Book Review: A Time to Kill (The Myth of Christian Pacifism)

Gun Watch ^ | 9 November, 2016 | Dean Weingarten

[marktwain]

A Time to Kill 

(The Myth of Christian Pacifism) 

Greg Hopkins, paperback, 302 pages,  $19.95

I was an agnostic/practicing atheist for 40 years.  I have been an active Christian for a little over 4 years.  When Greg Hopkins approached me at the Gun Rights Policy conference in Tamp, Florida, two months ago, I welcomed the opportunity to read his book and write a review.

I do not write book reviews unless I have actually read the book. Readers might be surprised to know that many reviews are written by authors, as a favor to people who the author wishes to "review" the book.  The "reviewer" then reads the review, and approves of it (or not).

This book is not one to be read over a weekend. It took me a month of reading and digestion to finish it. I normally read a novel in a day or two. This book is not an adventure novel.

I liked Greg's fictionalization and embellishment of a couple of biblical accounts, as a literary device to make and emphasize particular points.  They were easy reading, but they are a small part of the book.  A Time to Kill is a deep level study of the biblical perspective on the use of deadly force, both individually, and collectively in war.

The book covers, but does not place undue emphasis on, Jesus' order to his disciples to obtain weapons in Luke.  One chapter, 23, out of 27, is devoted to the subject.  The Old Testament is covered in considerable detail.

I particularly enjoyed Greg's account of how the two Roman centurions mentioned in the New Testament were treated.  Centurions were Roman military officers. As a former U.S. Army officer, I could relate.

The first centurion mentioned in the bible has a conversation directly with Jesus. Jesus praises him for his faith. The second and his household were chosen as the first Gentiles to become Christians.  Neither was commanded to give up their profession of arms.

Greg has been a lawyer for most of his adult life.  His everyday experience is used to illustrate Christian and legal doctrine.  He shows the biblical basis for most of the law on the use of force in the United States.  He gives sound advice on both the use of force and how to avoid having to use force.

I recommend the book to anyone who wants more than a superficial look at biblical teaching of Christian morality on the use of deadly force.  I found it well worth while.

The book is available in both soft cover and in electronic format on Kindle for 19.95 at amazon.com.

©2016 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.
Link to Gun Watch

[marktwain]

This is a serious book that requires thought and study.

[Lazamataz]

Thank you Dean. What with the Trump assassination calls by liberals, we need to consider how far we are willing to go to preserve the Republic.

Very timely selection.

[Fai Mao]

I had a professor in university that persuaded me to give up pacifism and move on from the Mennonite girlfriend. He did it in three sentences. He said:

“I would like to be a pacifist because I like the sense of moral superiority it gives me. But, my sense of justice sees too many people that absolutely deserve to have the shit beat out of them. Pacifism demands setting aside justice.”

http://faimao.blogspot.com/2006/04/why-i-am-not-pacifist-part-2-edited.html

[jsanders2001]

< “I would like to be a pacifist because I like the sense of moral superiority it gives me. But, my sense of justice sees too many people that absolutely deserve to have the shit beat out of them. Pacifism demands setting aside justice.”

Oh that's some gold there...lol

[sphinx]

When the subject arises, I like to raise the parable of the Good Samaritan. Suppose the Good Samaritan had arrived an hour earlier, while the attack was in progress? Would he have been a good pacifist, hidden behind a tree, and came out only when the coast was clear? Would he have run to the nearest town or village to turn out the local constabulary, Roman garrison, or maybe just the available men of action? Or would he have rushed to the defense of the traveller who was being assaulted?

It's a bit of a trick question since the second and third option both involve the use of force, the difference being a prudential judgment of whether one could handle the situation oneself, or needed to summon help. And of course, the third option requires a willingness to put oneself on the line.

Pacifists do not like to answer this question.

[HarleyD]

Sounds like a great book. Pacifist Christians forget that God often called His people to go to war, sometimes even against themselves (such as with the Benjamins in Judges). People should keep in mind the three things God asks us to do:

Mic 6:8 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Sometimes "doing justice" means killing people through capital punishment or going to war. That's just the way it is.

[sauropod]

Thank you. I’ve been looking for a book such as this.

[fruser1]

The Catholic Bible has the Books 1 & 2 of Maccabees which concerns the Maccabean Revolt.

These books are not included in the King James version.

Maccabees 3 & 4 are considered apocryphal to both.

All are Old Testament books.

There are also a lot of wars in general in the Old Testament with the Church Fathers leading the way.

“Turning the other cheek” concerns your personal spiritual growth and is not intended to be a political policy statement for Kings to follow.

In fact, in the Book of Kings, God recommends against allowing men to rule other men but says they can have that if they want.

Life in the temporal world is not life in heaven and can be quite brutal. It’s up to God to judge and forgive.

Unlike the bill of rights, the commandments are not necessarily considered equal in strength. When asked what the most important commandment was, Jesus said it was the first - not having other gods.

That doesn’t mean “Thou Shalt Not Kill” is simply a misdemeanor, it’s just not as offensive as apostasy.

Life on earth was not valued as highly as it is today, which is why many didn’t mind burnings at the stake. The soul was the priority.

Paradise is lost on earth. How people respond to horrors on earth reveal their true nature and character for judgement. Whether it’s a violent storm or the behaviors of a tyrannical regime, these events, while important to us, are not necessarily important to God.

God does not exist to prevent suffering on earth. That’s up to us.

[Carriage Hill]

Free *.pdf download, here:

http://www.nhmnc.info/wp-content/uploads/fbpdfs2015/A-Time-to-Kill-The-Myth-of-Christian-Pacifism-by-Greg-Hopkins-A-Time-To-Kill-=-A-Time-To-Read-.pdf

[Carriage Hill]

Ooops, that was a review, NOT the book. Sorry.

[tired&retired]

Surprising how many Christians are “Pro Abortion. It must be a slippery slope as now they justify Trump’s assassination.

[tired&retired]

The “Just War” issue is a very complex one.

I absolutely love the old “Sargent York” movie on this issue.

[John O]

Surprising how many Christians are “Pro Abortion. It must be a slippery slope as now they justify Trump’s assassination.

NO Christian is pro-abortion. The two beliefs are mutually exclusive. God tells us "Thou Shalt Not Murder". Abortion is the killing of an innocent (murder).

How can someone claim to be a follower of Christ (doing what He commands them to do ) while also being opening promoting doing what He tells them NOT to do? They cannot.

You cannot be Christian and pro-abortion. You cannot be Christian and democrat (for the same reason as well as others)

NO Christian is pro-abortion.

[tired&retired]

“NO Christian is pro-abortion. The two beliefs are mutually exclusive.”

I 100% agree with you. My statement was to highlight the hypocrisy of many proclaiming Christians. I am a Christian and very much value life at both ends of the life spectrum. I realize that to do otherwise is to not follow the Commandments.

I even have a difficult time with war, even when it is justified as in kill or be killed. I trust God and His Son Jesus in that if it is my time to die, so be it. Just last week I had a woman, a dear friend of mine die in my arms as I was caring for her. Having died myself, having crossed over into Heaven and met God many years ago while very ill, and being told that I needed to return back into this physical body, I view death much different than most. In fact, I miss God’s pure unconditional Love so much that I can’t wait to return. It’s hard to explain, but I wish to die daily.

[packrat01]

Another great book is "To Keep or Not to Keep; Why Christians Should Not Give Up Their Guns" by Timothy Baldwin, J.D. & Charles O. "Chuck" Baldwin, D.D.

Pacifist Christians should read it to find out why they're wrong, and the rest of us Christians should read it to put a crowbar in our our spines as a stiffener. Certainly covers the OT, but there is much more in the NT beyond the Luke passage to consider. Exegetically sound.

[packrat01]

Most accurate assessment I have found to date:

I am driving my Mazda CX-5, listening to Bob Dylan really loud, singing along, with my eyes closed and not paying attention. My speed creeps up from the Guam limit of 35 mph to 65 mph. I don't see a school zone (because my eyes are closed) and I run over seven little kids killing six of them and crippling the seventh for life. I then fail to stop and continue on home dragging the body of one of the dead brats under my car for three or four miles. Can I now avoid prosecution for speeding, reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident, manslaughter and possibly murder by claiming there was no intent to break the law? If so I can thank Mr Comey the FBI director because this the excuse he just gave Hillary Clinton and set it as a precedent in US law.

...

Either the rule of law has just been perverted though political corruption or there are two sets of laws, one for most people and another for high level politicians. Neither of these is a good thing.

Can you get all of the previous into a sound bite?

[Fai Mao]

I’ll try.