BROOKLYN, N.Y., FEBRUARY 28TH, 1940
BROOKLYN, N.Y., FEBRUARY 28TH, 1940
Mr. A. Wilding.
Beloved Brother, — As I was writing to Mr. E. Roberts of Worcester on the subject you mentioned I begged him to send you a copy of my letter, which I have no doubt he will, if it reaches him.
I am concerned as to ‘Conscientious Objection’ to work that in itself is quite within the range of what Scripture in no way forbids to a Christian, lest the objection be dishonest. That an intelligent godly man should ‘conscientiously’ object to performing services for the government which he would gladly render to an ordinary employer for regular wages is outside my understanding. That the government pays him much less, that he may be in uncongenial surroundings (ordinary working associations are usually so to a true Christian), that he may be under special limitations, for he is serving the King, whom he is directed by Scripture to obey and honour, that he may have to endure reproach because he cannot conscientiously be a regular soldier, all these considerations do not affect basically the position a brother is placed in by the present Military Service Act.
Of course, an enlightened Christian objects conscientiously to using the sword; this is fully owned, and even the ‘Act’ provides for this, but Scripture urges subjection to the authorities for conscience sake; Romans 13: 5, 6. “For on this account [p. 170] ye pay tribute also; for they are God’s officers attending continually on this very thing”.
Although they are God’s officers, their rights over the Christian are obviously limited, for Christ’s rights over him must come first; but these are by no means trenched on by the authorities requiring the believer, in view of an emergency, to perform certain duties that he could legitimately render to an ordinary employer.
That a tribunal should grant ‘complete exemption’ to a young brother because he says his conscience objects to performing such services as I have indicated in no way proves that the objection is justified by Scripture, and, if not, there is no testimony to the truth; on the contrary there is evidence of ignorance of Scripture, or — which is, of course, worse — unreality.
Affectionately in Him,
James Taylor.