Turning the military cheek

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

No, he does not.

I've never considered politicians who promote war and military spending, while neglecting the general welfare of the least of our brothers, to be very good "Christians" at all.

@suzianne said
No, he does not.

I've never considered politicians who promote war and military spending, while neglecting the general welfare of the least of our brothers, to be very good "Christians" at all.

Do you support any forms of killing of other humans?

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

The vast majority of things done by all humans go against the messages of the new testament, why limit it to the military which I have no control over anyway? We are told to love one another, we are told if we harm another we sin against them, we are even told if someone has something against us we are to go to them and make it right. We were told not even to have bad thoughts about others, calling someone a fool is putting one's self in danger of Hell. Not forgiving anyone of anything puts you in a place where you may not be forgiven. If Jesus made this that personal, why concern yourself with a government controlled thing instead of personal responsibilities?

@stellspalfie said
Do you support any forms of killing of other humans?

Would this get me kicked out of the "cool kids" club?

@suzianne said
I've never considered politicians who promote war and military spending, while neglecting the general welfare of the least of our brothers, to be very good "Christians" at all.

I get that you are entitled to judge whether they are good citizens or good legislators or good leaders etc. But are you sure you are entitled to judge whether they are good Christians? Doesn't the Bible caution you not to do that?

@fmf said
I get that you are entitled to judge whether they are good citizens or good legislators or good leaders etc. But are you sure you are entitled to judge whether they are good Christians? Doesn't the Bible caution you not to do that?

These are those who work inequity, those to whom Jesus will say "I never knew you". They are not Christians.

@suzianne said
These are those who work inequity, those to whom Jesus will say "I never knew you". They are not Christians.

But it's you who is deciding who "are not Christians" in this instance, not Jesus.

Are you certain that - in view of your belief in the Bible - that you are entitled to judge whether people are "good" or "bad" Christians?

As far as I recall, the Bible cautions you not to do that.

You get annoyed when your fellow Christians judge you as a "bad" Christian for not thinking abortion is wrong.

Haven't you protested in the past that they have no right to judge you as a "bad" Christian?

@suzianne said
Would this get me kicked out of the "cool kids" club?

Are you assuming you are in the 'cool kids club'? Is there a club? Who's in the club...I've always worked hard to not be cool...….does that make me cool.....its so confusing!!!

@kellyjay said
The vast majority of things done by all humans go against the messages of the new testament, why limit it to the military which I have no control over anyway? We are told to love one another, we are told if we harm another we sin against them, we are even told if someone has something against us we are to go to them and make it right. We were told not even to have bad though ...[text shortened]... sonal, why concern yourself with a government controlled thing instead of personal responsibilities?

You have no control over the military...I agree, but do you support military killing, do you support police killing, do you support death penalty killing?...….how do you square any killing with the bible?

@stellspalfie said
You have no control over the military...I agree, but do you support military killing, do you support police killing, do you support death penalty killing?...….how do you square any killing with the bible?

The commandment in scripture is murder not just killing, so killing in law enforcement and military actions of war are not the same thing. So yes I support them.

@kellyjay said
The commandment in scripture is murder not just killing, so killing in law enforcement and military actions of war are not the same thing. So yes I support them.

In Vietnam, were you participating in a 'Just War'?

@kellyjay said
The commandment in scripture is murder not just killing, so killing in law enforcement and military actions of war are not the same thing. So yes I support them.

Are all deaths at the hands of the military/police killing? Can they be murder? How do you define which is which?

@secondson said
Romans 12:18
If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

Right, IF possible.

@stellspalfie said
Are all deaths at the hands of the military/police killing? Can they be murder? How do you define which is which?

The commandment, "Thou shalt not kill" is an erroneous translation.

It's more like, Thou shalt not murder.

Sometimes killing is necessary.

@fmf said
In Vietnam, were you participating in a 'Just War'?

As I look back at the loss of life in Vietnam with the seemingly zero good that caem from it, I tend to think it was not just and not worth it.

But when I think about the Korean war, which was much like the Vietnam war, and I see how prosperous and free South Korea is compared to the misery of North Korea, I take pause in trying to decide if that war was just as just and perhaps worth it.

It's a toughy.