For all those who believe that pacifism, turning the other cheek, and not resisting evil, is the true and Christian way, here are some points to also consider.
etc
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do we have a purer
more righteous
justified
replacement for the Gospel that the Apostle Paul had
where he said
16I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little.
17That which I speak, I speak
it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.
18Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.
19For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye
yourselves are wise.
20For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour
you, if a man take
of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face.
21I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also.
22Are they Hebrews? so
am I. Are they Israelites? so
am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so
am I.
23Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I
am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.
24Of the Jews five times received I forty
stripes save one.
25Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
26In journeyings often,
in perils of waters,
in perils of robbers,
in perils by
mine own countrymen,
in perils by the heathen,
in perils in the city,
in perils in the wilderness,
in perils in the sea,
in perils among false brethren;
27In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
28Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
29Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not? 2Corinthians 11:16-29
and
But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.Yea doubtless, and I count all things
but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them
but dung, that I may win Christ,And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
10That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
Philippians 3:7-10
is the Church (Christians) a western thing?
the attack
or mind-rape
given against all
suggests that the writer has forgotten that we are not commanded to own cars
have riches worth stealing
or even live a life that beckons sickness and therefore the use of medicines
the Gospel
the glorious Gospel was and is for all
not just the western world
so many in this world do not have access to police
to medications
to cars
to valuables
and many do not even have homes to lock up
why talk about insurance policies to a Church
that is in the world
but not of the world
ever been raped?
did you even have a husband to think about at the time
or perhaps it was your husband hurting you
speak your mind but be careful
more careful
that you stick to truth
and to remember those in bonds
for the Gospel sake
when the words came
turn the other cheek
to whom were they spoken
and what of the real threats of the time they lived in?
the modern church
western and entangled in the world and its cares is so distant from what and who the Lord spoke about
the Church is one
as He is One
and stands out as a light in the darkness
the darkness resists and fights against it
it exposes darkness
the Church was and is persecuted
and yet on display
turn the other cheek was and is a directive with good reason
as said in my earlier post
what of those in distant lands to the average TalkJesus writer
if one retaliates
the whole suffers
as with the early Church
a display by one reflects the whole
and what will and does our reactions speak to the lost
to the enemy
to those walking in darkness
what Gospel does it preach?
at a time when the Church was always a potential and real target for severe persecution
when the arenas were filled with blood
and pain
when soldiers were a law you could not resist
when some were able to do as they wanted against others without care
as in apartheid
racial or social segregation
injustice
oppression
no rights
what real benefit is there
or was there in retaliation
when imprisoned
and weak
a minority
even non-christians know that retaliation usually ends in a bigger nastier fight
or a sudden and hurtful end
attacking pacifists does not address the ownership of weapons
it merely aims at those who would prefer to live and love as Christians
in this world
but not of it
you do not need to own a weapon to react with force or violence or to use something in such a way that it becomes a weapon
unless we look at the Church as it was
how it has been throughout the ages since its beginning
and even today
where most of the Body is not in a material world with 911‘s or 000‘s or even 007‘s
and unless we also remember the futility of most people attempting to overpower and fight against the attackers who themselves often have weapons and support
remembering that not all are superheros and muscle-clad fighters and warriors
but mothers
sisters
brothers and average men and sons
and unless we put the Gospel into the place it is
against persecution and oppression
we can overlook the meaning and validity of
turn the other cheek
but we also can
we can
we surely can
react and desire to react in a way that spreads the Glorious Gospel
instead of just being another thing that happens in this world
we need to 3ncourage each other that we can
we can
and we know we can
because of who we are
and most surely because of Who our Lord is
and build each other up
to be able to be examples of the Gospel in every area of our lives
the world watches
the world sees what those who profess to be Christians do
and say
and our part is to put the Gospel and upholding it
(not putting it under a table or bushel)
first in our priorities
trusting Him
and to be brave and not cowardly
knowing the power of the life of the Gospel in us
(being a pacifist is actually a lot braver than is often thought)
but we can be strong in the Lord
and allow Him to be that strength in weakness
let His peace guide and rule you, both now and ever
resist worldly reasoning and worldly excuses
we have something much better
and enduring
steadfast and sure
encourage one another
in love
That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven:
Matthew 5:45a
21For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
22Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
23Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed
himself to him that judgeth righteously:
24Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
25For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
1Peter 2:21-25
10We
are fools for Christ's sake, but ye
are wise in Christ; we
are weak, but ye
are strong; ye
are honourable, but we
are despised.
11Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;
12And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
13Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world,
and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.
1Corinthians 4:10-13
[5] Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
