should christians be pacifists

[jasoncran]

Since on any gun thread many have stated that they would have a hard time taking a life in self-defense, i will ask should we ,christians, be pacifists.

Before you answer, i will use the miltary consciencous objector defentions of being a pacifist, because you can take a life with or without a firearm. Don't take this personally or wrong if you are pacifist or anti-gun.

the definiton of a pacifist is even your life is at stake you won't defend your self, or others who are in danger.



I hate violence, and avoid it all costs, but i'm also aware sometimes that's not possible. I don't watch gory movies,or extremly violent entertainment. I used to watch some horror movies and gore, but after my tour in Afghanistan i felt that the enternainment of watching(horror movies) was sickening to me, i don't want to be reminded of death and surrounded by it.

I know some anti-war,anti-gun people who hate the military yet will watch horror movies all day long, go figure, Now u know where i come from.

jason

 

[whirlwind]

Since on any gun thread many have stated that they would have a hard time taking a life in self-defense, i will ask should we ,christians, be pacifists.

Before you answer, i will use the miltary consciencous objector defentions of being a pacifist, because you can take a life with or without a firearm. Don't take this personally or wrong if you are pacifist or anti-gun.

the definiton of a pacifist is even your life is at stake you won't defend your self, or others who are in danger.



I hate violence, and avoid it all costs, but i'm also aware sometimes that's not possible. I don't watch gory movies,or extremly violent entertainment. I used to watch some horror movies and gore, but after my tour in Afghanistan i felt that the enternainment of watching(horror movies) was sickening to me, i don't want to be reminded of death and surrounded by it.

I know some anti-war,anti-gun people who hate the military yet will watch horror movies all day long, go figure, Now u know where i come from.

jason

We "come from" a similar place. I hate violence and go to great lengths to calm situations down (I'm a middle child...it goes with the territory). I detest gory movies. I admire those in the military and thank them (and you) for your service.

I have a gun, would use it if forced to but pray and believe I will never have to do so. It may seem like I'm playing both sides but...."now you know where I come from." :D

 

[canny]

One can believe anything about oneself, I would like to think of myself as a pacifist, but God gave me this thing,,,, anyone goes near my kids,,,,,,,,, well,, I know what I would do,, and its not very pacifying

 

[GojuBrian]

To a certain point I would do anything or go out of my way to avoid physical conflicts. When it comes to protecting my family members or those who cannot protect themselves, not so much.

 

[Guest]

I know some anti-war,anti-gun people who hate the military yet will watch horror movies all day long, go figure, Now u know where i come from.

We should be careful about confusing the portrayal of violence with the promotion of violence.

 

[jasoncran]

I know some anti-war,anti-gun people who hate the military yet will watch horror movies all day long, go figure, Now u know where i come from.

We should be careful about confusing the portrayal of violence with the promotion of violence.

, i see ur point but i find that those will watch horror movies but despise war or anti-gun kinda inconsistent. Some movies portray violence as part of a historical context, and others such as kill bill on and two its considered enterianment, and i'm not saying that people shouldn't watch those not on this thread, but i will say this would these same people watch a movie on the violence of animals.. think about this even shakespare said that the masses want to be entertained by violence or sex.

Jason

 

[Fembot]

One can believe anything about oneself, I would like to think of myself as a pacifist, but God gave me this thing,,,, anyone goes near my kids,,,,,,,,, well,, I know what I would do,, and its not very pacifying

I would NOT be a pacifist if my life or another persons was threatened. I know, I don't look it. But inside of me-somewhere-is a militant. A militant in the struggle against sin and a would be one in any war against Christianity.

(Socom scares me though. I'd be screaming alot)

 

[Guest]

i see ur point but i find that those will watch horror movies but despise war or anti-gun kinda inconsistent.

War movies have been a catalyst to strengthen my opposition to war.

Horror movies are just dumb. I don't oppose them because they portray violence. I oppose them because they're just dumb, especially Japanese horror movies. If there is one part of Japan I would love to completely obliterate from the face of the planet it would be Japanese horror films. They are the stupidest, most retarded thing ever. I hate the Japanese horror film industry for wasting hours of my life watching their stupid retarded films.[/rant off]

 

[Fembot]

 

[firefighterv]

I don't believe that Christians should be pacifists. However, that's not to say we should instigate fights. Like many others in this thread, I think we should try to avoid violence, but if it is unavoidable, we should defend ourselves (or children, friends, etc. etc.).

I think what you do is right, Jason, how you avoid violence at all costs, but know that sometimes it can be unavoidable. I've never really thought about pacifists watching gory movies, but I guess it doesn't make sense. But you do have to understand that you're looking at it through a very different point of view. I'm assuming these people never went to Afghanistan and weren't in the military?

I think owning a gun is okay, too, because it's a crazy world out there. As long as it's in the right hands and used strictly for self-defense.

 

[Fembot]

yeah, you never know when a gun will be a treasure. Especially, in the word we live in. But I don't think of just "my friends" or "my family." If any country/person (that I know is of the Lord) needed my help and it was a win loose situation, I would choose to fight (and not just for the money).

Foot soldiers are the most courageous people I can think of.

 

[jasoncran]

courage = doing the right thing even when u are afraid to do it.

 

[Fembot]

courage = doing the right thing even when u are afraid to do it.

:amen

 

[ProphetMark]

Matthew 5 v 39: "But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also."

 

[handy]

And then there is also this:

Ecclesiastes 3
A Time for Everything
1There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven--
2A time to give birth and a time to die;
A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.
3A time to kill and a time to heal;
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
4A time to weep and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn and a time to dance.
5A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing.
6A time to search and a time to give up as lost;
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
7A time to tear apart and a time to sew together;
A time to be silent and a time to speak.
8A time to love and a time to hate;
A time for war and a time for peace.

I think what is incumbent upon the Christian is to be intune with the Spirit and have the discernment to know which time one is in.

 

[canny]

Nice one Handy,, A good reminder to us

 

[Drew]

8A time to love and a time to hate;
A time for war and a time for peace.

I think one needs to be careful about interpreting the book of Ecclesiastes. Clearly, the writer is not fully in tune with the truth of God when he despairingly writes things like this:

For the fate of the sons of men and the fate of beasts is the same. As one dies so dies the other; indeed, they all have the same breath and there is no advantage for man over beast, for all is vanity.

From this side of Easter morning, we know that all is not vanity. So the writer was not really expressing the truth here (not that he was lying). I know this opens up the wider issue of exactly in what sense we see the Scriptures as authoritative. But I do not believe that "there is a time to hate" concept should be in the mind of any Christian. Frankly, I do not think we are to take the writer of Ecclesiastes as an authoritative source on "doctrine". After all, we certainly do not believe that "all is vanity", do we?

I tend to lean strongly in the pacifist direction.

 

[mikev]

In Romans it says,
If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

Antagonist? No. Instigator? No. Quarelsome? No. But not defend myself or my family, and just let it happen? No, never.

But, I thank God for all who have served in our armed forces, and who have stood watch and protected our freedoms. Because of their service to our country we still have a free country. God bless our Veterans!

Oh, by the way, "vanity" is an interesting word to study. Some think that every time you see it in Scripture it means, "vain." The Hebrew word literally means, "vapor" or, "breath." All is vanity; all is like a vapor, or breath - a short time, not lasting very long.

 

[Fembot]

8A time to love and a time to hate;
A time for war and a time for peace.

I think one needs to be careful about interpreting the book of Ecclesiastes. Clearly, the writer is not fully in tune with the truth of God when he despairingly writes things like this:

For the fate of the sons of men and the fate of beasts is the same. As one dies so dies the other; indeed, they all have the same breath and there is no advantage for man over beast, for all is vanity.

From this side of Easter morning, we know that all is not vanity. So the writer was not really expressing the truth here (not that he was lying). I know this opens up the wider issue of exactly in what sense we see the Scriptures as authoritative. But I do not believe that "there is a time to hate" concept should be in the mind of any Christian. Frankly, I do not think we are to take the writer of Ecclesiastes as an authoritative source on "doctrine". After all, we certainly do not believe that "all is vanity", do we?

I tend to lean strongly in the pacifist direction.

So, you're saying that the Bible isn't inerrant? ugh :nag

 

[Guest]

So, you're saying that the Bible isn't inerrant? ugh :nag

Is inerrancy a component of orthodox Christianity? (That's small o, not a reference to the Orthodox denominations.)