I felt at times back in Vancouver and on raft camps as though I was viewed as the "left-wing-liberal-hippy-dude." I identify as a feminist, don't like to kill or disturb things in nature without cause, and am against drilling for oil in Alaska and for taking care of the earth God gave us in-general. I believe in loving people as Christ loved us, and I believe that love is a revolution all its own.
For some reason, subscribing to these beliefs makes me a pacifist. I'm not entirely comfortable with this label, simply because I've read the Old Testament. I also speak from limited experience, considering that I have little in this life to protect and defend besides siblings and parents (that live 250 miles away,) and friends up here. As I read through the Bible, I find myself looking for Godly expressions of masculinity, and I am firmly convinced that you can identify as a man and not kill or hurt people.
And yet I struggle with the huge amounts of people that have been killed during "the furthering of God's kingdom." The Old Testament looks a heck of a lot like genocide to me.
So I don't know if anyone besides me struggles with this. I think of David's example, cutting the corner off Saul's robe (1 Samuel 24) and how David states that judgement is between person and God, not in between people themselves. And yet it's ok for Joshua to destroy every city he came across while not knowing even one of it's inhabitants?
So. For example, in the way of self-defense, how do you love someone while you kill them?
About Me
- Brandon
- I work at a software company in Bellingham, love reading, writing, being outside, and studying the different cultures God has created to worship him. Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name.
1 comment:
Dude. We should have a bunch of huge conversations on this. I just had a couple with Jed B. while on the men's retreat. He's a pacifist, I'm going to be an A-10 pilot. It was pretty sweet. We disagree on each other's conclusions, but we both love God and each other, so it's cool. Since I'm joining the US military, I have to reconcile this kind of stuff in my mind...
Here are a few of my thoughts:
Love your neighbor.
Love your enemy.
Jesus said both of these things and he wants us to follow them both all the time. God is love. God is violent (Old testament makes this clear). Love can (and I would argue "must" at times) be violent. If my enemy threatens my neighbor's life and I have the option to save my neighbor by killing my enemy, I'll take it. Micah 6:8 says to "..do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God." Justice is protecting the innocent, and can be at the cost of someone else's life.
I don't hesitate at all to join a military that is based on fighting for justice. I think protecting (lethally if necessary) family and friends (apart from war) is absolutely necessary as well.
I think there are a lot of factors in play here and it's not an easy discussion, but that's basically where I stand.
Post a Comment