POWER is something I do not like to wield.
Like my Father, a career military man, I do not like to ever 'crack down' on anyone (Rudy Giuliani-style!). Stay in authority. Speak the TRUTH in love. Then you simply do not have to resort to violent options.
Along these lines, two of my greatest political heroes are Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Ironically, although technically 'Hindu' Gandhi was deeply indebted to the teachings of Jesus Christ on non-violence. Similarly as a well-educated African American pastor, Dr. King used Jesus' teaching on non-violence to change the evil disenfranchising southern political 'good ole boys' club that was excluding African Americans from voting.
This, really, is the ONLY POWER that Christians can wield. Whoever lives by the sword dies by the sword. In the present case of Iraq, if one joins the military in order to pay off student loans, make higher wages, etc. then one is simply living as a mercenary and one will eventually die with blood on one's hands.
This is not to say that Christian Kings cannot exist. According to the LORD Jesus Christ's Providence Christians have ruled for centuries, some even as saints. In Paul's Letter to the Romans, Chapter 13, provision is even made for the JUSTICE of GOD to be wielded THROUGH the "magistrate" in order to punish the evil doer.
But, just because Christian Kingship can exist (in the U.S. as either the President, the Senate, Congress or the Judicial branch) does not mean that whatever is in the supposed 'national interest' (i.e. oil, expansion, threatening our enemies with shows of force . . .) is necessarily a Christian endeavor. Christians must be very reluctant to ever wield the sword, and ONLY do so as a dispassionate execution of Kingly authority.
Love in Jesus Christ,
Rob J. King, Barack Obama fan because the man loves Jesus (just not ready to be Prez yet . . .)
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2 comments:
With this I agree. What was the ultimate act of Power Of Jesus? To die on the cross at the hands of his own creation. Rather turns power on its head. Serve others, wash their feet,the first will be last, Jesus' Kingdom is upside down. Die to self take up your cross. The meek will inherit the earth. This Is Jesus' kingdom. It is in direct conflict with the world where dog eat dog, only the strong survive, human nature is sinful and self serving, the modern western world is an ever increasing display of human greed with all restraint gone. Only Jesus can save us form ourselves, but we must turn the world on its head.
Martin Luther King Jnr style, Gandhi style, not Malcolm X or the British Empire
Amen brother Nick, amen!
BE YE ABOVE REPROACH for the wiles of the devil are ever present . . .
Love in Jesus Christ,
Rob
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