Was having a discussion today with a friend that has been actively discussing the church guards issue well before the White Settlement shooting. I’ve always been the regular conservative, 2nd amendment type but he presented some really fascinating scripture that really has me thinking. Where do y’all stand @GCRRFan and @Brandon Bohannon
What are yalls thoughts on the matter? The majority of the following was simply copy and pasted from text.
You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.' But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. (Matt. 5:38-39)
Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. (Matt. 5:43-48, Luke 6:27-28)
Put your sword back in its place… for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. (Matt. 26:52)
Look at what the whole of scripture shows, especially the coming of the Kingdom when Jesus shows up on the scene. It’s something radically different. It’s something culturally mind blowing. Turn the other cheek? “Father forgive them” as he’s mocked and tortured? Regardless of if we are killed, hurt, mocked, tortured, etc. our mission is to bring the Kingdom of Heaven down to earth - that means acting as a citizen of Heaven instead of a citizen of this sinful earth (we are NOT citizens of this world - Phil. 3:20, 2 Cor. 5:20). Is there war, weapons, etc. in Heaven? No there is not. That is why instead of chopping off the ear of his oppressor, Jesus actually healed his chopped off ear. Now that is radical out-of-this-world stuff. Our prayer is your (God’s) kingdom come, your will be done is it not?
“Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus WILL suffer persecution.”
2 Timothy 3:12 NLT
“The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you. Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave is not greater than the master.’ Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you.”
John 15:19-20 NLT
If you are no longer part of the world as a Christian then you don’t respond as part of the world to persecution - you respond like Jesus did.
What are yalls thoughts on the matter? The majority of the following was simply copy and pasted from text.
You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.' But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. (Matt. 5:38-39)
Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. (Matt. 5:43-48, Luke 6:27-28)
Put your sword back in its place… for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. (Matt. 26:52)
Look at what the whole of scripture shows, especially the coming of the Kingdom when Jesus shows up on the scene. It’s something radically different. It’s something culturally mind blowing. Turn the other cheek? “Father forgive them” as he’s mocked and tortured? Regardless of if we are killed, hurt, mocked, tortured, etc. our mission is to bring the Kingdom of Heaven down to earth - that means acting as a citizen of Heaven instead of a citizen of this sinful earth (we are NOT citizens of this world - Phil. 3:20, 2 Cor. 5:20). Is there war, weapons, etc. in Heaven? No there is not. That is why instead of chopping off the ear of his oppressor, Jesus actually healed his chopped off ear. Now that is radical out-of-this-world stuff. Our prayer is your (God’s) kingdom come, your will be done is it not?
“Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus WILL suffer persecution.”
2 Timothy 3:12 NLT
“The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you. Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave is not greater than the master.’ Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you.”
John 15:19-20 NLT
If you are no longer part of the world as a Christian then you don’t respond as part of the world to persecution - you respond like Jesus did.
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