Hippolytus on ...

Today the life of Hippolytus is honored in the Anglican tradition. He wrote a treatise (ca 215AD) called The Apostolic Tradition, in which he seeks to correct the practice and pattern of worship that was already being either intentionally moved away from or just innovated. Hippolytus saw that the tradition of Christian worship needed to be handed down and kept.

What strikes me is what is found in the list of vocations Hippolytus gives that Christians should not be involved with.

16 They will inquire concerning the works and occupations of those are who are brought forward for instruction.²If someone is a pimp who supports prostitutes, he shall cease or shall be rejected.³If someone is a sculptor or a painter, let them be taught not to make idols. Either let them cease or let them be rejected. ⁴If someone is an actor or does shows in the theater, either he shall cease or he shall be rejected. ⁵If someone teaches children (worldly knowledge), it is good that he cease. But if he has no (other) trade, let him be permitted. ⁶A charioteer, likewise, or one who takes part in the games, or one who goes to the games, he shall cease or he shall be rejected. ⁷If someone is a gladiator, or one who teaches those among the gladiators how to fight, or a hunter who is in the wild beast shows in the arena, or a public official who is concerned with gladiator shows, either he shall cease, or he shall be rejected. ⁸If someone is a priest of idols, or an attendant of idols, he shall cease or he shall be rejected. ⁹A military man in authority must not execute men. If he is ordered, he must not carry it out. Nor must he take military oath. If he refuses, he shall be rejected. ¹⁰If someone is a military governor or the ruler of a city who wears the purple, he shall cease or he shall be rejected. ¹¹The catechumen or faithful who wants to become a soldier is to be rejected, for he has despised God. ¹²The prostitute, the wanton man, the one who castrates himself, or one who does that which may not be mentioned, are to be rejected, for they are impure. ¹³A magus shall not even be brought forward for consideration.¹⁴An enchanter, or astrologer, or diviner, or interpreter of dreams^b, or a charlatan^c, or one who makes amulets, either they shall cease or they shall be rejected. ¹⁵If someone's concubine is a slave, as long as she has raised her children and has clung only to him, let her hear. Otherwise, she shall be rejected. ¹⁶The man who has a concubine must cease and take a wife according to the law. If he will not, he shall be rejected.

A soldier is not a position worthy of a Christ follower. "...He shall be rejected, for he despised God." I have heard persons in the military say "for God and country." Hippolytus would, of course, have a major disagreement with that.

Is Hippolytus off in left field? If he's not, what does that mean for American Christianity that sees American patriotism as part and parcel of the Christian faith?
Also, he says that if a Christian military man in authority is not to execute people, what does that say about capital punishment?