Question Details	Asked By	Asked On
Your understanding and opinions wanted:	hOPE12	10/27/06
Hello Everyone, The Journal Asiaweek says: "Across Asia and beyond, power hungry leaders are cynically manipulating people's religious sentiment for thier own needs" The this same Journal goes on to say: "The world threatens to sink into madness." A proinent religious leader in the United States declared: "You've got to kill the terrorists before the killin stops." His solution? "Blow them all away in the name of the Lord." My problem experts is, how does one adhere to this kind of message coming from a well known claimed Christian leader? Isn't this kind of message given to this leaders congregation just as bad as what they feel in why they are at war and hating what others do among their religious members? Can one kill in the name of Allah and be awfull hatful animals and yet at the same time right here in the USA some relgious leaders make statemets as to kill all terrorist before any killing stops, and they are to kill in the name of the Lord. Aren't they doing just the same? How is a Christian suppose to balance these messages? When I read the Bible it states at 1 John 4:20 (New King James Version) New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. 20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can[a] he love God whom he has not seen?" Jesus even said in Matthew to love our enemies: Notice Matthew 5:44 (New King James Version) New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. 44"But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you," How does a Christian obey the words of Christ and go to war and kill? How does one who claims to follow Christ balance what he states in the Bible and still find it in their heart to kill another and with such hatred? Does Jesus Christ disaprove of others killing but it is okay for a Christian to kill? I am asking these questions because right now I am sitting here and really thinking about what is going on in this world, and I truly do not understand it. I too am sad because of the horrible crimes that have been committed by terriosts and others who have no respect for life. Yet, how does one who claims to follow the teachings of Christ, balance the matter of how horrible it is that the terriosts kill and torture people and yet that is exactly what those who claim to follow Christ are doing. They go to war, they kill and torture small innocent children and men and women and feel that it is okay in God's eyes because they are killing the evil wicked terriost. What is the difference, killing is killing and torture is torture. How can a "Christian" sit in their churches and pray to God and yet kill the "enemy" that Jesus said we are to love?" And how can a "Crisitan" who claims to love God, balance the two scriptures mentioned above, and what Farwell states: "Kill in the name of the Lord?" What is the difference between what the terriost do and supposed Christian leaders are teaching their congregation members to do. Read about it at: http://www.baptiststandard.com/postnuke/index.php?module=htmlpages&func=display&pid=2518 Do you agree with Farwell? If so, how do you think this is approved by God? Take care, Hope12
Clarification/Follow-up by hOPE12 on 10/27/06 3:19 pm: Peddler, You state: Ecc 3:1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: ______________________________________ Wise King Solomon spoke of 28 different things, each of which has its “appointed time.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8) An understanding of the meaning and implications of what Solomon said will help us to determine the right time and the wrong time for certain actions, as viewed by God. _____________________________________________ Ecc 3:2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; __________________________________________ VERY TRUE! Ecc 3:3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; Ecc 3:4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; Ecc 3:5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; Ecc 3:6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; Ecc 3:7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; ____________________________________________ALL VERY TRUE: ____________________________________________ Ecc 3:8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. ___________________________________________ Not literal warfare, of course, since forcing the Bible’s message upon others by armed might would contradict God’s invitation to “let anyone that wishes take life’s water free.” Revelation 22:17 No forced conversions here! The warfare OF God’s people wage is strictly spiritual. Paul wrote: “The weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but powerful by God for overturning strongly entrenched things.”2 Corinthians 10:4; 1 Timothy 1:18. Chief among “the weapons of our warfare” is “the sword of the spirit, that is, God’s word.” Ephesians 6:17 This sword is powerful. “The word of God is alive and exerts power and is sharper than any two-edged sword and pierces even to the dividing of soul and spirit, and of joints and their marrow, and is able to discern thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 By using this sword, Christians are able to overturn “reasoning’s and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God.” 2 Corinthians 10:5 It enables them to expose false doctrines, harmful practices, and philosophies that reflect human rather than divine wisdom.—1 Corinthians 2:6-8; Ephesians 6:11-13. Another type of spiritual warfare is the one waged against the sinful flesh. Christians follow the example of Paul, who admitted: “I pummel my body and lead it as a slave, that, after I have preached to others, I myself should not become disapproved somehow.” 1 Corinthians 9:27 The Christians in Colossae were admonished to deaden their “body members that are upon the earth as respects fornication, uncleanness, sexual appetite, hurtful desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” Colossians 3:5 And Bible writer Jude exhorted Christians “to put up a hard fight for the faith that was once for all time delivered to the holy ones.” Jude 3 Why must we do so? Paul answers: “If you live in accord with the flesh you are sure to die; but if you put the practices of the body to death by the spirit, you will live.” Romans 8:13 In view of this clear statement, there can be no letup in our war against bad tendencies. So at Eccl 3:8 there is no literal war of weapons but a spiritual war of false teaching present in today’s society. Take care, Hope12
Answered By		Answered On
drgade		10/27/06
There is a lot of misunderstanding about the distinction between church and state..even among Christians. We cannot fight with physical weapons in the name of Christ. He needs no defense and has told us to put away the sword. However, He has given the sword to the state. The state is to maintain peace and protect its people against evil whether this is a matter for the local police, those who carry out the judgement of a court in an execution, or a soldier sent to restrain evil on foreign soil. There is no law in God's word against a Christian being a policeman or soldier for the state. There is no admonition or encouragement for a Christian TO BE a policeman or soldier. Is it better to have all policemen and soldiers be pagans? Is it better to let evil people have free reign in their campaigns against those that they hate and have vowed to kill? Nor should a Christian act like a pagan, but rather be a modifying factor in the treatment of the enemy. A Christian does not inflict unnecessary death or pain on the enemy. A Christian binds of the wounds of a helpless enemy. A Christian gives aid and assistance to those injured by the terrorists A Christain remains obedient to Christ no matter what job they are doing.

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