OCTOBER 3RD, 1917
OCTOBER 3RD, 1917
Mr. W. G. Hardwick.
Beloved Brother, — I can well understand the difficulty our dear young brethren have to face just now, as I have had to do with it in Great Britain, and more recently I have gone through it with my eldest son Allen, who was ‘called’. The most objectionable feature is the requirement that the claimant for exemption from conscription on conscientious grounds must belong to a religions sect or organisation.
In facing the problem the Christian should weigh all the facts of the present situation. It is clear that the government is not to be regarded as identical with the ruling power with [p. 152] which the godly remnant shall have to do in the future, Revelation 13; it is not specially acting against Christianity. We are to regard it as ordained by God and pray for those who administer it. We should, I think, take the words or terms they use in the spirit of them rather than in the letter. They evidently wish to exempt those who have had genuine conscientious religious objections to the taking of human life, and so make a provision which seems to them will ensure this; that is, the objector must show that he is a genuine case by proving that he belongs to such a sect or organisation as they mention. It seems to me therefore that as followers of Christ we should avoid being (or seeming to be) unreasonable, and so endeavour to follow their formal requirements as far as we can, taking them, as I said, in the spirit of them rather than the letter. Of course, no true enlightened Christian can admit that he belongs to a sect, but he cannot control what others call him. Paul said, “In the way they call sect, so serve I my father’s God”.
In going through the matter with my son, I advised him to fill out the required form, bracketing the objectionable parts and adding notes explaining the scriptural exercises he had — these notes outlining the principles held by himself and those with whom he walked in Christian fellowship, saying that they could not in the light of Scripture regard themselves as a sect. Appearing before the government representative another brother and myself explained more fully — all with the result that exemption is so far granted.
As regards ‘non-combatant’ service, I see no scriptural objection to it, and I doubt that one will get God’s support in refusing the claim of the government to this extent. I believe those who have submitted to this service in Great Britain have found the Lord’s sympathy and help. There is a great evidence of this. They have enjoyed the sympathy and support of their brethren, too.
Affectionately yours in Christ,
James Taylor.