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Adventism In Time Of War-5
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Tuesday, June 22nd - Adventism in Time of War-5

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It is lawful to do good on the Sabbath. Matt. 12:12, NKJV.

So said Jesus in regard to acts of on the Sabbath.

That principle would eventually unlock the answer to the Advneitst quandary over how to serve both God and an earthly government during times of war.

Meanwhile, we should remember that no draft law existed in the United States until March 1863. Also we should note that no nation at that time had noncombatant who would carry arms and kill when commanded to do so.

The conscription law passed on March 3, 1863, let draftees find substitutes if they could pay a fee to use in procuring one. The Adventist Church aided its members to raise the fee. But July 4, 1864, saw a revision of the draft law stating that only those "conscientiously opposed to bearing arms" could be exempted by paying the fee.

At that point the recently established General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists went on record as being a noncombatant denomination. On August 3 the state of Michigan granted the new denomination noncombatant status. Other states soon followed. Then the church sent J. N. Andrews with letters from the various state governors to apply for noncombatant status from the federal government in Washington, D.C. Thus it was that in September 1864 the United States government recognized Adventism as a noncombatant church.

Theoretically that meant that if its members did get drafted they would not have to bear arms or kill enemies. But in practice noncombatant draftees often met with opposition and threats. On a more positive note, by the end of the war noncombatants could serve as medics both on the battlefront and in hospitals.

Adventists were happy with that arrangement, since it freed them from taking the lives of others and it was lawful to do good to others on the Sabbath.

From that time forward the noncombatant medic role became the standard for Seventh-day Adventist draftees. But the denomination still froned on volunteer service. In fact, several volunteers during the latter days of the civil war were disfellowshipped, even though some (probably including Ellen White) weren't so sure that was the proper course.

God leads His people not merely in thing strictly spiritual, but also in their dealings with issues related specifically to this world. For His guidance in all things we can rejoice.

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The spell of a stronger, a perfect mind will be over us; for we have a living connection with the source of all-enduring strength. In our divine life we shall be brought into captivity to Jesus Christ. We shall no longer live the common life of selfishness, but Christ will live in us. His character will be reproduced in our nature. Thus shall we bring forth the fruits of the Holy Spirit--"some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred."(COL 61).
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