Dear Jason, thank you for your kindness and effort to find a Church near me. Of course I agree a bad apple doesn't mean anything.

Regarding pacifism:

1.)Romans 13 is saying that God is in control and has allowed worldly authorities to have that authority, and Christians are to obey them. This doesn't mean that what a government does is right and is the doing of God. God has allowed them to have power and God allows them to do certain things. Surely, you would not argue that when someone is tortured by a government, that this is God's doing. God has simply allowed it. God allows many terrible things to happen, but you cannot say he caused them. Look at Mark 14:21:"The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born."

Quote from John832: " If it is acceptable for a non-Christian to kill for his government, then it is acceptable for a Christian to kill for his government."

It is not acceptable for a non-Christian to kill for his government any more than it was acceptable for Judas Iscariot to betray Jesus. God has allowed it to happen, it may be part of His plan, but that doesn't mean that it is acceptable. Woe to that man! In the Old Testament, we read somewhere that God hardened Saul's heart. God was using him in His plans, He has the right to harden someone's heart, but that doesn't make Saul's actions acceptable. And Saul was held accountable.

I realize that in the United States (and in Canada) there is a view that the army is fighting for freedom, morality, Christian ideals, and God is on our side. But this same view usually exists on the other side too. It must be pretty ridiculous to someone looking at the whole thing from above.

2.)When Jesus told his disciples to buy swords, He did not say to use them. Depending on a given culture, having a weapon could be a good form of protection in itself, even if the bearer resolved not to use it. In some cultures, such as in the Wild West, carrying a gun may have been seen as a provocation asking for trouble. In other cultures, perhaps if one carries a weapon, no one will mess with him. You will note that when one of Jesus' followers used his sword, he was rebuked by Jesus. Its one thing to carry a weapon and another thing to use it. At my home, I have a vicious guard dog, as a deterrent to a break-in. This dog is very much a lethal weapon if he senses that I am in danger. However, I would not let the dog loose to tear apart a robber. Notice how Jesus did not defend Himself, nor did He allow his disciples or angels to do so, when he was arrested. Earlier in His ministry, he similarly only ran away or slipped away from his attackers.

3.)Cornelius was in the military. We don't read that he left if after he was saved. We don't read that he stayed in it either. In fact, I don't think there is any mention of him whatsoever after he is baptised (please correct me if I am wrong).

4.)Regarding the Capernaum centurian, No Jesus did not say "one more thing you lack-leave the military if you want to inherit eternal life." In fact, there is no record of Jesus saying anything to this centurian about how to inherit eternal life. There is also no record of what happened to the centurian after this. Was he even saved? Or did he go away happy that his servant was healed and never heard of Jesus again. Not everyone who benefited from Jesus' miracles was saved. Read Matthew 12:45: "Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first."

5.)Similarly with the Phillipian jailer, we have no idea what happened in his life after he was saved. The last thing we hear of him is that he was baptised and he was happy about it. We do not read whether he left his job or not. We do not read if he ever stole anything from anyone or if he drank wine in excess. We don't read anything further about him, so we cannot assume anything.

6.)The centurian at the crucifiction said "truly this is the Son of God." This is no great feat. The devil often said the same thing. Demons sometimes identified Jesus as the Son of God. One demon possessed person even follow Paul around for days saying this untill she nearly drove Paul crazy.