Turning the military cheek

@SecondSon
Good point. Peace is the basis of all lasting relationships.

@roigam said
@SecondSon
Good point. Peace is the basis of all lasting relationships.

Appreciate you noticing my post.

Stellspalfie seems to post at random.

@suzianne said
So you *did* mean "adversaries"?

Just looking for clarity.


Anyways, the New Testament was written by Jesus' followers, not Sun Tzu. I wouldn't expect it to advocate strategies for using lethal force.

Not strategies...but turning the other cheek is new testament, is it not? How about not killing? Does Jesus make exceptions?

It would be nice to get some input on the use of the military. How do Christians square that cormorant (I mean corner).

@bigdoggproblem said
I administer lethal force to my advisories in cases such as:

- Embarrassing typos
- Information I want to keep out of enemy hands
- Claims or positions I wish to retract

Other than that, I try to stand by my advisories as much as possible.

I had tears coming out of my eyes with this post, it is GREAT!

@kellyjay said
I had tears coming out of my eyes with this post, it is GREAT!

Well Mr J.....do you feel that Americas military interventions are just?

@stellspalfie said
Well Mr J.....do you feel that Americas military interventions are just?

Not a fan of war, combat, and so on. I did serve during Vietnam, but didn't go there during my time in the Navy. Interventions would have to be looked at one at a time.

Blanket statements typically not a wise thing to apply on most things.

@stellspalfie said
Not strategies...but turning the other cheek is new testament, is it not? How about not killing? Does Jesus make exceptions?

Jesus raise the bar even more.

Matthew 5:22
But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.

@kellyjay said
I had tears coming out of my eyes with this post, it is GREAT!

LOL, thanks.

@stellspalfie said
What directions and clarity does the New Testament give modern day society on how and when it is okay to administer lethal force to our advisories?

There is a long tradition of killing the messenger.

In answer to your intended question, lethal force was ruled out in early Christianity, but, a little after the Romans adopted Christianity as a state religion, St. Augustine of Hippo developed the Christian version of Just War Theory. The problem is the commandments do not come with caveats. The relevant one says: "Thou shalt not kill." - it does not come with riders such as "except in self-defence", or "except to right a wrong". So I feel there is some level of incoherence here.

@kellyjay said
Not a fan of war, combat, and so on. I did serve during Vietnam, but didn't go there during my time in the Navy. Interventions would have to be looked at one at a time.

Blanket statements typically not a wise thing to apply on most things.

Did you shoot to kill during your war years?

@deepthought said
There is a long tradition of killing the messenger.

In answer to your intended question, lethal force was ruled out in early Christianity, but, a little after the Romans adopted Christianity as a state religion, St. Augustine of Hippo developed the Christian version of Just War Theory. The problem is the commandments do not come with caveats. The relevant one says: " ...[text shortened]... in self-defence", or "except to right a wrong". So I feel there is some level of incoherence here.

Thanks, you made my point, but much more eloquently.

@stellspalfie said
Did you shoot to kill during your war years?

No, thankfully. Have you ever had to kill someone?

@kellyjay said
Not a fan of war, combat, and so on. I did serve during Vietnam, but didn't go there during my time in the Navy. Interventions would have to be looked at one at a time.

Blanket statements typically not a wise thing to apply on most things.

Was the U.S. role in the Vietnam War a "Just War" in the way Christians talk about the concept?

@kellyjay said
No, thankfully. Have you ever had to kill someone?

Only with love. How do you reconcile the killing and aggression shown by your military with the nonviolent messages of the new testament?