that said, the Bible is the personal revelation in each of our hearts, and the words of The Lord in context, for myself, says that my role as a body part is a bit different than yours, but a means to the same end, that is the Glorifying of God thru Faith in Lord Jesus...
again, Lukes gospel is pretty clear that we are commanded to prepare for battle in the physical 'world' by arms [22:36] and the later rebuke of Peter was NOT for the simple act of using the sword, but was for the timing of and and ultimate motivation for that usage, namely in attempting to prevent God's Will in the conclusion of Jesus' mission...this usage didnt happen 'by mistake', no more than when Mary, a fallible human went to Jesus and petitioned him for more wine for the feast...remember His words ??? he rebuked her for bad timing, yet did it anyways, which says that she was actually right on time with the request, in the bigger picture...
22:36 tells me that there is a time when the Lord will use man for His Glory thru arms, its just that we need to be damn certain of our timing and unfortunately, that means that the blood must begin by the other side...we have a portion of the body thats called to be martyrs, and a portion thats meant to be prepared to fight...if not, the best wishes for all of us would be for our families to be slaughtered by anyone, quickly, to hasten our exit of this world and get on to Glory...but for some reason we aint wired that way, instead we chase life in its various forms and hang onto it until we are certain of the next steps we must take... we can certainly render many different interpretations of the same passages, as the eye cannot hear, and the hand cannot taste, etc, but the 'governmental authority' of ceaser or obambam is all rooted in human institution, and only truly powerful in our own minds and Spirits...
when government decrees that yer 2nd child must be put to death for global warming, and its codified into 'law' does that represent Gods will in bowing to authority ??? of course not...
'render to ceasar'...well, if God created all, then nothing belonged to ceaser to give back to him, except as man what we deem him to posses...
and lastly, if the russians or chicoms or bambam himself decides its 'time', because of wordly circumstances, i have nothing to fear except the limitations of my ability to be a useful tool in the Lords hands...this reality of life is less than a blink of the eye in the grand Plan, so i do not fear being overrun, i should welcome it as an opportunity to get home, but the martyr thing doesnt appeal to me, as my guts say that there is evil to be defeated as an example FOR revival...
Blessed day to all /my .02
Gilbo_3 : Despite your great fondness for Luke 22:36, the heart of the New Testament is Love, and fights that are spiritual, not physical. It might be possible to make a case for personal self-defense against random violent riffraff per Luke 22:36, but I doubt you could for armed revolt against the government, whether started by militias, or by government persecution, given Romans 13 and 1 Peter 2:13. I have no doubt that you and 90 million gun toting patriots can overthrow 3 million government agents. They don’t have a chance. Turkey shoot. Spam they would be. However, you’re forgetting that the last thing Russia/China will want/allow is a country where the conservative majority is in complete control. They will nuke us during the chaos. You and the 90 million can definitely take the country back. The issue is, external attack, during the transition.
Kartographer: You finished a list of Old Testament warriors with the quote, “Better a death as those of Masadah than those of Dachau.” Again, Gun slinging Americana with all it’s boldness is not Christianity. Rebelling against authorities is rebellion against God per Romans 13 and 1 Peter 2:13. Read what I wrote about armed revolt to Gilbo_3. You can win, no question. But Russia/China can take us out during the chaos of your certain victory.
95B30: You asked “So you will just knuckle under to the regime?” and my response is, I am working for Christian revival, which is the only true solution to tyranny. The whole reason the Leftists lie, kill babies, need felons to vote for them, are lazy, etc... is they don’t fear God. Plenty of Christian revivals have happened. Why not now? Your guns are as useless against tyranny as the spears and arrows of Israel’s soldiers against Babylon.
Clump : Perhaps if the British soldiers of the Revolutionary War acted like the honor-less lawless animals they were portrayed as in the movie “The Patriot”, that would remove any sin from fighting against them. I don’t know. What I do know is that this is the 21st century, and the last thing Russia/China would want, is for their plants/stooges to be deposed by armed revolt by this countries conservative majority. It would mean they would be under us decisively for the next 60+ years. They would be FOOLS to allow that to happen, and not take advantage of the chaos, and finish us off. They are not fools. You can live under tyranny. Or you can work for Christian revival. But trusting your guns, more than God’s way, will mean the end of this country.
Eagle Eye : Every translation of Romans 13 I read at http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2013&version=NLT makes it clear that GOVERNMENT is who we are to submit to. Even if that was not the case, you still need to show how 1 Peter 2:13 and Matthew 22:21 don’t compel our submission to government.
OneWingedShark : You asked, “Does that absolve you, as a man [I’m assuming], from your duty to [protect] your family? If so, why?” I protect my loved ones by working for Christian revival, just as this country has had many times in it’s history. Not impossible. Revival means the end of sin in the church, and postponement of judgment. You also said, “But the violence that will happen when the government collapses will be random.” I’m not saying not to defend against randoms. What I am saying is, armed revolt against the government will invite China/Russia to attack decisively during the chaos. The bible verse I cited as reminiscent of what you are saying is, “So these officials went to the king and said, “Sir, this man must die! That kind of talk will undermine the morale of the few fighting men we have left, as well as that of all the people. This man is a traitor!” and it is Jeremiah 38:4 where Jeremiah is being castigated for Jeremiah 38:3. You are echoing the protests of the people of Israel that wanted to take up arms, rather than repent and serve the Babylonians. Classic mistake you are making wanting to fight when you should repent to God and serve who God has placed over you.
The order is:
1) armed revolt (90 million patriots vs. 3 million government soldiers/agents )
2) patriots win
3) chaos
4) China/Russia attack
It’s the perfect time for China/Russia/NorthKoreato wipe us out.
The sin and faithlessness among Christians has made the Leftists bold and evil. But God’s judgment now is the same as it is was back in Old Testament days: A result of the sin of believers, not heathen.
“If MY PEOPLE, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
2 Chronicles 7:14
It’s up to Christians. Not the heathen.
Are you Christians or heathen? If you are heathen, pardon me for wasting your time, though it should be plain to all of you that the chaos of your revolt will INVITE China/Russia to attack.
What’s the plan for handling China/Russia in the hours of transition from Obama to you? If you don’t have that worked out, then armed revolt is not wise.