| Monday, March 20, 2006 |
| A Softer Look |
First and foremost, I must apologize to my readers for being either too lax or too trepidatious to post for over a month. Due to some... much heated debate, I decided to take a little time off. But I am back; to the cheers of my fans and the chagrin of those I have not yet convinced.
Furthermore, I feel that I may (according to Mr. Wright-not "Right"- jokes, Kevin, you are one of my links on the side) have painted with "broad strokes" pacifism. That may be true but my question in regard to the larger roll of pacifism remains. Some of my readers may view my last writing in such a way that would paint me as a war-monger.
In my soul-searching month off I decided to read some other blogs and see where people were on this whole issue. I ran across one in particular whose name I shall forego in which he addressed the banal and often-raised question of, "If a man was raping your daughter/wife what would you do?" To which the blogger responded, "I would try to stop him without killing him and whether I succeeded or not that man would walk out of that room." Really? I think we as people often place ourselves mentally in situations that we do not really know how we would act. This is one of the foremost problems with North American pacifism- of any strand- very few of us have ever been in a situation that demands that type of response- thank God.
For instance, ideally, I would love to state that if someone was gave me the choice between my life and my faith that I would, without fight, give my life to show my faith. Do I know that I could do that? No.
The second problem with avoiding the fight is that the choice we make to do nothing is a violent choice within itself. We allow the killer to kill again, the rapist to rape again, the child molester to destroy another child, the terrorist to blow up another building (although they usually take themselves out), the warlord to conduct another "ethnic cleansing", and on and on we go. What do we accomplish when we allow violence to continue by becoming fodder for the slaughter?
Of course this is all hypothetical for all of us except for how we vote- conservatively or liberally- because we do not directly take out any of these people (most of the time and God forbid we are placed in that situation).
Recently I viewed a movie entitled "Lord of War". In the movie Nicholas Cage is an arms dealer who is unwilling to make any real moral decision because he is more concerned with money. In the end he is caught and released because the United States uses him as a front man in their illegal arms deals and he says; "The saying used to be, 'Evil prevails when good men do nothing,' it should be changed to, 'Evil prevails,'." This may be true because too few good men do nothing and thus choose to pass the responsibility and duty to someone else who may also try to pass it on until there is no good men left.
What is the tension that we must hold as Christians between being willing to die to gain in Christ- as the Apostle Paul was and eventually did- and not being an inactive participant in the perpetuation of violence in our world? Paul was concerned because he knew that the Kingdom of God would be better served if he stayed. When we continually "walk away" are we better serving the Kingdom? Or would we better served, at least some of the time, if we weeded out some of the evil so the good could flourish? These are decisions that we must personally make to affect and train our minds in how to respond like Christ in situations. It is not easy- but whatever we do, may we prevent evil from prevailing. |
posted by D.M. @ 10:18 AM  |
|
| 10 Comments: |
-
Killing a rapist in defense of your wife or daughter would be a righteous thing to do.
If rapist and child molesters were swiftly executed by our government according to God's Law, we would not have an epidemic in violent crime.
But we no longer have a Justice System in this country, now it is Just-a-System. Shamefully!
Another note to add...
We should never do evil that good may come of it.
Voting republican just because it is the lesser of two evils...is still EVIL! Bush is not a Christian.
-
I usually avoid commenting on my own blog and just let conversation roll...but, I was not attempting to advocate one candidate over another. I am first and foremost a Christian, then a conservative, then a Republican. In that order.
I want to know how we, as individuals should act on this ideal of pacifism, not on how we should vote between our two major parties.
-
Devin, although you know I disagree with you on this issue, I applaud you for posting this blog. It shows a measured approach that begins to appreciate the many facets of the issue. At the same time, you have conveyed your message well and no, you have not come off as a "war monger." Good job on a well written post.
-
The rumor is that we are a Christian nation. Truth is we are a democracy which is ruled by the people not God. However, if we spend our time showing people Christ. Christ can (and does) change people. And a changed people can make a Christian nation And still be a democracy.
I know. This might sound familiar from me, but I had to chime in. How's FAM?
-
YOU:"Or would we be better served, at least some of the time, if we weeded out some of the evil so the good could flourish?"
ME: I guess the question is how do WE weed out evil? By taking up arms? Or by the example of a humble servant, willing to die on a cross? Neither really weed out evil in any estimation. But one is more Christ-like...I'll go with option two.
-
"Or would we better served, at least some of the time, if we weeded out some of the evil so the good could flourish?"
So we ought to use evil in order to stop the propagation of evil...when did the Kingdom ethics of Christ become defined by utilitarianism?
I think we delude ourselves when we think we can rid evil by evil.
-
Hey D.M.! Thanks for taking the time to come read my blog at Noahpinion. I liked your comments and I'd like to talk more! My email address is nquixote@yahoo.com ...drop me a line!
Concerning pacifism, I agree with you; we shouldn't start fights but we should finish them if they come to us. As for whether Christianity is pacifistic or martial, I really can't say, not being a Christian myself (I'm Jewish).
Anyway, hope to hear from you soon!
- Noah Smith, aka "Mr. Noah"
-
The zeal of my house burns you up, because I do not tolerate lesser demons supporting the alcohol industry as it drags Christ's children into the grave. You would rebuke the holy of holies for being too holy, you would cast out the pinnacle of heaven to make room for a bigger gate. If you are graced enough to get into Heaven you shall be least in heaven (Matthew 5:17-19) unless God chooses you to repent.
Now stop worshipping the people you "save" & start worshipping the one so holy He has every right to despise you!
-
You have asked for answers and so you have received them by grace...
>Do Muslims do the will of God?
If you have to ask if Muslims do the will of God then you have forgotten who God is. (Isaiah 45:7, Revelation 4:11, Az-Zumar 62)
>Will Muslims go to Heaven?
Will Gentiles go to Heaven?
...you silly Jew (Eph 2:12-14).
>pork
It is best to not eat pork, so we can give glory to God by not doing that which God told us in holy scripture not to do, but if it is your place to offend God and all his most righteous Jews, Muslims, and Christians who obey his laws more diligently than you, then go right ahead and offend us, just don't be surprised if you God pays you the wage of your sin and gives you colon cancer like a gluttonous pig-eating atheist.
>How can people who do not confess Christ get into heaven?
(Eph 2:8-10) Confessing Christ does not save you, you are save BY GOD'S GRACE, unto work, not by your work of professing faith, you idolatrous name-worshipper: "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." (Matt 7:21) You got confused about John the Divine saying that some shall be saved from name-worshippers during the end times by confessing the name of Christ, but that has nothing to do with saving anyone from the wrath of the LORD before the great white throne of judgement.
If you think I make you look like a liberal, you better rebel against liberalism all the more. Try to be the opposite of:
liberaldemocrats.blogspot.com
-
I recently came accross your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Ruth
http://muffinsnow.com
|
| |
| << Home |
| |
|
|
|
| "Memento Mori."- Remeber that you will also die. |
| |
|
| Saying what needs to be said but everyone is afraid to say. |
| About Me |
|
Name: D.M.
Home: Overland Park, Kansas, United States
About Me: I've lived at least 5 years in the last two but come out. After trials of fire and flame we are marching on and if we don't take the world we'll sure as heck die trying.
See my complete profile
|
| Previous Post |
|
| Archives |
|
| Shoutbox |
After one of the most difficult ministry years of my life I made it back to another fall. I hope my posts find you well and encourage thought and discussion. |
| Other things |
| The Trinity. The Virgin Mary. The saints. Peyton Manning- in that order. |
| From Left to Right |
|
| Template by |
 |
|
Killing a rapist in defense of your wife or daughter would be a righteous thing to do.
If rapist and child molesters were swiftly executed by our government according to God's Law, we would not have an epidemic in violent crime.
But we no longer have a Justice System in this country, now it is Just-a-System. Shamefully!
Another note to add...
We should never do evil that good may come of it.
Voting republican just because it is the lesser of two evils...is still EVIL! Bush is not a Christian.