It is a strange phenomenon how, over a period of time, things can become flip-flopped, and how once the flip occurs it takes on the appearance that it has always been that way. This is precisely the case pertaining to the Christian’s involvement in war and politics. It is also amazing how the very verses […]
Tag: following christ
I have been a frequent visitor to the VA Hospital in Indianapolis lately. There is a lot of complaining that goes on there by the vets, mostly about the wait time and secondly about the quality of care. Neither of these greatly alarms me; I think they do a commendable job. I also think that […]
Now that the election is over, is anyone going to make the argument that America is still a Christian nation? Now that the election is over, the logical next question is, where did we go wrong? Now that the election is over, is it time to change our political strategy? What should Christians do, now […]
The 60’s era was a time when war and violence became personal. The images streaming in via television and magazine of cargo planes filled with body bags, F4 Phantom jets delivering payloads of napalm incinerating jungle and humans, B52 bombers converting landscape into moonscape, Cobra gunships pouring out lead like neon pencils delivering letters of […]
Many Christians feel they have gotten the sanction of Heaven for political action to reform the morals of the nation and world. Hence the call for strict enforcement of laws protecting the populous, and the voting down of laws that infringe on liberty, and the great uprising of the religious right. This thumbs-up from […]
Because of the articles I wrote about the “Christianization of War and Violence” I now find it necessary to go just a little further. The number one response to this controversial topic is the question of defending others from an evil person set on doing harm to a friend or family member. We can easily […]
The Christians’ Justification and the Law of Nature Over the past 1700 years or so we have developed many justifications for violence, and have learned to tame our conscience when it speaks to the contrary. Among the many justifications for violence and war is a very loud voice that shakes the foundations with the […]
The Christians’ Justification for War and Violence As I stated in the first article, it is virtually impossible to find any support for Christians taking up arms against their enemy or for self-defense during the first 300 years of Church history. Today Christians proudly justify patriotism, involvement in politics, personal defense, capital punishment, and “just […]
Part Two For 1700 years Christians have justified war and self-defense, but where did this notion come from, the Bible? There is a general rejection of the Kingdom teachings of Jesus, which are encapsulated in His Sermon on the Mount. Christ’s teachings on wealth, oaths, and divorce are offensive to most Christians and they spend […]
This article is an introduction to a most disturbing question: Have American Christians been deluded about the issue of war and violence? Part one Christians lead the parade with a grand patriotic show of support when it comes to what they consider a “just war” cause. I was part of that parade for a long […]