Most excellent posts & Scriptures from everyone (including Longhorn)!
With all that has been said, I believe there are other Scriptural considerations. Now keep an open mind (not so open that when you bend over your brains fall out :wink: ) & heart. Just open enough & soft enough to hear God's Word.
Starting with
Isa 30:27 Behold, the name of the LORD cometh from far, burning with his anger, and in thick rising smoke: his lips are full of indignation, and his tongue is as a devouring fire:
Isa 30:28 and his breath is as an overflowing stream, that reacheth even unto the neck, to sift the nations with the sieve of vanity: and a bridle that causeth to err shall be in the jaws of the peoples.
Isa 30:29 Ye shall have a song as in the night when a holy feast is kept; and gladness of heart, as when one goeth with a pipe to come into the mountain of the LORD, to the Rock of Israel.
Isa 30:30 And the LORD shall cause his glorious voice to be heard, and shall shew the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of his anger, and the flame of a devouring fire, with a blast, and tempest, and hailstones.
Isa 30:31 For through the voice of the LORD shall the Assyrian be broken in pieces, which smote with a rod.
Isa 30:32 And every stroke of the appointed staff, which the LORD shall lay upon him, shall be with tabrets and harps: and in battles of shaking will he fight with them.
Isa 30:33 For a Topheth is prepared of old; yea, for the king it is made ready; he hath made it deep and large: the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of the LORD, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it. Verses 27, 28, 30 & 31 speak of the burning anger of the Lord being released, & His voice of authority being heard. How will He do this? The answer is in-
Rom 13:1 Let every soul be in subjection to the higher powers: for there is no power but of God; and the powers that be are ordained of God.
Rom 13:2 Therefore he that resisteth the power, withstandeth the ordinance of God: and they that withstand shall receive to themselves judgment.
Rom 13:3 For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. And wouldest thou have no fear of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise from the same:
Rom 13:4 for he is a 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 a
minister of God, an avenger for wrath to him that doeth evil. Regarding Verse 4 (above)-Because of this mandate the civil government would be in disobedience not to bring wrath on those who do evil because it is given the sword for that purpose.
Should we retaliate because of the Lord's exhortation to turn the other cheek when struck? I believe we need to understand that civil governments have a different mandate than the mandate the Lord gave to His church & confusing these two mandates has brought considerable confusion.
The church is given a different mandate. We are told to love our enemies. We will be in disobedience if we try to use the sword against them instead of loving them. We must keep these two mandates separate & clear if we are to walk rightly.
The Lord is preparing His church for ruling in the age to come, but we are not called to rule in this present age. That mandate has been give to civil governments until the Lord sets up His kingdom on the earth. Civil governments are
"a minister of God" that
"does not bear the sword for nothing," but is
"an avenger who brings wrath upon the one who practices
evil."What about the Christian who is serving in a position of civil authority, such as a policeman, soldier, mayor, president, or even a school principle? In these cases we must keep our two mantles of authority separate. While on duty, one must be willing to use the sword. While not on duty, or serving the church in ministry, we must lay the sword aside to seek the anointing of the Holy Spirit to do the work of the ministry.
Can Christians do both? Remember that King David, who was the only one about whom it was said that he was a man after God's own heart, was one of the greatest warriors & one of the greatest worshipers in all of Scripture. Sometimes it is by seeking the balance between extremes in our life that we are led to the straight & narrow path that leads to life. If you are a policeman, or soldier on duty, do not hesitate to use the weapon that the state has given to you. If you are serving in ministry, we have a greater sword that we must use for the truth.
As the remaining verses in Isaiah state, great punishment from the Lord is coming upon those who do evil, & there will be great rejoicing because of it. There is rejoicing whenever the Lord exercises His authority on earth, & it is right to rejoice in the judgments of God, as we read in-
Psa 98:1 <A Psalm.> Sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvelous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath wrought salvation for him.
Psa 98:2 The LORD hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the nations.
Psa 98:3 He hath remembered his mercy and his faithfulness toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
Psa 98:4 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: break forth and sing for joy, yea, sing praises.
Psa 98:5 Sing praises unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp and the voice of melody:
Psa 98:6 With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD.
Psa 98:7 Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein;
Psa 98:8 Let the floods clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together;
Psa 98:9 Before the LORD, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity. Peace you guys
Author
Topic: Abu Musab al-Zarqawi Killed in Iraq (Read 29669 times)