Hello...
I’ve read the VOM book (Jesus Freaks)…and it is truly remarkable! The stories within that book of individuals who died for their faith are truly remarkable. I’ve actually purchased this book as a gift for several individuals. It is a 21st Century
[i]Foxe’s Book of Martyrs[/i].
However, we need to be careful to distinguish between “martyrs” and mere “murder victims.” Were the individuals who were killed on Sunday even “martyrs” – or the victims of a desire of one man for mass murder? These individuals did not make a choice to die for their faith in this particular situation (at least, from what we understand from the media). They were simply at the “right place at the wrong time.”
I have read through many of Brother pastorfrin’s many “[i]Christian Non-resistance[/i]” threads. While I do not agree with the underlying conclusions of our CNR brethren, I do understand their perspectives. I have wrestled with the notions that are often presented in SermonIndex in regard to being involved in voting, politics, government, military and the extent to which believers may resist the efforts of this world (everything from verbal to physical resistance).
I have spoken with individuals who have considered patriotic believers as making an “idol” out of their nation. I think that these individuals fail to make the distinction between [i]patriotism[/i] and [i]nationalism[/i].
I am a patriot because I have a love for the people of my nation. These people [u]ARE[/u] the government of this nation (“[i]…of the people, for the people and by the people[/i]”). As such, I do hold a strong conviction that this nation’s Constitution provides the best form of liberty and government organization. Yes, I am sickened by certain amounts of sinfulness that is legally protected by this nation. But the principles that inspired the writers of the Constitution were created from a completely Protestant understanding of the Faith. These principles and core values were essential parts of the men who created our form of self government (a remarkably new idea in the 18th Century). This is a strong contrast with those nations (like Mexico and most of Latin America) that were founded upon a Roman Catholic tradition. Those nations were approved and promoted by the Roman Empire’s attitude of “crusade and crusade and conquer.” Healthy patriotism does not dictate for a people to make their nation as an idol. It is simply caring for your own people (who make up the government by representation and votes) and believing that (although flawed) this nation provides a proper form of government that can ensure the liberties we use to nurture our families and neighbors while practicing our faith. While I do believe that this form of government is the best a protecting those liberties, I am quick to recognize that there are other legitimate forms of government meant to protect and safeguard the rights of its people (who are just as important in the eyes of God as we are).
Nationalism, on the other hand, is a form of nation worship. Nationalism places a love and reverence for nation simply because it is our nation. It creates an attitude of defending a nation, king or dictator simply because they are our own (rather than for the ideas that formed the nation). Whereas patriotism is non-aggressive and fights only in defense of PEOPLE (particularly, the liberty of people here or elsewhere), nationalism uses war and force in order to expand territory and nation. Patriotism encourages its people to question its motives and status, and does not retaliate against those who question the motives (from either understanding or ignorance) or actions. Nationalism punishes (either physically or mentally) those who do not [i]go with the flow[/i] of the nation. Where patriotism looks for the good of the PEOPLE (who make up the nation), nationalism looks for the good of a NATION (which is over the people). Where patriotism cares for all of your neighbors, nationalism cares only for those who agree with you. Nationalism calls for people to fight and die for country and king, while patriotism shows people who willingly lay down their lives for their friends and neighbors.
It is interesting that there is a form of resistance in the Scriptures. Early believers protected Saul (later [i]Paul[/i]) by those who wanted him dead. He was lowered from the Damascus city walls in a basket in order to protect him from the governing Jews who wanted him dead (Acts 9:20-25). Why did Paul and these believers not want him to become an immediate martyr for his newfound faith? Why did he resist the ideas of the governing authority?
The New Testament gives some extremely strong commands. We told to “turn the other cheek” when slapped (Matthew 5:39). We are told to “give to everyone who asks” and to not request the return of items taken from us (Luke 6:29-30). If someone asks for something, we are supposed to give even more (Matthew 5:40-41)! We are supposed to give to everyone who wants to borrow from us (Matthew 5:42). I’ve often wondered what would become of those who practice complete and utter non-resistance if they applied those concepts to their entire lives. If word got around that someone actually lived up to those precepts, I imagine that there would be quite a few coatless, tired individuals without food, money, homes or vehicles. If this is so completely demanded from Scripture, then how can an individual provide for the needs of his family – or be considered WORSE than an infidel (I Timothy 5:8)?
In this situation, this woman security guard risked her life in the protection of many. She did not purposely [i]shoot to kill[/i] (from the interview that I saw), but she shot to [i]disable[/i] someone else from killing. In my opinion, she fulfilled the command of Jesus in John 15:13, “[i]Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends[/i].” If I had been in the same building at the same time, I don’t know what I would have done. But I do know that I would NOT have let a man shoot my wife or friends.
:-(
I suppose that it is easy to point the finger at those with whom we disagree as lost or part of “false Christianity” and “American-Babylonian church system.” Yes, there is a disgusting, evil and adulterous Babylonian system mentioned in the Word of God. This system is responsible for the “[i]blood of the saints[/i]” and the “[i]blood of the martyrs of Jesus[/i]” (Revelation 17:6). Whether or not this can be considered “America” is questionable at best. Many men of God have traditionally pointed toward a Roman system (city of seven hills) for its war against true Christianity to the point of bloodshed. I do think that we need to be careful about labeling those who simply disagree with us as being a part of this system. Too often, I fear, we use the following conclusion of the aforementioned verses only toward those who are obvious unbelievers. We should apply it to those true believers with whom we simply disagree:
