Really interesting largeli. It gives me hope that no matter who wins the next election that God will work His will through the weakest of vessels.
In regards to the subject of this thread - are you all saying if someone walked into your home and did harm to your family or walked off with your child, that you wouldn't call the police? I know its one of those pesky hypotheticals, but that is sometimes hard to avoid.
It's really interesting that some just cannot accept what is being spoken of here... yet it's clear violence is the opposite of love and there are so many Scripture speaking against violence that makes it a primary teaching. Violence is an action that this world uses continually for many reasons, some of which is justifiable by this worlds standards. Believers are not to be like the world, but are now being "conformed to the image of His Son" (Rom 8:29), our minds - the way we think about things must be "renewed" now.
Rom 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,
Eph 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
v. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.
Christ NEVER used violence for any reason throughout His lifetime or the Scripture would not be true.
Isa 53:9 And they made His grave with the wicked— But with the rich at His death,
Because He had done no violence, Nor was any deceit in His mouth.
There was even an incident where Jesus was attacked by an angry crowd, and did He fight back to protect Himself? No, He merely walked away from them.
Luke 4:24 Then He said, "Assuredly, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own country.
v. 25 But I tell you truly, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a great famine throughout all the land;
v. 26 but to none of them was Elijah sent except to Zarephath, in the region of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow.
v. 27 And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian."
v. 28 So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath,
v. 29 and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff.
v. 30 Then passing through the midst of them, He went His way.
There is absolutely no Scripture account that the Apostles resorted to violence for any reason and they certainly would have had plenty of opportunities, because they were beings assaulted all the time. It is interesting that there is not a single accounts of them 'fighting' to protect themselves or those with them, ever... instead they always were peaceable, as Christ was and preached peace, as Christ did. Yes they would flee from danger (Acts 14:6), but never resorted to violence.
1Cor 11:1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.
If Christ's Spirit is in us, then we are being conformed in our minds to be like He was and taught the Apostles to be. It's hard to give up everything, to "deny" yourself, but to be a true follower of Christ that is the cost...
Mat 10:37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
v. 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.
v. 39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.
Matt 16:24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
mercy, peace and love
Kat