Comments on: Killed All the Day Long http://ceruleansanctum.com/2009/04/killed-all-the-day-long.html Looking for the 1st century Church in 21st century America Sun, 12 Feb 2012 12:37:15 +0000 hourly 1 By: Dan Edelenhttp://ceruleansanctum.com/2009/04/killed-all-the-day-long.html#comment-45550 Dan Edelen Mon, 17 Aug 2009 14:55:31 +0000 http://ceruleansanctum.com/?p=1208#comment-45550 Urailak, I pose this post in part as a philosophical question to balance the typical Evangelical response in America. I'm an unsure how I myself would respond, but I believe God for a resolution to the dilemma should that day come and I have to decide the path of peace or the path of the sword. I am leaning toward peace. Urailak,

I pose this post in part as a philosophical question to balance the typical Evangelical response in America. I’m an unsure how I myself would respond, but I believe God for a resolution to the dilemma should that day come and I have to decide the path of peace or the path of the sword. I am leaning toward peace.

]]> By: Rick Beckmanhttp://ceruleansanctum.com/2009/04/killed-all-the-day-long.html#comment-45540 Rick Beckman Sat, 15 Aug 2009 02:47:01 +0000 http://ceruleansanctum.com/?p=1208#comment-45540 It seems Jesus spoke to that situation -- the defense of relatives -- when He so harshly rebuked Peter for defending Him. "Those who live by the sword, die by the sword" was spoken in the context not of warmongering, gang banging, or school shootings... but of defending a loved one. "All they" who take the sword were in context here. We can scarcely bless those who curse us if we are attacking them in retribution. Perhaps instead we could simply strip naked, offer them all our clothes/possessions, then dance around like a chicken (adapted from a real-life scenario in "Jesus for President"). That'll diffuse quite a few situations, all without resorting to violence. It seems Jesus spoke to that situation — the defense of relatives — when He so harshly rebuked Peter for defending Him. “Those who live by the sword, die by the sword” was spoken in the context not of warmongering, gang banging, or school shootings… but of defending a loved one. “All they” who take the sword were in context here. We can scarcely bless those who curse us if we are attacking them in retribution. Perhaps instead we could simply strip naked, offer them all our clothes/possessions, then dance around like a chicken (adapted from a real-life scenario in “Jesus for President”). That’ll diffuse quite a few situations, all without resorting to violence.

]]> By: Urailakhttp://ceruleansanctum.com/2009/04/killed-all-the-day-long.html#comment-45538 Urailak Fri, 14 Aug 2009 23:03:12 +0000 http://ceruleansanctum.com/?p=1208#comment-45538 Do you think Christians cannot/should not ever be cops or soldiers then? It seems to me that you put more emphasis on "loving your enemies" than "loving your neighbors as yourselves" which includes your own family members. "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers." (1 John 3:16) "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13) "Brothers" and "Friends" point to your family members and loved ones and brothers/sisters in Christ rather than your enemies. How would you show Christ's love by letting your enemies attack your loved ones without trying to defend them? I know the Lord can protect but He also gives us a brain to think and solve problems with and to use available resources. I also believe in the Holy Spirit's leading. In the scenario you gave, my husband or I would definitely shoot the attacker(s) to stop/immobilize them (not to kill them). It is more loving to confront them with their sins and share the Gospel with them than to just let them do whatever they want and continue to sin (there's no guarantee that they will choose Christ after you and your family are killed by them). You seem to assume that the enemies will eventually give their lives to Jesus but what about your kids who may grow up to be fruitful evangelists/missionaries whom the Lord would use to bring many lives to Christ? Is it better to get rid of some terrorists (who may or may never repent) or to let them keep killing many innocent people (who would also have chances to repent if they were allowed to live)? I'm not afraid to die but dying as a martyr (defending our God/our faith) is different than dying as someone who refuses to defend his/her loved ones...who refuses to lay down his life for his "brothers". Do you think Christians cannot/should not ever be cops or soldiers then?
It seems to me that you put more emphasis on “loving your enemies” than “loving your neighbors as yourselves” which includes your own family members. “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.” (1 John 3:16) “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13) “Brothers” and “Friends” point to your family members and loved ones and brothers/sisters in Christ rather than your enemies. How would you show Christ’s love by letting your enemies attack your loved ones without trying to defend them? I know the Lord can protect but He also gives us a brain to think and solve problems with and to use available resources. I also believe in the Holy Spirit’s leading. In the scenario you gave, my husband or I would definitely shoot the attacker(s) to stop/immobilize them (not to kill them). It is more loving to confront them with their sins and share the Gospel with them than to just let them do whatever they want and continue to sin (there’s no guarantee that they will choose Christ after you and your family are killed by them). You seem to assume that the enemies will eventually give their lives to Jesus but what about your kids who may grow up to be fruitful evangelists/missionaries whom the Lord would use to bring many lives to Christ? Is it better to get rid of some terrorists (who may or may never repent) or to let them keep killing many innocent people (who would also have chances to repent if they were allowed to live)? I’m not afraid to die but dying as a martyr (defending our God/our faith) is different than dying as someone who refuses to defend his/her loved ones…who refuses to lay down his life for his “brothers”.

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