Posted on 08/22/2014 3:56:34 PM PDT by right-wing agnostic
“Children are being beheaded, mothers are being raped and killed, and fathers are being hung and crucified. Entire Christian and non-Muslim communities are being decimated by the radical Muslim group, ISIS.” These are the words from reporters out of Iraq. What is our obligation to those under fire from Islamic terrorists? Prayer is good, but not enough. Words of support are welcome, but not enough. What can one do when terrorists are not moved by our prayers or words of support for the hunted? Our religious obligation is to fight.
We fight because self-defense is a mandate from the Bible -- the Torah, called by many the Old Testament. We fight to defend life. Because life is precious, the ultimate, we must defend it. The very definition of self-defense is permission to kill the one who is coming toward you to kill you. Self-defense is not simply our right to pray or support with words, but do whatever is needed to stay alive and protect our families.
Those pacifists who are willing to personally die and would rather be butchered so as not to kill their butchers are free to so choose. But no one is allowed to demand or suggest that someone else allow himself to be killed so as to spare the life of the one presently doing murder.
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
If you choose not to defend yourself when you have the means to do so is suicide and therefore its a Mortal sin in my religion.
I don’t seek to harm anyone but at the same time will not shirk
“Turn the other cheek” referred to insults & abuse, not serious physical harm.
Indeed it is interesting. I agree that we are to defend ourselves and others.
Just how many insults are you supposed to take?
When Western Civilizations decide to make war on Islam, the world will become a better place.
After Western Civilization WINS the war, then the world will BE a better place.
Until then, we are in deep kim chi!
All of them.
Read the bit about “seventy times seven”.
In other words, be a door mat.
Bump for later read
C.S. Lewis once commented that when Jesus said “not to resist evil” do you think that He meant that you should just stand there while your neighbor is being criminally assaulted (paraphrased.)
I'm coming up blank with that one. Where did Jesus tell us not to resist evil?
Are you sure your post 29 was intended for me? I didn’t state anything that could be construed as Jesus wanting us to ‘stand by while our neighbor was being assulted’.
If you re read my original, I indicate the opposite, actually.
I am not sure that I understand self-defense to be a biblical mandate, but it seems hermeneutically that it is unavoidable. If the Scriptures are to be understood the way an historic novel unfolds its story, rather than the way an encyclopedia sets out topics, then clearly we Gentiles are not really even included until after the blood was shed at Calvary (Eph. 2:11 - 13). This fact makes the so-called Sermon on the Mount (with all of its demands) actually a crushing exposition on the Law of Moses (Matt. 7:12).
All of the remarks made here about “turning the other cheek” and “not resisting evil” (etc.) are made by Jesus to the Jews to explain perfect living under the Law. These demands are both someone else’s mail and removed for the Jew after the cross.
As the “movie” winds down to that most important scene at Calvary, recall Jesus alters the directives He gives even to the Jewish disciples (likely in anticipation of the situations they and Gentile believers would face). After the Last Supper He directs them to get a sword if they haven’t already done so (Luke 22:36). Sell your robe if necessary...you’re going to need it when I am gone.
Once Paul begins to tutor the believing Gentile world (best captured in the letter to the Romans), it is clear that governments are ordained by God to “bear the sword” as a means of suppressing the worst of evil. (Rom. 13)
Now, obviously, it is evil to lie, to think lustful thoughts, to be cruel and Paul does not mean that governments should be stamping out anyone who does these. But, the horrific rampant murder of people in the name of a pagan god is not in any of these categories. We are seeing evil as in the days of Noah...and it is abhorred by God (even as He is managing it into the world). Thus, I find that members of the armed forces are both legitimate and necessary.
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