TheIdeaMan: A call to put down arms

January 23, 2006

A call to put down arms

"If we open a quarrel between past and present, we shall find that we have lost the future." - Winston Churchill

Posted by TheIdeaMan at January 23, 2006 11:57 AM | TrackBack

Comments

wow, this seems rather poignant after reading some of the things I've been reading lately on other websites...

Posted by: jbo at January 23, 2006 07:42 PM

so are you against the conflict in iraq?

Posted by: Brade at January 24, 2006 03:04 PM

Jbo,
I'd love to know which web sites you're thinking of specifically.

Brade,
Since the conflict in Iraq is a situation already in progress, we should look to the future (through the present) to work to resolve the problems there. Conflict is to be avoided as a means to a solution. In the end, it merely establishes who is stronger, not who is more loving or more righteous in their cause.

"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." -- Romans 12:21

Posted by: Benjamin at January 25, 2006 09:41 AM

I wasn't talking about Iraq. I'll e-mail you what I mean.

I don't understand what you mean about

Conflict is to be avoided as a means to a solution. In the end, it merely establishes who is stronger, not who is more loving or more righteous in their cause.

I'm not sure if you can fairly apply Roamans 12:21 to the situation, either. It seems Romans 13:1-7 has more bearing on the Iraq situation, although I will not go into an extended discussion on the situation without being face to face.

If you mean armed conflict only establishes strength and not who is righteous in their cause, I must disagree. The sword is not bourne in vain (Romans 13:4). Rightousness is established when evil is punished/stopped by God ordained government.

Obviously though, you could argue that Romans 13:1-7 is for citizens of one's own country and not for conflicts betweens nations. I'm as ever still thinking through issues.

Posted by: jbo at January 25, 2006 04:45 PM

I realized I said maybe Romans 12:21 is misapplied in this situations and forgot to say why I think so.

The reason I believe that is because this whole passage is related: Romans 12:18-21; 13:1-7. Paul says:

Live peaceably if you can.
Don't avenge.
Help your enemy.
Over come evil with good.
Obey God ordained authorities.
Don't be afraid of them if you do good.
They punish evil for the Lord (hopefully, they are. In any case the heart of the King is in God's hand.)

I'm not sure I'm explaining myself well. God works through governments to punish evil. Not individual Christians avenging themselves.

But my last point of my previous post still stands. One could argue that Rom. 13 doesn't apply to war between nations.

Still thinking...

Posted by: jbo at January 25, 2006 05:57 PM

gotcha. of course peaceful resolutions are ideal, but because some folks lack the ability to discuss things rationally, war happens. the age-old problem.

Posted by: Brade at January 26, 2006 02:47 PM