Machine Gun Preacher

[Dedicated Mind]

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

Are you saying one could not obey Jesus Christs teachings? Would it be self righteous hypocrisy if one did?

I don't think the teachings are meant to be literal absolutes. If you had the power to prevent a spousal rape, I think you would be justified. Sermon on the mount is about an attitude, a lifestyle. Why don't you sell all that you have and give to the poor? Is that a literal teaching or not?

[Michael The Disciple]

Originally Posted by Dedicated Mind

I don't think the teachings are meant to be literal absolutes. If you had the power to prevent a spousal rape, I think you would be justified. Sermon on the mount is about an attitude, a lifestyle. Why don't you sell all that you have and give to the poor? Is that a literal teaching or not?

Preventing a rape and taking vengence over one would be two different things. Perhaps I may be helping the poor more by what Im doing now than giving them the receipts of sale? They would not get much from it.

I have always been interested in finding a real New Testament Church that had all things common.

[Austin]

Originally Posted by Dedicated Mind

would you still be a bible believing, sermon on the mount pacifist if someone killed your parents, raped your wife, kidnapped your children to be used as sex slaves? your self righteous hypocrisy is nauseating. this is the reality of the movie and the real life situation in sudan.

Well, what happen to faith? Doesn't the angel of the Lord camp around those who fear the Lord.

Doesn't Jesus send his angels to protect us? If not, I'm going to tear every page out of my bible that speaks about my Father protecting me and giving me aiuthority over the chldren of the devil !!

[Dedicated Mind]

Originally Posted by Austin

Well, what happen to faith? Doesn't the angel of the Lord camp around those who fear the Lord.

Doesn't Jesus send his angels to protect us? If not, I'm going to tear every page out of my bible that speaks about my Father protecting me and giving me aiuthority over the chldren of the devil !!

are you denying the fact that children get kidnapped and sold into sex slavery? do they fear the lord? where is the angel of the lord for southern sudan which is christian? are you saying that african christians are children of the devil? how do you explain violence in america when christians are the victim? that is the problem with taking the bible literally and not recognizing it as literature. psalms is poetry. true poetry but not literal words of god, imo. that is why people have issues with fundamentalists. why don't you go to china or iran and preach the gospel? see if god will give you authority over those children of the devil.

[Dedicated Mind]

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

Preventing a rape and taking vengence over one would be two different things. Perhaps I may be helping the poor more by what Im doing now than giving them the receipts of sale? They would not get much from it.

I have always been interested in finding a real New Testament Church that had all things common.

i am not advocating vengeance or killing even though the preacher has killed in order to protect children. what if armed men were raping your spouse and you had access to a weapon? would you maim or kill in order to prevent? that is the message of the movie. i bet you supported w when he killed innocent women and children in the iraq war.

[Michael Phelps]

Originally Posted by Austin

Well, what happen to faith? Doesn't the angel of the Lord camp around those who fear the Lord.

Doesn't Jesus send his angels to protect us? If not, I'm going to tear every page out of my bible that speaks about my Father protecting me and giving me aiuthority over the chldren of the devil !!

Maybe the Father was protecting people by sending a machine gun preacher?

[Dedicated Mind]

Originally Posted by Michael Phelps

Maybe the Father was protecting people by sending a machine gun preacher?

there is hope among apostolics. thanks for putting a smile on my face today.

[Michael Phelps]

Originally Posted by Dedicated Mind

there is hope among apostolics. thanks for putting a smile on my face today.

After all, He sent bears to eat little children who were mocking one of his prophets - why not a machine gun preacher?

[Dedicated Mind]

Originally Posted by Michael Phelps

After all, He sent bears to eat little children who were mocking one of his prophets - why not a machine gun preacher?

tis true, but that doesn't explain the victims of rape and violence who are christian. where is the angel of the lord for them? i believe that just nations have a duty to defend the powerless. bomb syria!!!

[Michael Phelps]

Originally Posted by Dedicated Mind

tis true, but that doesn't explain the victims of rape and violence who are christian. where is the angel of the lord for them? i believe that just nations have a duty to defend the powerless. bomb syria!!!

This raises a great topic for debate. I mean, we all know that bad things happen to good people, and good things happen to bad people.

The Bible says it rains on the just and the unjust alike. The Bible also tells us to remain strong in the faith, even during tribulation periods.

And, yet on the other hand, the Bible promises that God will protect those who love and serve him.

Seems like a conundrum wrapped in a dichotomy.......topped with a paradox.