1917 Assemblies of God Statement Against War

 THE OFFICIAL POSITION OF THE ASSEMBLIES OF GOD TOWARD MILITARY SERVICE, APRIL 1917

The Resolution forwarded to President Woodrow Wilson for Conscientious Objector Status:

Whereas…we plainly declare the Holy Inspired Scriptures to be the all-sufficient rule of faith and practice, and

Whereas, the Scriptures deal plainly with the obligations and relations of humanity, setting forth the principles of 'Peace on earth, good will toward men'…and

Whereas we, as followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Price of Peace, believe in implicit obedience to the Divine commands and precepts which instruct us to 'Follow peace with all men'…'Thou shalt not kill,'…'Resist no evil,'…'Love your enemies'…and

Whereas these and other Scriptures have always been accepted and interpreted by our churches as prohibiting Christians from shedding blood or taking human life;

Therefore we, as a body of Christians, while purposing to fulfill all the obligations of loyal citizenship, are nevertheless constrained to declare we cannot conscientiously participate in war and armed resistance which involves the actual destruction of human life, since this is contrary to our view of the clear teaching of the inspired Word of God, which is the sole basis of our faith.