Nothing in the history of humanity has been more visibly destructive than war. From the fratricide of Cain and Abel to the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki to the destructive acts of 9/11, humanity has managed to be an incredibly destructive force on this planet. As I will explain, the tools I learned in the Systematic Theology course enlightened me as to how I formed a theological understanding on the issue of war. In my case, the experience played an important role in my theological understanding of the issue of war. In college I studied political science and U.S. history, and while many tragedies occurred during national wars, I felt like many good things came from those as well. Growing up in church, it wasn't discussed much. It seemed like a given that military service was an honorable profession and we treated soldiers like heroes. After graduation, I joined the US Army. It seemed like a good career move, and there hadn't been much discussion about the suitability of military service for a follower of Jesus. One of the first experiences that made me question the suitability of a Christian for military service was a statement during a class at Basic Combat Training (BCT) which are government-owned. They say this to justify punishment for seemingly harmless things like sunburn: it is, after all, the destruction of state property. One thing I knew for sure: I am not the property of any government, not even the government I loved so much and was committed to defending. They are the property of none other than my God. The second event, also during BCT, that influenced my worldview was bayonet training. The purpose of this training is not so much to do it… middle of paper… at a point where I could no longer be a part of it. I was very afraid to do it, but I went ahead and asked to be recognized as a conscientious objector. After nine long months of arduous process, the military finally recognized my change of heart and honorably discharged me from military service. This systematic theology course has shed light on how I have formed this theology over my time. Within Young Life and most evangelicalism, I understand this is a controversial position. While it would be impossible for kids not to know my particular position on the issue, my teaching style is never to impose my opinions on minor issues on the kids I work with. I think the main thing kids should know is that Jesus loves them and wants to have a relationship with them. I would not let my views on war influence this fact.