There is a thin line between violence and non-violence depending on what a person believes. If one is guided by the Holy Spirit, they will do what the Spirit of God tells them. Sometimes I move too fast and have to repent and get it right. We are living in a violent world. Every day the believers of Christ has to make the decision to do what is right. Stand on your principles that line up with the Word of God and let the chips fall where they may. Thanks for this message.
Wes, I think you nailed it. This third article is the charm! I think it identifies where almost all Christian men and may I say conservative men actually are in their thinking on the issue of "violence" despite their sometimes hard core testosterone filled expressions as masculine men.
The original view sounded as if it was the most honorable position to take was to walk into slaughter with a smile on ones face or to allow others to be slaughtered because an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind. I think the more proper and Godly position that most men hold to is best summed up by John 15:13 "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." and a couple of old secular quotes.
"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." — George Orwell
“The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.” ― G.K. Chesterton
Question about your Q&A, “For instance, is it loving to wrestle someone to the ground, who is trying to hurt people, even if that means he is unintentionally injured in the process? I believe it could be.” Wouldn’t “wrestling someone to the ground, who is trying to hurt people” violate Jesus’ command in Mt 5:39 to “do not resist an evil person”?
Speaking of non-violence, as you know, Jewish lives are threatened right here in the US by Leftist Nazis who equate silencing and slandering Jews with liberation of Palestinians. They have crossed the line into violence twice and their campaign is to globalize the intifada. As Christians we must resist. This country is NOT Nazi Germany. Please alert your reading and listening public to the threat and encourage a visible non-violent response.
Pentecost Sunday the Spirit fell upon the Church and made it ALIVE. If we are still alive we must take action. Beginning Pentecost Sunday we must BE VISIBLE where we are, displaying support for our Jewish brothers and sisters. Marches and Speakers are great, but each of us has the Power of the Holy Spirit right now and right here.
Most of us have thought at some point that is we had been in Nazi Germany we would have sheltered and protected Jews. We didn’t think we’d ever get the chance. And now we do have that chance. Mohamed Soliman and Elias Rodriguez were willing to risk the death penalty to kill Jews. Are we willing to risk backtalk and harassment to defend the Jews living among us? In the Power of the Holy Spirit we can and we will. Apart from Him we can do nothing.
Whatever our feelings about Israeli politics, there is no excuse for threatening Jewish lives and businesses with violence. As a gesture of solidarity we must make our support for American Jews visible, Blue or Yellow ribbons on our front porch, A Star of David banner at our business, an Israeli flag in our yard, a Star of David necklace along with our cross. The Nazis marching the streets and the internet are cowards. They cluster together to encourage each other, hidden behind masks and aliases. If they see real courage, they will back down.
Awesome post. I understand nonviolence to be crucial for following the Lord, especially when it is His judgement to pass. I think of the parable of the net (Matthew 13:47-50) as an example. We are meant to show love and forgiveness, and then it will be up to Him to deal justice.
I do have one alternative concern to raise: what if nonviolence brings violence upon others? I.e., what if by showing love to our enemies, such as imperial powers, we are allowing for the continued oppression of the others? To you is there any place where violence is necessary? I think, for instance, of the Warsaw uprising, or the resistance against slavery. Do you see any scripture rationale in favor of or against this situation of resistance?
There is a thin line between violence and non-violence depending on what a person believes. If one is guided by the Holy Spirit, they will do what the Spirit of God tells them. Sometimes I move too fast and have to repent and get it right. We are living in a violent world. Every day the believers of Christ has to make the decision to do what is right. Stand on your principles that line up with the Word of God and let the chips fall where they may. Thanks for this message.
Wes, I think you nailed it. This third article is the charm! I think it identifies where almost all Christian men and may I say conservative men actually are in their thinking on the issue of "violence" despite their sometimes hard core testosterone filled expressions as masculine men.
The original view sounded as if it was the most honorable position to take was to walk into slaughter with a smile on ones face or to allow others to be slaughtered because an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind. I think the more proper and Godly position that most men hold to is best summed up by John 15:13 "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." and a couple of old secular quotes.
"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." — George Orwell
“The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.” ― G.K. Chesterton
Question about your Q&A, “For instance, is it loving to wrestle someone to the ground, who is trying to hurt people, even if that means he is unintentionally injured in the process? I believe it could be.” Wouldn’t “wrestling someone to the ground, who is trying to hurt people” violate Jesus’ command in Mt 5:39 to “do not resist an evil person”?
This has been a biblical based series and I thank you for it.
Speaking of non-violence, as you know, Jewish lives are threatened right here in the US by Leftist Nazis who equate silencing and slandering Jews with liberation of Palestinians. They have crossed the line into violence twice and their campaign is to globalize the intifada. As Christians we must resist. This country is NOT Nazi Germany. Please alert your reading and listening public to the threat and encourage a visible non-violent response.
Pentecost Sunday the Spirit fell upon the Church and made it ALIVE. If we are still alive we must take action. Beginning Pentecost Sunday we must BE VISIBLE where we are, displaying support for our Jewish brothers and sisters. Marches and Speakers are great, but each of us has the Power of the Holy Spirit right now and right here.
Most of us have thought at some point that is we had been in Nazi Germany we would have sheltered and protected Jews. We didn’t think we’d ever get the chance. And now we do have that chance. Mohamed Soliman and Elias Rodriguez were willing to risk the death penalty to kill Jews. Are we willing to risk backtalk and harassment to defend the Jews living among us? In the Power of the Holy Spirit we can and we will. Apart from Him we can do nothing.
Whatever our feelings about Israeli politics, there is no excuse for threatening Jewish lives and businesses with violence. As a gesture of solidarity we must make our support for American Jews visible, Blue or Yellow ribbons on our front porch, A Star of David banner at our business, an Israeli flag in our yard, a Star of David necklace along with our cross. The Nazis marching the streets and the internet are cowards. They cluster together to encourage each other, hidden behind masks and aliases. If they see real courage, they will back down.
I love the phrase "cruciform peacemaking", that was a new thought to me. It goes along with this song: https://ytube.io/43uU
Awesome post. I understand nonviolence to be crucial for following the Lord, especially when it is His judgement to pass. I think of the parable of the net (Matthew 13:47-50) as an example. We are meant to show love and forgiveness, and then it will be up to Him to deal justice.
I do have one alternative concern to raise: what if nonviolence brings violence upon others? I.e., what if by showing love to our enemies, such as imperial powers, we are allowing for the continued oppression of the others? To you is there any place where violence is necessary? I think, for instance, of the Warsaw uprising, or the resistance against slavery. Do you see any scripture rationale in favor of or against this situation of resistance?