Should You Go to War? Should You Kill Others?
Would Jesus carry an M16 rifle into battle to kill?
Why do many denominations endorse war? Do you endorse war? Do you want to kill your enemies? Why?
The Amish, Mennonites, Hutterites, Bretherans, Quakers, etc. believe in nonresistance. Why? Because they follow Jesus' teachings in the area of nonresistance in the physical realm!
Christians should battle in the spiritual realm!
Why does George W. Bush believe in fighting wars? Because he is a protestant, as a protestant/Baptist he believes in easy believism - say an unbiblical sinner's prayer and you are in heaven/saved. Most Baptist believe once saved always saved. As a former Baptist pastor, that is what I was taught and believed. If one is saved no matter what sins they commit, than why obey Jesus' teachings?
What did Jesus do for His enemies? He died for them on a cruel cross. This is foolishness to religious people. Only the spiritual Christian can begin to understand Jesus' love for the world. Is Jesus your example, 1 Peter 2:21?
What did Jesus say about fighting?
“Blessed [are] the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” Matthew 5:5
“Blessed [are] the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” Matthew 5:9
“But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.” Matthew 5:39
“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;” Matthew 5:44
“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.” Matthew 7:12
“But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. And unto him that smiteth thee on the [one] cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not [to take thy] coat also.” Luke 6:27-29
Love your neighbor. Who is your neighbor? Your neighbor is anyone with a need. Right, your neighbor does NOT need to be killed!
"Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;" Matthew 5:43-44
Did you notice Jesus didn't say to kill your enemy?
"Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." Matthew 19:19
"And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." Matthew 22:39
"And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these." Mark 12:31
"And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices." Mark 12:33
"And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself." Luke 10:27
"For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law." Romans 13:9-10
"For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." Galatians 5:14
"If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:" James 2:8
What did Jesus say about weapons?
"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. 37 For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end. 38 And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough." Luke 22:36-38
Jesus wanted weapons of warfare to be carried to show He was with transgressors. To carry a sword was to be a transgressor. Jesus before He was arrested took time to heal a wounded enemy! Why wasn't Peter arrested? Because, it wasn't Jesus' will!
“Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.” (In Karate the hand is the sword) Matthew 26:52
What did Paul say and do?
“Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.” Romans 13:2
Paul used the power of God to subdue (The power - anointing by the Holy Spirit)
“And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.” Acts 16:18
Spiritual Warfare
“(For the weapons of our warfare [are] not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)” 2 Corinthians 10:4
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places]. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;” Ephesians 6:10-18
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.” 1 Peter 5:8-9
“For to be carnally minded [is] death; but to be spiritually minded [is] life and peace.” Romans 8:6
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” 2 Tim.1:7
“Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.” 2 Corinthians 2:11
“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. For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end. And they said, Lord, behold, here [are] two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough.” Luke 22:36-38
Sure in the Old Covenant, Jehovah told His people to go to war. The Christians of today are under a New Covenant. True Christians now have Jesus living inside of them.
“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have [it] more abundantly.” John 10:10
Can Jesus protect you and your loved ones? Can Jesus provide you the grace to die along with your family? Jesus' will comes first. The American culture has taught many to fear death. I knew that my family and I could die in China, but only if it was Jesus' will. Our battle was in the spirit realm not in the physical realm! Jesus' will was done! My life is in His hands!
David the King could not build the temple, why? He was a man of war!
Websites with teachings on nonresistance:
http://www.giveshare.org/BibleStudy/204.patriotismorpilgrimage.html
http://www.bluffton.edu/~mastg/pacifism.htm
http://www.nonresistance.org/literature.html
http://www.nonresistance.org/docs_htm/~Christian_Nonresistance/Christian_Nonresistance.html?
In Jesus,
Brother Bruce
http://brobruce.blogspot.com/
PS. " Beloved,
let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son
to be the propitiation for our sins.
11 Beloved,
if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
12 No man hath seen God at any time.
If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son
to be the Saviour of the world.
15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 19 We love him, because he first loved us.
20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
21 And this commandment have we from him, That
he who loveth God love his brother also." 1 John 4:7-21
