An argument from silence? Surely you can do better than that. We don't find that those in the military were told to quit, there is at least an inference in favor of my position.
Actually for the first 200-300 years of Christianity, Christian soldiers were executed for treason...because they wouldn't shed blood for the Emperor. Also in historical writings we see that Christians who served in a public office (where they had to give the order for execution or military action) had to "lay down the purple", meaning an allusion to the shash worn by public officials. They had to decline the public office.
Christians were never commanded to leave the military of ancient Rome...however they were strongly forbidden to shed blood. For starters...a soldier couldn't just leave the Roman military. The best thing a Christian soldier could pray for is to be kept from warfare. Else they were forced to disobey orders, lay down the sword, and swear a loyalty to a higher authority than that of the crown...at the cost of their lives.
Here's the deal...most folks today want to be a Christian unless it gets dangerous. They'd rather pack heat and blow sinners away than risk dying on their knees before a common criminal as a result of their faithfulness to Christ. What they don't realize is that their temoral death might bring eternal life to the criminal or those who hear of the saint's faithfulness unto death.
Ex. 22:2 If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for him.
Luke 22:36: "Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one."
Context. The Law is a civil code. Yes, in ancient Israel a man was not in sin should he use lethal force to protect his home...however, Jesus calls us to a righteousness higher than the Law.
Christ's statement was an illustration that they would face violent opposition. When they brought two swords Jesus rebuked them for taking him literally and said, "It is enough.", meaning, "Stop this now." The next thing we see is Peter using one of these swords to protect Christ in the garden...and Jesus rebukes him.
Yes...and after they brought two swords to Jesus he said, "It is enough." Jesus didn't want all of them armed. It's most probable that Jesus was illustrating that they would face violent opposition, after seeing that they took him literally Jesus said, "It is enough."
Apparently Peter took one of these swords to the garden where the soldiers came to arrest Christ. When Peter used the sword Jesus rebuked him.
I once offered a good friend of mine who carries a gun $100 if he could find a place in Scripture where a New Testament saint of God used physical violence with God's blessing. He got VERY frustrated. lol
I see it as an expression of weak faith. If I can trust God to save my soul from Hell's fire I can trust him to protect me and my family from physical danger. And should we face physical danger...I pray we stay faithful to the glory of God.
So, does this mean if the bad guys break into your house that you are going to throw your Bible at them and hope for the best?
(Didn't we already have a million page argument about this once? )
Article in the Sun about the number of knife crimes in England.
The British Crime Survey (BCS) - released today - showed nearly 130,000 offences involving knives took place last year – and the total does even not include crimes involving under-16s.
It means that someone was wounded or threatened with a knife, on average, once every FOUR minutes.
When we were in London in January, it was amazing how many violent crimes were committed with knifes, its the new thing for Hoodlums to stab their victims.
The conservatives were right, guns don't kill, people do.
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Please pray for India
My personal mission is to BRING people into a right relationship with God, GROW them up to maturity and SEND them back into the world to minister.
Context. The Law is a civil code. Yes, in ancient Israel a man was not in sin should he use lethal force to protect his home...however, Jesus calls us to a righteousness higher than the Law.
Christ's statement was an illustration that they would face violent opposition. When they brought two swords Jesus rebuked them for taking him literally and said, "It is enough.", meaning, "Stop this now." The next thing we see is Peter using one of these swords to protect Christ in the garden...and Jesus rebukes him.
Context.
Jesus did not tell Peter to get rid of the sword, he very clearly told him to put it back in it's place. having the weapon was clearly not an issue. The only issue was that then was not the time to use it. They were not to use it to protect Him, only themselves. He had to be taken
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There are no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, Chuck Norris lives in Houston.
Either the United States will destroy ignorance, or ignorance will destroy the United States. – W.E.B. DuBois
So, does this mean if the bad guys break into your house that you are going to throw your Bible at them and hope for the best?
(Didn't we already have a million page argument about this once? )
I rutinely cover my family with prayer and I have anointed my home. I trust that God will keep me and my family. And even if God doesn't deliever us from that firey furnace...I still will not bow at the altar of popular thought. Faithfulness to Christ is about more than just dress codes. Sometimes it's scary and sometimes it might cost us ...everything.
If a man broke into one's home could they remain faithful to the Lord of Glory in the face of death?
There are non-lethal options available in my opinion. Escape being preferable. One could use ruse or morally disarm the attacker. Some have preached to their would be murderer and convinced them to give up.
We say we "trust" God. In my opinion questions like this get to the heart of if we are telling the truth or not.
Jesus did not tell Peter to get rid of the sword, he very clearly told him to put it back in it's place. having the weapon was clearly not an issue. The only issue was that then was not the time to use it. They were not to use it to protect Him, only themselves. He had to be taken
I disagree.
Jesus told Peter to put it in it's place and warned him that those who live by the sword shall die by the sword. We never hear of Peter's sword again in spite of the heavy persecution, beatings, imprisonments, and eventual martyrdom of the Prince of the Apostles.
Peter ultimately put the sword in it's place...by getting rid of it.
Jesus told Peter to put it in it's place and warned him that those who live by the sword shall die by the sword. We never hear of Peter's sword again in spite of the heavy persecution, beatings, imprisonments, and eventual martyrdom of the Prince of the Apostles.
Peter ultimately put the sword in it's place...by getting rid of it.
Aquila, I just don't believe that there is scripture that would prohibit having a weapon for protection, particularly in light of the fact that Jesus did tell his disciples to make sacrifices in order to get weapons.
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There are no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, Chuck Norris lives in Houston.
Either the United States will destroy ignorance, or ignorance will destroy the United States. – W.E.B. DuBois
I rutinely cover my family with prayer and I have anointed my home. I trust that God will keep me and my family. And even if God doesn't deliever us from that firey furnace...I still will not bow at the altar of popular thought. Faithfulness to Christ is about more than just dress codes. Sometimes it's scary and sometimes it might cost us ...everything.
If a man broke into one's home could they remain faithful to the Lord of Glory in the face of death?
There are non-lethal options available in my opinion. Escape being preferable. One could use ruse or morally disarm the attacker. Some have preached to their would be murderer and convinced them to give up.
We say we "trust" God. In my opinion questions like this get to the heart of if we are telling the truth or not.
If someone breaks into my house intent on doing my family bodily harm, I have my complete trust in the Lord that the gun will not misfire or that I will miss. I am soooooooooo getting a felling of dejavu right now.
Jesus told Peter to put it in it's place and warned him that those who live by the sword shall die by the sword. We never hear of Peter's sword again in spite of the heavy persecution, beatings, imprisonments, and eventual martyrdom of the Prince of the Apostles.
Peter ultimately put the sword in it's place...by getting rid of it.
Dying for the cause of Christ in honourable. Dying a fool's death over not protecting oneself isn't.
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