tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840519.post112388899001112035..comments2024-03-27T03:32:53.817-05:00Comments on Euangelion: Army, Al-Qaeda and PacifismMichael F. Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09713482855679578651noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840519.post-1123939764986358962005-08-13T08:29:00.000-05:002005-08-13T08:29:00.000-05:00If I'm going to discipline my children and my stud...If I'm going to discipline my children and my students (when I taught secondary school), and if I'm willing to see room for the violent apprehension of criminals, then I feel I need to see room somewhere for human action to counteract other human interaction. This is NOT a defense of Iraq, mind you (although it could probably work in Afghanistan and perhaps somehow in the Balkans and in Sudan). Furthermore, as the Prophets warn, one can be a tool of God for punishment (say, against Saddam) and then get punished yourself for your actions...<BR/><BR/>If we didn't/couldn't take action, we'd all be ruled by Hitler's grandson right now. Think of how that'd affect NT scholarship: We'd all be doing dissertations on how God hates Jews, and as for the "rediscovery" of Jesus' Jewishness, well, you can write that off...J. B. Hoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17074055343675084879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840519.post-1123910465038861982005-08-13T00:21:00.000-05:002005-08-13T00:21:00.000-05:00"But the issue with Mennonites lies in whether Chr..."But the issue with Mennonites lies in whether Christians should be among those "servants" so named in Romans 13."<BR/><BR/>Clarification: The issue with most Mennonites I grew up with. There are Mennonites who believe Jesus and Paul disagreed. But many, I would guess most Mennonites hold to Scripture as "inerrant" and would seek to harmonize Jesus and Paul.Ted M. Gossardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10580691315315271791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840519.post-1123910028789341302005-08-13T00:13:00.000-05:002005-08-13T00:13:00.000-05:00You could be right, "meggan"- Eric. I am at least ...You could be right, "meggan"- Eric. I am at least empathetic to your view.<BR/><BR/>The way I personally avoid this issue is to steer away from any such involvement. Yet if pressed into a corner, say to save someone's life (a hypothetical less than once in a lifetime occurrence) I'd be hardpressed not to do more than just pray. <BR/><BR/>Is new creation mutually opposed to restraining evil by force in this present world? A construct that does not mirror the complexity of this world and time- yet the bible seems to indicate that at least for this time- (Rom 13) the two are not opposed to each other. God has ordained the state to so function.<BR/><BR/>But the issue with Mennonites lies in whether Christians should be among those "servants" so named in Romans 13.<BR/><BR/>Again, I'll gladly retreat into the Jesus pacifist mode.Ted M. Gossardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10580691315315271791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840519.post-1123908005279515022005-08-12T23:40:00.000-05:002005-08-12T23:40:00.000-05:00Let's just continue to press on daily, dragging ou...Let's just continue to press on daily, dragging our cross with one hand and the other clapsed to our Lord's shoulder as He leads us onward.<BR/><BR/>BradBrad Hustonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13034379100231079992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840519.post-1123907658937651982005-08-12T23:34:00.000-05:002005-08-12T23:34:00.000-05:00But our primary calling is to be part of the new c...But our primary calling is to be part of the new creation/ressurection community. We are part of the stones that are building the eschatological dwelling place/temple/house of God, to use a few metaphors from the NT. So if our primary identity is found as followers of Jesus then to me that simply leaves some "callings" as inappropriate for those called to witness to the upside down kingdom of God.<BR/><BR/>Blessings<BR/><BR/>EricMegganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18200605382190270364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840519.post-1123905108425068552005-08-12T22:51:00.000-05:002005-08-12T22:51:00.000-05:00"Scot McKnight said... What would Jesus do? really..."Scot McKnight said... <BR/>What would Jesus do? really matters."<BR/><BR/>Thanks Michael for these thoughts. I was raised Mennonite, so have an inherent ambiguity about this subject though having left the Mennonites many years ago.<BR/><BR/>But my ambiguity and ambivalence is not just due to that- but to the Biblical record itself.<BR/><BR/>You have Jesus and his kingdom teaching- a radical otherworld for this world alternative.<BR/><BR/>But does that teaching overthrow Jesus' actions and words toward those in the military of his day (in Rome's) as well as Paul's in Romans 13, etc in NT?<BR/><BR/>What about the many wars fought in the OT- though we know David could not build the Temple because of having shed so much blood in warfare.<BR/><BR/>How can one be like Jesus, like their Teacher/Master and serve in the military, indeed in a war zone- or serve as a police officer? Jesus fighting with a gun seems oxymoronic.<BR/><BR/>But that's where I have to consider calling. We're to be like our Lord, but we all have different callings to fulfill (as well as the same calling to follow our Lord in all things). <BR/><BR/>A violent put down of oppressors or evil doers is ordained by God and those doing that are called his servants. A difficult calling indeed.<BR/><BR/>Good point on "meggan" post. I'm certainly referring to individual believers, not local churches. The church's calling is missional- to manifest in life and deed, as well as in proclamation God's kingdom in Christ.Ted M. Gossardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10580691315315271791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840519.post-1123898011593587382005-08-12T20:53:00.000-05:002005-08-12T20:53:00.000-05:00So is the church called to stop evil in any way po...So is the church called to stop evil in any way possible or to witness to the reality that evil was decisively defeated 2000 odd years ago?<BR/><BR/>Grace and Peace in your journey.<BR/><BR/>EricMegganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18200605382190270364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840519.post-1123896083501384822005-08-12T20:21:00.000-05:002005-08-12T20:21:00.000-05:00Is resort to 'evil' really a valid HISTORICAL argu...Is resort to 'evil' really a valid HISTORICAL argument? I think I may well blog on this!James Crossleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10661575117163837659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840519.post-1123894561208455712005-08-12T19:56:00.000-05:002005-08-12T19:56:00.000-05:00What would Jesus do? really matters.What would Jesus do? really matters.Scot McKnighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12464859313317428105noreply@blogger.com