Pacifism Revisited

[@mitchconner6831]

“Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.” Matthew 10:34

[@Benjamin-to2zq]

I am pretty sure NT Wright would contextualize the sermon on the amount (turn the other cheek) in relation to the Roman empire and passive resistance.

[@christophermorgan9126]

Jesus was a pacifist. As witnessed by the early church followers of Jesus and the Way of Divine Love He gave us to follow. He consistently taught our life was about the Soul and Spirit, not the flesh. Jesus taught, "it is the Spirit that gives life. The flesh profits nothing." And He also said, "why do you call Me Lord, Lord but do not do what I tell you?" Jesus taught, "God's Love is like the sun that rises on the evil and the good. God's Love is like the rain that falls on the just and the unjust. If we wish to be God's children on Earth, our Love must be as perfect as this." May Divine Love guide us all as Christians to become lights in this fallen world, as True followers of the Divine child of God Jesus, who was clearly a pacifist in the face of violence.

[@connorohare229]

While I personally agree you have to defend the innocent from the wicked I wouldn't dare blasphemy and say 'Jesus didn't anticipate' Christ knows what he's doing and saying

[@BlackSailPass_GuitarCovers]

And so the cycle of violence and retaliation continues on and on... Do we not consider how Jesus responded to violence towards himself? Did he 'call the deacons of wrath' in when he was being attacked?

[@martezbuckley3882]

It was the will of God for him to die , Jesus didn’t call the Roman soldiers to protect him. But later on Paul heard The Jews where willing to kill him so he told the Roman centurion who who put 200 hundred trained man to protect him.

[@ShowmanJonathan]

Pacifists happily rely very much on those "deacons of wrath" to protect their lives and possessions. An honest pacifist would refuse anything to do with the law or societies ordered by laws. Otherwise they choose to benefit from the heaps of violence that those laws are administered with. They would not hold title to any real or personal property, vote, engage in commerce enabled by police protection, call the police on criminals, etc, etc. These are benefits they happily reap from actions and states of affairs maintained by violence which they supoose to be intrinsically evil.

[@mitchconner6831]

Yep. Christian pacifism is false. Christ was not a pacifist.

[@BlackSailPass_GuitarCovers]

@@mitchconner6831 _You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also._ (Matthew 5:38-39)

[@tendaimsimang8630]

The kingdoms of earth grow by shedding the blood of those they conquer. But the kingdom of heaven grows when faithful martyrs give their own blood for the testimony of Jesus. Self sacrifice is a core attribute of Christianity. As Christians we may run at times, and if our hour has not come yet we may hide. But no where in the gospels is it condoned to kill as a Christian. You cannot love your enemies if you kill them.

[@hellosunshine1090]

Great topic - much need to discuss it. Thank you for mentioning the massive social engineering aspect that taints so much of what the US armed forces do today. The wars we now engage in appear to be wars of empire, mostly. Many are CIA black ops that never come to light. (for now) National Defense? Our Founders remarked that our God had providentually blessed us with a 3000 mile oceanic "buffer" to prevent the ever warring Kingdoms of Europe from interfering in our affairs. Perhaps they couldn't envision a future when our might & wealth would be used to allow us to inject ourselves INTO those same Kingdoms affairs, as often as not as a belligerent and / or agitating force ? I was homeschooled from a Covenant keeping perspective & just can't sign off on the majority of what I'd be asked to do if I joined up - so joining up is out of the question. FWIW, here's a great article on the Biblical & Historical Just War Theory: www.godandscience.org/apologetics/just_war_principle.html

[@tobyduncombe1697]

oh doug you continue to surprise me video on video its spectactular how u involved qoutes to accuretely measure jesuses willy "amen"

[@brandonstahl15]

Do violence to no man........Luke 3:14 KJV [14] And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.

[@robkam643400]

That's why we don't read the KJV. Read it in a translation that provides proper translation for modern ears. NET for example : 14Then some soldiers also asked him, "And as for us - what should we do?" He told them, "Take money from no one by violence or by false accusation, and be content with your pay." If you're stuck on the KJV, check out James White talking about it. You no longer will be. That said, even the KJV, when read wisely, shows the context is about jealousy - not violence. Be wary about making a theology on one verse.

[@brandonstahl15]

@@robkam643400 dude there’s many more verses. Read an version of the New Testament you want you will not come up with anything other than the peaceful kingdom way of Jesus as conduct for the Christian.

[@robkam643400]

@@brandonstahl15Like sell your cloak and buy a sword?

[@brandonstahl15]

@@robkam643400 keep reading. Start from front of New Testament.

[@jpmisterioman]

@@brandonstahl15 The peaceful Kingdom isn't in this world though. My argument is: Jesus quotes the OT multiple times, he says to the person to do what Moses told him and etc. The OT has wars, genocide and The Angel of the Lord(Pre incarnate Jesus) wiping out the Canaanites. So was Jesus for pacifism? Or was Jesus for a spiritual renew and the expansion of the Temple to the whole world?

[@Trivdgun-]

This man said the Son of God didn't anticipate the future. 😂😂😂😂😂 The Bible is clear, you just can't live up to Jesus' standards. Humble yourself and pray for mercy ;) Vengeance is mine, SAYS THE LORD. You heap coals on your enemies head by loving them as they defile you because there will be a Judgement Day. You are called to be long-SUFFERING. You can twist the meanings all you want but what is written is clear. The real problem isn't the Word, it's humans incapabilities to live up to the standard that was set. Follow Christ, did Jesus resist his murderers? No. He willingly went. You wouldn't do the same so you try and spin the meaning of God's Word to make it more comfortable.

[@mitchconner6831]

Incorrect. Christ didn’t resist because it was gods will he die for our sins. Christ also told his followers to carry a sword. (the same sword Peter used to cut off Malchus’s ear) Christ told him to put his sword back in its place. NOT to throw it away. Pacifism is not a Christian trait. You have to deliberately misinterpret scripture to come to a different conclusion. 🤷

[@mohammedfaisall1651]

Was Jesus a Pacifist ?? Pacifist is a person who does not believe in war and violence. During the time of Jesus (peace be upon him) Romans were having illegal expansions in the territory of modern day Israel. A prophet of God is 2 things in one that is (A spiritual reformer) and (A social reformer). So Jesus (peace be upon him) being a prophet of God would never be silent on the corruption around him, but he would try his level best in resolving and removing corruption. So Jesus (peace be upon him) would try all possible methods to fight corruption or evil people (even if fighting is the last option). Even Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) participated in the war because it was the last option. So in short Jesus (peace be upon him) was overall a peaceful person not completely because even he believed in punishing people for bad acts. But not as peaceful as portrayed in the Gospels because Jesus (peace be upon him) being a prophet of God would never hesitate in participating in war for removing evil practices only if war is the last option.

[@ogloc6308]

Jesus Christ is God. He is the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but through Him.

[@theeternalslayer]

That's true, also as Christians we are called to be instruments to fire at the enemy (satan) also the lord almighty went with the death penalty for sin because sin is a disease and a sickness its seperation from God and would spread through the camps. The wars that Israel fought over, the pagan world is always resistant to God and his commands, Jesus was sent to declare peace with mankind and given as a sacrificial offering for the worlds sins, he opened the gates of the kingdom so all can come to know God the father with the holy spirit. Most people forget their are worldviews added to the scripture that make God out to be a liar or a bully such views come from the world not God. Also the world rejected Jesus because it was prophesied that the son of man the messiah Jesus would be lifted up and take the sin of the world and the wrath of God upon himself and God would remember our sins no more. What's interesting is worldly religions seek to keep man seperated from God and tell everyone Jesus the light of the world isn't the son of God. How do Muslims and other religions gain salvation without him then? Well that's the devils deception. The adversary is defeated but he still aims to keep man from coming to reconciliation.