> General Discussions
Loving your enemy.
YellowStone:
--- Quote from: bobf on July 03, 2007, 10:59:52 PM ---We should submit ourselves to the ruling authorities so long as they do not command us to break Christ's commandments. Christ commanded me to resist not evil. So if they command me to fight evil with guns, bombs, killing etc.... Disobeying them is obeying God.
--- End quote ---
Rom 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Rom 13:2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
Rom 13:4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to [execute] wrath upon him that doeth evil.
Yes, but Bob, by whoses authority is the sword wielded or gun fired? By whose order is the command given? Is he who is fighting not a God ordained revenger to execute wrath (punishment) upon him that doeth evil.
So how can such as these be disobeying God or the teachings of Christ? This not saying that I have the God given right to protect many family, but it is saying I do NOT have the right to refuse the command to fight. The command given by an authoritative figure, put in place and ordained by God.
Does it not say that whom ever resists such orders will recieve damnation. How will anyone explain that they didn't understand to Christ on Judgment Day. It seems pretty clear to me.
Love in Christ,
Darren
Redbird:
Darren,
It is late and I am tired...so this may be a really dumb question. Are we sure that all the books of the bible are written specifically to us? Just a thought, because I tend to go by what Jesus says more than any other person in the bible.
Peace to you dear brother,
Lisa
josh:
Mr. Snacks,
Christ's commandments are spiritual (John 6:63) and cannot be understood by those who do not have the God given understanding to compare spiritual with spiritual...
1 Corinthians 2:10-16
But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God's deep secrets. No one can know a person's thoughts except that person's own spirit, and no one can know God's thoughts except God's own Spirit. And we have received God's Spirit (not the world's spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.
When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit's words to explain spiritual truths. But people who aren't spiritual can't receive these truths from God's Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can't understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others. For, WHO can know the Lord's thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him?But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ
Unfortunately the carnal mind is at opposition to the things of God...
Romans 8:6-8
So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God's laws, and it never will. That's why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God
The leaders of this country, or any other country for that matter, whether past, present or future have been raised up by God and are simply acting out the sequence of events that God has caused in order to show those who he has chosen that the way of this world, only leads to more war and death... that their is a more excellent way, LOVE.
Unfortunately, those who wage wars here on this earth do not have their minds fixed on the spiritual, but instead are busy trying to fix this broken physical world. They are too concerned with the physical and cannot be expected to follow the spiritual law that Christ brought... there are very few that are chosen to know and understand this path.
That being said, you ask... is God opposed to his children fighting in combat?
Those who are true followers of Christ are "Ambassadors of Christ" (2 Cor. 5:20) and consider their citizenship to be in heaven. (Philippians 3:20). We have revoked our earthly physical citizenship and have become ambassadors for Christ... and should no longer participate in the politics or military affairs of what is now a foreign country to us.
You then ask... "We wouldn't be here if it wasn't for the American revolution. So does that mean that the revolution was not of God ?"
While "ALL THINGS" are being worked according to God's plan (Ephesians 1:11)... the life that is required of the elect is very different than that of the rest of the world.
God is using those who have not heard, those who have heard and have ignored, those who are called but are deceived, those who are chosen but not faithful, and those who are chosen and faithful till the end... God is using all of these individuals in order that His perfect and entire will for this age is accomplished.
As for the tragic events of 9/11... and other similar events in history, the world will continue to act in the only fashion they know how.... "an eye for an eye" ... but for those of us who are attempting to endure to the end, that we may be found chosen and faithful... we must abstain and live a quiet and peaceable life.
1 Timothy 2:1-2
I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.
Our wars are fought with prayers similar to this.... "not mine, but thy will be done."
God's Peace.
Josh
Kat:
Here's how I look at these scripture, Darren.
Rom 13:1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. This would be talking about God's sovereignty over all governing power on earth.
Rom 13:2 Therefore he who resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. To resist what God has ordained, by taking up arms, will incur judgment.
Rom 13:3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of him who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, So rulers are not to be feared for those of good conduct, and do what is good, like love your enemies, and you will receive his approval.
Rom 13:4 for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain; he is the servant of God to execute his wrath on the wrongdoer. Sounds like God is in control here. Why would God's chosen join up and literally fight, what God has ordained to be. When the sword is used by God chosen, it is His Word, that spiritually kills.
Heb 4:12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
mercy, peace, and love
Kat
GODSown1:
Hey Lisa,
same here I 2 go by JESUS & wot HE says mainly, I dnt no jus cant help it :).
muchLOVE!! Pera
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