Christians Backed Into a Corner - Do We Fight?
My new friend Herman referred me to this article in today’s London Telegraph. For those of you that don’t take the time to go read the article, here is a synopsis:
In England, where the attack on Christianity is more advanced than even here in the States, A leading church group (Evangelical Alliance) is suggesting that “violent revolution should be regarded as a viable response if government legislation encroaches further on basic religious rights.”
In England, as in the US, Christians are being stifled when it comes to publicly professing their faith, and as in the US, God is being forced out of the public arena back behind the church doors (link). The Government is even looking at making it illegal to witness to others in public.
Is there a point where Christians should resort to violence? I fail to find anything in the New Testament that would say such. The Old Testament Jews, yes, were ordered directly by God at times to deal with wicked pagan cultures, but God does not speak to us today in the same way that He did during Old Testament times. Jesus never advocated overthrowing governments or offensive measures to spread the Gospel. However, there is Scripture to support defensive measures, both verbally and physically. If that is what the group in England is proposing, I am in agreement with it. Civil disobedience, if to obey would be contrary to God’s commands, is perfectly acceptable, as well as non-violent resistance to non-violent aggression. And, if physically attacked, we have a right to defend ourselves.
What I fear, as a result of this group’s report, is that Christians will now be lumped in with the radical Islamofacists as being a threat to society, when in actuality, this Christian group’s response is the result of seeing things like Muslim women being allowed to wear their veils in public schools and office buildings, but Christians being banned from wearing a simple cross around their necks. The same thing is going on in this country, with public schools actually requiring students to “practice Islam” as part of their education, but Christians being unable to express their faith in any fashion, shape or form.
A born again believer sees this as just one more step toward the One World Religion spoken of in the book of Revelation, and the precursor to the great Christian persecution that is to come during the reign of the anti-christ.
“…We ought to obey God rather than men.” Acts 5:29
“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.” Luke 22:36
“When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword? And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear. And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him.” Luke 22:49-51
And let us not forget the ultimate weapon:
“And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:” Ephesians 6:17
thoughts from Ms.Green @ Sunday, November 05, 2006
3 Comments:
The Church is failing. Look, as you wisely pointed out, to Europe. Then look at the US.
The love for souls has diminished, our love for others has waxed cold as prophesied.
God has always made it plain that we get the government we desreve.
We've failed on the mission field. If we fail on the political battlefield, its our own fault.
Even so...Come Lord Jesus (Hallelujah!)
I'm all for non-violent aggression. It's one thing to allow someone at shot at the *other* cheek, but quite another when one's attacker is raining blow after blow after blow. At some point commonsense should tell one to either get away, or push off the attacker, and then get away.
God's word is true; He cannot lie-- We are in the Laodicean age. The birth pangs are coming closer and closer. All things are possible, but personally, I don't hold out much hope for the church in this nation (and across the globe), or this nation without a strong church. God's will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Alleluia and Amen.
The things that I go back to is turning the other cheek isn't being passive it's an action. Then as you stated Christ did tell the disciples to get a sword. A sword is a esentially a defensive weapon. Christ didn't say go get spears or bows and arrows which are by nature an aggressive weapon. While there can be a couple ways to read that verse from Luke, it's still there.
If we go back into Leviticus and Numbers after each law that God establishes I find it interesting that He says we must get the evil out from our midst.
If God is a defender of the fatherless, that must mean that there is going to be some sort of defense against evil. Shoot, Christ even armed up before He drove out the money changers from the Temple.
There's a HUGE difference between defense and vengence. Self-preseveation doesn't cross any line.
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