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?
I super appreciate this question, as someone who experienced physical violence multiple times despite confiding in some family members who actually do ministry for a living, as well as two pastors - and no one helped me. God actually moved in some radical ways on my behalf that i would not have been able to experience otherwise, but there are many who are murdered, if not in body, than in soul, due to others’ violence.
Granted, the help i was seeking wasn’t physical interference akin to wrestling another person or anything - but still, the question is a discerning one to raise and is really appreciated. So very few are willing to defend the innocent, and seeing that only further traumatizes the victim AND further reinforces the PERPETRATOR.
I think we also need to remember how the Word describes violence - what the Bible names as violence. Then we are no longer considering physical actions to be the only form of violence. Satan steals, kills, and destroys, right? But has satan physically grabbed someone by the scruff of their neck? No. Therefore, we really need to start SEEING the ENTIRETY of what the ULTIMATE AUTHORITY, (including over what is and is not, what is true, false, real, delusion, violent, or nonviolent) - which is the Word of God - (not logic, webster’s defintions, what our government says it is, etc) - says about and calls violence.
This whole argument - all sides of it - has been around physical violence ONLY. I agree with what Wes says about intent being of importance also…although good intentions can still result in sinful actions, so again - people really need to study the Bible at LEAST as much as they read up on politics, social movements, the weather…
As to one point re: physical violence that id like to speak to - i do believe that yes, we should do what is best for another, even when its our enemy, however … sometimes one cannot do what is “best” for one’s family AND for the perpetrator simultaneously. Kind of like when Rahab hid the israelite spies AND HAD TO LIE TO PROTECT THEM.
Hence again why believers really need to focus on our relationships with the Lord, learning to discern what Holy Spirit is saying, and what the Word says - bc if we defer to lesser things - be it ideals, our own beliefs and reasonings, etc - then we most certainly will be perpetrators of violence ourselves, and we will be judged according to how we judge others, (ie - lets make sure we are SEEING clearly - no “planks in our eyes” - before we decide or do anything!).
Love you all, and so grateful to see so many brothers and sisters lovingly talking about all this together, despite differences in opinions/stances. That alone is such a testimony to Holy Spirit operating in a body that may be wobbly as we try to figure out the best steps to take on rocky terrain, but as a body, we do our best to get all our parts in alignment to God’s will to the best of our ability - and when we fall down, our loving Father is there to pick us up so we can keep moving forward. <3
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?
I super appreciate this question, as someone who experienced physical violence multiple times despite confiding in some family members who actually do ministry for a living, as well as two pastors - and no one helped me. God actually moved in some radical ways on my behalf that i would not have been able to experience otherwise, but there are many who are murdered, if not in body, than in soul, due to others’ violence.
Granted, the help i was seeking wasn’t physical interference akin to wrestling another person or anything - but still, the question is a discerning one to raise and is really appreciated. So very few are willing to defend the innocent, and seeing that only further traumatizes the victim AND further reinforces the PERPETRATOR.
I think we also need to remember how the Word describes violence - what the Bible names as violence. Then we are no longer considering physical actions to be the only form of violence. Satan steals, kills, and destroys, right? But has satan physically grabbed someone by the scruff of their neck? No. Therefore, we really need to start SEEING the ENTIRETY of what the ULTIMATE AUTHORITY, (including over what is and is not, what is true, false, real, delusion, violent, or nonviolent) - which is the Word of God - (not logic, webster’s defintions, what our government says it is, etc) - says about and calls violence.
This whole argument - all sides of it - has been around physical violence ONLY. I agree with what Wes says about intent being of importance also…although good intentions can still result in sinful actions, so again - people really need to study the Bible at LEAST as much as they read up on politics, social movements, the weather…
As to one point re: physical violence that id like to speak to - i do believe that yes, we should do what is best for another, even when its our enemy, however … sometimes one cannot do what is “best” for one’s family AND for the perpetrator simultaneously. Kind of like when Rahab hid the israelite spies AND HAD TO LIE TO PROTECT THEM.
Hence again why believers really need to focus on our relationships with the Lord, learning to discern what Holy Spirit is saying, and what the Word says - bc if we defer to lesser things - be it ideals, our own beliefs and reasonings, etc - then we most certainly will be perpetrators of violence ourselves, and we will be judged according to how we judge others, (ie - lets make sure we are SEEING clearly - no “planks in our eyes” - before we decide or do anything!).
Love you all, and so grateful to see so many brothers and sisters lovingly talking about all this together, despite differences in opinions/stances. That alone is such a testimony to Holy Spirit operating in a body that may be wobbly as we try to figure out the best steps to take on rocky terrain, but as a body, we do our best to get all our parts in alignment to God’s will to the best of our ability - and when we fall down, our loving Father is there to pick us up so we can keep moving forward. <3