Quote:
Originally Posted by CC1
You better thank your lucky stars everybody does not share your views or this country would have ceased to exist many years ago.
|
I think that those who have fought and won hard fought wars better thank their lucky stars for Christians who chose to wage war in prayer for their victory. I believe more is accomplished through prayer than struggle and revolution. I'd go as far as to argue that if it were not for conscientious Christians on their knees at home MORE soldiers and battles would have been lost on the battlefield.
Quote:
|
IMHO any man not willing to defend his freedom, country, etc....well I can't say what I think or I would have to ban myself.
|
Defending one's country doesn't require shooting another scared young man who is convinced that he is defending his country's interests. I believe the Christian performs an even greater service in the defense of his country and countrymen through prayer and supplications before the Lord of Hosts than if that Christian were shooting at a squad other frightened young men who are convinced that they are defending their country, culture, or faith. It's entirely possible (and I believe it is so) that America would have been brought down long ago if not for those totally given over to prayer and supplications that strengthened and protected our soldiers on the battlefield.
The REAL battle isn't on the front lines...it's in the high places when we are on our knees. Praying Christians provide greater support than artillery.
Quote:
|
The Bible clearly differentiates between murder and just killing as demonstrated by one of the ten commandments being not to kill yet God ordered the Jewish people to kill on many occasions.
|
When God manifests his presence and audibly commands us or speaks through a TRUE prophet imploring us to destroy a nation I will be in total and complete agreement. However, I'm convinced that our commission is to preach the Gospel. Christ will wage all the war that is needed and lead us personally when he returns in power and glory.
These are things I spent many an evening thinking about in prayer when I was in the military serving as a Combat Medic.
Quote:
|
I suppose if your family is attacked in your home and a man or men are threatening to rape or murder your wife you are going to turn the other cheek?
|
Defense of my home is different. If someone enters my home unwelcome I can be fairly certain that they are a DIRECT threat to either myself or my family. If the President sends me to war it's questionable if I'm defending the Constitution or UN resolutions. Therefore defense of family cannot be compared with military service.
But consider the following:
If I am at war defending the authority of the UN Security Council and someone breaks into my home...who will protect my family? Is it my duty to protect them or the UN's interests?
If placed in a position to have to defend my family from an intruder I have several methods of responding at my disposal:
Escape
Martyrdom
Reliance on Divine Intervention
Ruse
Nonlethal Violence
Or Moral Disarming
-I can lead or call my family to escape our home. The robber may take what they will for nothing in my home is worth my life, my wife or child's life...or even the life of the invader. I couldn't live with myself if I killed an unsaved man and sent him straight to Hell over an entertainment center or watch collection.
-I can stand and allow myself to be taken down, pleading for the attacker's salvation as my family escapes.
-I can, and do, depend on God's miraculous power to intervene supernaturally or through other means.
-I can employ trickery or subterfuge to disarm or fool the invader.
-I can use nonlethal physical force if necessary to disarm or incapacitate the attacker if necessary.
-I can morally disarm an invader by showing love, respect, heartfelt moral superiority seeking the invaders welfare and using negotiation tactics.
I'm hardly a "pacifist". Jesus didn't call me to sit idly by and watch an attacker harm or kill someone. In some circumstances it would be appropriate to use whatever force necessary to halt, ward off, or incapacitate an attacker without the use of lethal force. I have a gift for any would be invader that will not kill them, but will leave them "standing in the need of prayer" if you catch my drift. However, under no circumstance would I seek to kill an attacker. I'm a Christian. That means I've come to grips with the reality of death. I had to do that in the military and I've had to revisit occasionally in personal devotions and Bible reading. We either believe in Heaven and eternal Salvation or we don't. It would be better for me to die and be saved than to take the life of a lost soul plunging them beyond God's mercy. I can only pray that my death in my attempt to thwart but not kill will have allowed my family to escape and open the door of opportunity for the attacker to find the salvation, peace, and Holy Ghost I have found in Jesus.
Quote:
|
IMHO justifying being a pacifist from the bible is distorting it just the same as the so called "prosperity gospel" proponents do. You are taking only a portion of the Bible and using it to oppose armed conflict for a just cause.
|
IMHO you don't understand what Christian non-violence really means. When Jesus admonished us to love our enemies, bless those who curse us, and pray for those who persecute and dispitefully use us...I think that means we're not supposed to kill them. It is an evil should an attacker kill me...it is an even greater evil if I should kill an attacker and send them into an eternal Hell beyond God's mercy. I'm already dead...I'm crucified with Christ, and yet I live...not I...but Christ who lives within me.
Plus, you really held your ground with RD. You did that skillfully while having to contend with three or more other combatants. 
Linear Mode
