"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I tell you not to oppose an evil person. If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn your other cheek to him as well. If someone wants to sue you in order to take your shirt, let him have your coat too. If someone forces you to go one mile, go two miles with him. Give to everyone who asks you for something. Don't turn anyone away who wants to borrow something from you.
You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.' But I tell you this: Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you. In this way you show that you are children of your Father in heaven. He makes his sun rise on people whether they are good or evil. He lets rain fall on them whether they are just or unjust. If you love those who love you, do you deserve a reward? Even the tax collectors do that! Are you doing anything remarkable if you welcome only your friends? Everyone does that! That is why you must be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect." Matthew 5:38-48
What if President Bush said, "I have decided to take Jesus words and apply them to the situation we find ourselves in with the world. Today...I will not oppose those I believe are evil. I will turn the other cheek and choose to go the extra mile by stopping all that we are doing to fight evil. I have decided to love as Jesus loved, and I ask that all of us pray for those we believe are persecuting us and give them all they ask for, outside of your faith in our Lord."
What would we do as a nation? Since the USA is predominately Christian...would we choose to submit to a leader that would ask us to live and love as Jesus commanded? Would we be willing to lose all that we know as a "free nation" and possibly allow "evil" to come in and take over? We see in scripture and in recent history that that has certainly happened in the past...and now that we all know we are at a place in history where there really is no way to win this war...what are we called to do as believers?
In the flesh...we want to protect our country, our freedom, our way of life...but what about in the Spirit? As followers of Jesus Christ...what should be our response to all that has happened since that dreadful day we know as 9/11? I have heard many a sermons that called us to attack and protect...as well as, we should try to understand and love those who persecute us. It's astounding at the diverse ways Christians read scripture and come to their conclusion of peace or war.
No need to comment or respond to this message...but where do you stand? Knowing what Jesus called each of us to do and what we should be...would it be right to continue in war to protect our way of life? Or is it time to stop and release ourselves into a place of servitude and surrender? A possible "captivity" by another nation...so that one day, maybe years of praying to the Lord for our release...we will be allowed to go free and in to the promise land.
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2 comments:
I think we have to protect our country, from foreign invaders however, we should not go out of our country and attack other people.
We were hit because Bin Laden hates what our goverment does around the globe, (the CIA tactics).
We don't live as Jesus commanded us to as a nation. YES, we should change drastically, to be more as we claim to be, servants of Christ and use Jesus as the pattern of a life.
It's a tough one. Jesus came and the Romans were in charge. Those who followed him were hoping for the Messiah to be a warrior who would fight for them and bring them freedom, and give them the power to rule the nations. Jesus was a bit different from what they were expecting! and he never tried to overthrow the Roman government.
Scripture teaches us that God uses the nations and their leaders to bring about his purpose...I'm not sure what our leaders should do in this mess, but I am sure God will bring about His purpose for our lives. We may fight and win, we may fight and be defeated as a nation...but as a believer in Jesus, I think for me, I need to learn to love as Jesus loved.
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