Judgment, nonviolence, and warfare are topics, today. Also, there is more on Christianity being inclusive. A “Yahoo! Answers” fighter using the ID “Mjolnir” (Level 1 with 199 points, a member since June 12, 2014) posted the following:
Didn't Christ say to Peter in the Garden of Gethsemane:...?
"Return your sword to its place, for all who take up the sword will perish by the sword."
And didn't one of the apostles write in a letter: "The weapons of our warfare are no physical, but spiritual..."
So how come your christians go to war?
THE BATTLE AXE: On Christians Being Inclusive? (07/16/2014)—(4.) For Christian believers, the primary method for making your own life better is to share and improve the lives of others (we say, unselfish service to GOD). Because this is done only by displaying the gentleness, humility, and simplicity in Christ along with submission to the graciousness of GOD, believers all must operate without affectation, boasting, covetousness, hostility, pretension, “showing off,” and self-promotion. For any belief system, there is a demand for clarity and order that can only be achieved where the creed, doctrine and tenets of acceptance are pure and transparent (i.e., without contradiction, hidden motives, inconsistency, reversal). Standards are provided to detect all counterfeits, deceit, corruption, false teachings, fraud, heresy, and persistent error. GOD does not send a thief to “teach his people a lesson;” he sends the Holy Spirit. Believers must exercise discernment in all their encounters as well as when initiating fellowship with others. The spiritual content and contribution of others are always an issue, for in ignorance and without deliberate malice, many who seem harmless, friendly and pleasant contaminate and destroy spiritual growth in those around them. Believers are therefore correct to always carefully choose the level of intimacy and trust between oneself and their friends, with ones prospective mate, with a possible employer, and even for family members: All men have not faith; all have not believed the Gospel.
THE GOLDEN ARROW: For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation. Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand; To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD. (Psalms 149: 4-9, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Herod the Great? (06/29/2014); A Formula for Baptism? (06/30/2014); Needing Guns To Serve? (03/19/2014); A Culture of Judgment? (03/20/2014); Beyond Punishment (03/21/2014); Of War and Judgment (10/08/2013); Heart, Brain or Spirit? (10/09/2013); Put Every Man His Sword By His Side (01/01/2013); The Common Danger (01/02/2013)
“Mjolnir”, here are a few points Christian believers rely upon to avoid spiritual confusion and errors concerning nonviolence:
(1.) The word of GOD must be correctly applied. Many believers “dabble” in the Scriptures. However, only those who “specialize” in the word (we say, clergy, the priesthood), are those who should be acknowledged as having the necessary endowment from GOD, experience, insight, and skill to serve as leaders in spiritual warfare, spokespersons (we say, prophets), and teachers sent from GOD. While born again believers receive a fresh endowment of divinity (e.g., faith, holiness, wisdom, wrath against sin), they must continue to meet the challenges of life upon the earth. All must develop and apply discernment (using their own spirit content to recognize and respond to divinity in events, messages, other persons, etc.). Until believers become mature, all believers are vulnerable to manipulation and misdirection.
(2.) War is a carnal and social process, not an aspect of life directed by divinity. War among mankind is a product of covetousness, desire, frustration, and lust; and is often triggered through sin. The outcomes of war typically include denial of GOD appearing as anger, bitterness, fear, guilt, hardness of heart, resentment, and shame. War generates death and widespread destruction, and does not create peace. Peace only comes by judgment that may appear as correction or punishment, where judgment is the settlement of conflict and resolution of disputes through the operations of divine law.
(3.) The “armies of GOD.” Discernment enables us to see that the armies of Israel created by GOD using those who left Egypt with Moses, was not a military force for conquest and expansion as seen with those nations that pursued empire (e.g., Assyria, Babylon, Greece, Persia, Rome). Like the plagues of blood, frogs, flies and lice, the armies were instruments to execute divine wrath and judgment.
There is far more to be said, correctly understood, and spiritually apprehended.
(For example, (4.) Death and resurrection are emblems of divine authority. Jesus Christ, who will preside as head over of all the tribunals of final judgment, is also Commander of the Armies and Host of Heaven. Without any “ifs, ands, or buts”, Christ is proclaimed and prophesied to appear, and carryout to the uttermost the expression of divine wrath against all deceit, hypocrisy, lawlessness, malice, sin, unbelief, violence, and wickedness. Like an abbreviation that is well known and widely used, the titles for GOD as a “man of war” do not alter his name among believers as the source of all divine love.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
No comments:
Post a Comment