a Christian can be saved without the externals of worship. Indeed, he who professes true religion with a pure heart is not subject ultimately to any human authority.

Those then who go to war while not intending to kill must be regarded as weak and immature Christians. The praiseworthy custom of debarring such for a time from the Lord's table should be adopted. A brother is not at liberty to obey the government's edict in this matter.295

[NOTE: In the seventeenth century the "little ecclesia in Poland" had to agonize over the question of conscientious objection to military service. Poland was threatened by the Turk and Tartar hordes, and also by various 'Christian' dictatorships around, and calls for patriotic national service were made by the authorities. It was in this crisis that Wolzogen was called upon to advise the ecclesias. If the call to flee or migrate seems overstressed, we do well to remember that in Wolzogen's day the fate of the conscientious objector was likely to be one of any number of hideous and appalling modes of execution.]