On Idolatry 19

In the preceding chapter the question of military service too might seem to have been settled, since it lies between rank and power. But the present question is whether a believer may turn to military service, and whether soldiers may be admitted to the faith, even the rank and file or any lower grade, who are under no necessity of sacrifices or capital judgments. There is no agreement between the divine oath and the human, the standard of Christ and the standard of the devil, the camp of light and the camp of darkness; one soul cannot be owed to two, to God and to Caesar. “And Moses carried a rod, and Aaron wore a buckle, and John is girded with a leather belt, and Joshua son of Nun leads an army, and the people waged war,” if one wants to play with words. But how will he wage war, nay, how will he serve as a soldier even in peace, without the sword, which the Lord has taken away? For although soldiers had come to John and received a rule to observe, and even a centurion had believed, the Lord afterwards, in disarming Peter, unbelted every soldier. No dress is lawful among us that is assigned to an unlawful act.