Greetings Dearest Steve:

"Christian/Military" or "Christian/War" or "Christian/Politics" - The oxymorons are myriad.

Christ said i come not to bring peace to the world but a sword. The things that are happenning, are written. It will happen, we can stand up and protect ourselfs in it, or say war is wicked and cower in fear. Look in the old testament, Find the wars the isreal fouht against their enemies, it brought destruction to the enemies of God. Up till now. Wev'e been fighting on the side of isreal. Protecting it. Now with obama's policy's to rid of our nuclear program. and lower our defenses. W'll be just as guilty as Iran themselfs.

So guys, was Jesus only kidding in the Sermon On The Mount.  Did he not really mean to turn the other cheek?  And what about loving our enemies -- did He mean that?  If Jesus' peaceful methods are not for here on earth, how will we love enemies and turn the other cheek in Heaven?  We will have no enemies there to love and no one to hit us on the cheek.  No.  Jesus taught nonviolence not for Heaven, but for earth.

What is love mr steve? Does a father not defend his children. He said vengence is mine. God IS a god of love, but he is also a god of wrath. I warn you sir not to see him as this revent book "The shack" does. If you do i beilieve you are very deceived.

Hahaha, Satan knows the bible sir, do you not beilieve that he can twist the wods of christ? Sir you will answer before God on judgment day for not standing up for the children of God. I'm not out in the war to kill. Our brothers are not out there to Kill SIR! Theyre out there to save. Some men cannot be reasoned with.

When Holly was in Africa she went to the genocide memorial in Rwanda.  I think it was the first time she "saw" the absolute horror of war.  The lady who took her there had lost numerous family members to cruel, torturous deaths.  It was so overwhelming that Holly could do nothing but put her arms around the womanand weep with her.

Later, when Holly was alone, she asked God why He would even bother with the human race -- knowing how evil we can be.  While I will let her tell that story on her blog, I will say that she came away with a glimpse into the magnificent love and mercy of God.  She now knows -- having seen firsthand -- what people are capable of and it sickens her.  However, she also knows that God's extravagant love is still there -- for even the worst criminal -- if only they'll be willing to receive it.  

Greetings Beloveds:

Here are a few words from Jesus on this subject:

Matthew 5:38-45

38 Ye have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:

39 but I say unto you, resist not him that is evil: but whosoever smiteth thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

40 And if any man would go to law with thee, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.

41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go one mile, go with him two.

42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

43 Ye have heard that it was said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy:

44 but I say unto you, love your enemies, and pray for them that persecute you;

45 that ye may be sons of your Father who is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sendeth rain on the just and the unjust.

Matthew 5:20

20 For I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven. 

Matthew 7:13-14

13 Enter ye in by the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many are they that enter in thereby.

14 For narrow is the gate, and straitened the way, that leadeth unto life, and few are they that find it. 

John 18:36

36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

Matthew 10:28

28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Matthew 5:9

9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

Here are a few words from Paul on this subject:

Romans 12:18-19

18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.

19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," says the Lord. 

2 Corinthians 10:3-4

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh,

4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.

1 Peter 2:21-23

21 For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps,

22 WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH;

23 and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; 

1 Peter 3:8-11

8 Finally, be ye all likeminded, compassionate, loving as brethren, tenderhearted, humbleminded:

9 not rendering evil for evil, or reviling for reviling; but contrariwise blessing; for hereunto were ye called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

10 For, He that would love life, And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips that they speak no guile:

11 And let him turn away from evil, and do good; Let him seek peace, and pursue it.  

1 Peter 3:13-17

13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be zealous of that which is good?

14 But even if ye should suffer for righteousness' sake, blessed are ye: and fear not their fear, neither be troubled;

15 but sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord: being ready always to give answer to every man that asketh you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, yet with meekness and fear:

16 having a good conscience; that, wherein ye are spoken against, they may be put to shame who revile your good manner of life in Christ.

17 For it is better, if the will of God should so will, that ye suffer for well-doing than for evil-doing.

Hebrews 10:32-34

32 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were enlightened, ye endured a great conflict of sufferings;

33 partly, being made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, becoming partakers with them that were so used.

34 For ye both had compassion on them that were in bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your possessions, knowing that ye have for yourselves a better possession and an abiding one. 

And One last Word from Jesus regarding the following passage since it is thrown around with such abandon:

Matthew 10:34

34 Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 

This particular passage is universally accepted as being a metaphor. The sword of the gospel cuts and divides, as the word of God does (Hebrews 4:12), "between eternally hostile principles, penetrating into and rending asunder the dearest ties". More on this verse here.

Simply put: Jesus and the Apostles lived, breathed, and preached the Gospel of non-violence.

JamesAD62
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Live Jesus. Be Church.

James:  How can we deny the plain Word of God?  We say we believe it from cover to cover, then we ignore the many verses about nonviolence.

 I believe the written word of God. I do my very best to live it everyday. God knows our weakness as humans, He's called all Christians to follow peace with all men....  We have to walk out our own salvation
with fear and trembling. Giving God praise in all things, rejoicing that His soon appearing is near!

Your right Steve war is very ugly. So much pain is inflicted in those that participate
in fighting the wars that are set before us. Many a soldier has come away from these battles
so messed up in their minds in this country and I'm sure other countries as well, that we can't keep up
with the needs of their mental anguish. and their phisical dispair.  I know our Lord wants his creation to live in peace but he also knows that the God of This world has it in bondage to hatred for those that oppose their way of thinking. I see violence as cruel and vicious. I do not like what war brings and I see that war with others really never ends. This is a cruel world we live in that's why those that are called be Christs name must pray and call upon God and seek his face. For the sins of mankind are very much alive.
I believe Gandhi to be a good man, had a lot of wisdom and preached love. His way of living is much to be admired. God is the one who judges the heart of a man.
That's why the Gospel of Jesus Christ must be preached.
My prayer is that all of mankind would come to know Jesus as their Saviour, The Lord of Lords and The Prince of peace.
I'm not speaking out of ignorance, but of Faith!!!  If my loved one is my enemy I pray for them. Amen.

Greetings Dearest Steve:

Lively conversation as easily anticipated.

Your query (possibly rhetorical): How can we deny the plain Word of God?  We say we believe it from cover to cover, then we ignore the many verses about nonviolence.

Indeed - How can we.

Perhaps one of the following (if not all) apply in this regard:

1700 years of institutionalized and habitualized error.

The predicted and inevitable "sheep from goats" and "wheat from chaff".

And of course those that are "seeing through a glass darkly".

Ironically (or not) this reflects the popularly thrown about Matthew 10:34.

The "sword" (The Word/The Truth) is at work in all its splendor.

And we stay the course of and for Christ.

JamesAD62
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Live Jesus. Be Church.

Wow!  2 m Steve Simms, you sure can pick some hot topics, can't ya?  :) :) :)

I need to say that I did not intend my comments to mean that I do not think people should be held accountable or that there is not a reaping for what we've sown.  People who have no hope do unthinkable things.   But sometimes, those of us who have that Blessed Hope do some pretty stupid things, too.  While we can receive God's forgiveness, we often still have consequences to deal with.  :)  I will deal with consequences from decisions I made as a teenager that will affect the rest of my life....and not only my life, but many others.  

While I appreciate the passion expressed here, I also know that we cannot turn on each other when the facts are that war happens in our fallen world, yet Jesus is our Prince of Peace. We should always yearn for His Peace -- especially in times of war.   So Steve, bravo to you for giving us the opportunity to discuss not only what is happening in the physical, temporal realm -- but also that place where His thoughts are higher than ours!  May we all seek His Peace!

Amen, GrammyB.  "Blessed are the peacemakers . . ."