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Wars? Government? ----

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leeney:
Now that I'm on the right track concerning holidays, let me ask you about wars/government.

  Jesus said to give to Caesar what is Caesar's.  I always interpreted this to mean that you were to obey your authority (unless that authority contradicted God in some way).   Is this correct?

   What about voting?  Is this something we should do or something we stay away from?  Some people say voting is a civil duty, others say it shows you are giving your allegiance to your country rather than to God.  In my mind it was just choosing your leaders.  I mean, any group with 2 or more people, no matter what kind of a group it is, needs a leader/director, otherwise there's a good chance of chaos and nothing gets done.  So in voting we are merely choosing our director; I never saw it as showing allegiance to anything.

  And wars; The Commandment says thou shalt not murder.  I always interpreted that to be one on one---you don't go taking revenge for anything or trying to benefit in some way, by killing someone.  But what about country to country?  Should we have just let Hitler run his course?  And Sadam when he invaded Kuwait?  I'm sure the Iraqi War has many different opinions and emotions covering it, But when an innocent set of people are being abused, how can we not help?  Aren't there some things that must be defended?  And yes, many times there may be other ways to handle the problem than with war, but again, sometimes not.

  Thoughts?  Where does God stand with these things?  By the way, even after Moses came from the mountain with the 10 Commandments, wars were still fought afterward.  Does this tie in with my theory or am I way off base?

  leeney

shibboleth:
Let's say you and a neighbor are fighting. Mean and cruel words are spoken and things escalate to the point on of you threatens the other with a gun. Neighbors are well aware of the fight, and start taking sides. Soon there is gunfire and the whole neighborhood is shooting and killing each other.
War is like this to me. A few government men decide to fight with their neighbors they are having a disagreement with. Most wars are terribly expensive in money, human lives, misery and pain. When a nation calls for war, many companies make a lot of money from the production of tanks, uniforms, guns, food rations, and other commodities necessary for war.
The more I think about Jesus telling us to love our enemies and turn the other cheek, the more I just can't support war. At least I can't support it for believers. I don't really know if I could just let someone walk into my home and not fight back, though. It's a question I have been plagued with and am still trying to sort out.

eutychus:
Mat 24:6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all [these things] must come to pass, but the end is not yet

Luk 21:9 But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end [is] not by and by.

Becky:
Regarding fighting back if someone were to come into my home and threaten me... I'd have to consider how Jesus did not fight back when he was placed under arrest.. He did not fight back as they killed him either..
Should we follow his example here in our ownl lives??

Kevin:
Im sorry, but if we are being honest here. If someone were to break into my home I would not let that person plunder my family and home. I would have to lay down my life for my family or that persons life. What greater love have a man than to lay down his life. Words are easy to say. But if something actually did happen could someone actually watch thier family are friends get killed. Im not saying that I would kill that person but I would use everything in my power to stop them. I hope these words dont offend anyone, but im just being honest here.
What if there was a burning building and there was a child in it. You knew that the building was gonna collapse and kill you. But you went in to save this childs life and the building falls in and kills you. Wouldnt that be killing. For you killed yourself knowing the building was gonna collapse.
I just pray that I am never put in a situation where I would have to possibly harm someone to the extent of killing that person.
What if one of you were being beat to death, would you want someone to step in and stop that person doing that to you. You could say as long as you dont hurt that other person. But unless you are put in that situation you wouldnt know.

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