I Was But Now I Am

[Matthias]

“He came and preached peace …”

(Ephesians 2:17, WEB)

But most would not listen to him. Their hearts were hardened and war, the way of the gun, is their play.

 

[Matthias]

 

[Matthias]

* PEACE IS OUR PROFESSION -> an oxymoron; satire. Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb *

 

[TLHKAJ]

“He came and preached peace …”

(Ephesians 2:17, WEB)

But most would not listen to him. Their hearts were hardened and war, the way of the gun, is their play.

Take all of scripture as one, without picking and choosing.bits and pieces. All of scripture fits together. In context....

Ephesians 2:10-22
[10]For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
[11]Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
[12]That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
[13]But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
[14]For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
[15]Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
[16]And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
[17]And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
[18]For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
[19]Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
[20]And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
[21]In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
[22]In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

This is speaking of God reconciling the uncircumcision and the circumcision into ine body.

Matthew 10:34-37
[34]Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
[35]For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
[36]And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
[37]He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

I could take this verse to mean we should all be packing guns and shooting everyone who disagrees with us ...but again, it's not what Jesus was saying.

No one here is saying we should seek out our enemies to take revenge. That would be completely wrong and against God's Word. My granddaughter was stolen and trafficked into a cult home via the corrupt, cult-run courts.... stolen, 100% ILLEGAL. If I were vengeful, I would be seeking how to do something drastic. Instead, God has led me to pray for my enemies that He will chip away at their programming, and that they would be protected from the plans of satan in their lives, and be drawn to Christ for salvation. That's my only defense ....AND I'm SO ANGRY at satan at all the destruction he has caused ...praying for that family who took my granddaughter IS my revenge against satan.

And still yet, if someone is attacking my loved ones ...especially children or elderly ...and I have the means to physically stop them in some way, I would do it without condemnation. It is my responsibility to do what I can ...whatever is in my God given power.

 

[Matthias]

Take all of scripture as one, without picking and choosing.bits and pieces. All of scripture fits together. In context....

Ephesians 2:10-22
[10]For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
[11]Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
[12]That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
[13]But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
[14]For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
[15]Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
[16]And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
[17]And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
[18]For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
[19]Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
[20]And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
[21]In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
[22]In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

This is speaking of God reconciling the uncircumcision and the circumcision into ine body.

Matthew 10:34-37
[34]Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
[35]For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
[36]And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
[37]He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

I could take this verse to mean we should all be packing guns and shooting everyone who disagrees with us ...but again, it's not what Jesus was saying.

No one here is saying we should seek out our enemies to take revenge. That would be completely wrong and against God's Word. My granddaughter was stolen and trafficked into a cult home via the corrupt, cult-run courts.... stolen, 100% ILLEGAL. If I were vengeful, I would be seeking how to do something drastic. Instead, God has led me to pray for my enemies that He will chip away at their programming, and that they would be protected from the plans of satan in their lives, and be drawn to Christ for salvation. That's my only defense ....AND I'm SO ANGRY at satan at all the destruction he has caused ...praying for that family who took my granddaughter IS my revenge against satan.

And still yet, if someone is attacking my loved ones ...especially children or elderly ...and I have the means to physically stop them in some way, I would do it without condemnation. It is my responsibility to do what I can ...whatever is in my God given power.

Your personal experience is horrific.

Trust God to do it without you killing someone.

 

[TLHKAJ]

You’re personal experience is horrific.

Trust God to do it without you killing someone.

I'll do whatever He leads with each given moment.

 

[Matthias]

I'll do whatever He leads with each given moment.

If he’s leading us then we will do unto others as we would have others do unto us.

 

[TLHKAJ]

If he’s leading us then we will do unto others as we would have others do unto us.

Yep ...the same as when you would throw punches (etc) if someone was attacking your wife.

 

[Matthias]

Yep ...the same as when you would throw punches (etc) if someone was attacking your wife.

I wouldn’t throw any punches. I would wrestle with him or her.

The point is that if you treat others the way you would want to be treated by others, you wouldn’t kill them.

 

[Matthias]

 

[Pancho Frijoles]

I wouldn’t throw any punches. I would wrestle with him or her.

You made me remember a friend who practiced Aikido.
It is a martial discipline that uses the force of the opponent against himself. That keeps the aggressor at bay and can help to resolve conflict
It makes the aggressor realize that, as Jesus said to Saul, it is hard for him to "kick against the pricks."

 

[Matthias]

You made me remember a friend who practiced Aikido.
It is a martial discipline that uses the force of the opponent against himself. That keeps the aggressor at bay and can help to resolve conflict
It makes the aggressor realize that, as Jesus said to Saul, it is hard for him to "kick against the pricks."

I’ve asked a few members here who are into martial arts about Aikido.

Post in thread 'Martial Arts for self defense'
Martial Arts for self defense

Post in thread 'Martial Arts for self defense'
Martial Arts for self defense

 

[Matthias]

x.com

x.com

 

[Matthias]

“We’ve lost nearly 150,000 veterans to suicide since 9/11 - a number 18 times greater than combat losses.”

x.com

x.com

The struggle is real. These lives were destroyed by what they went through. Thankfully help is being sought for other veterans who are struggling to cope with what they’ve seen and done in the military.

Killing your enemy in real life isn’t what it is in the movies. Real human beings are severely traumatized by the very real experience. Kill, kill, kill - is a soul destroying enterprise, for the living and for the dead.

 

[Matthias]

“The Relationship Between PTSD and Suicide”

VA.gov | Veterans Affairs

Apply for and manage the VA benefits and services you’ve earned as a Veteran, Servicemember, or family member—like health care, disability, education, and more.

www.ptsd.va.gov

While this government source specifically examines the connection between the two in those who are combat veterans, there should be little doubt that a connection exists, at least to some extent, for those who are not combat veterans but also choose to kill their enemies.

 

[Matthias]

 

[th1b.taylor]

I am sorry, but you did not read my post, not my support of resolving what course of action you would/might take in certain circumstances.

If you had read carefully, I did not condemn you for wanting to defend your loved ones by whatever force that was deemed necessary in line with scripture.

Yes, we should love our enemy but how far we go in defending our loved ones will depend on the circumstances that are unfolding at that time. The issue of using a deterrent should have been decided and resolved between you and the Lord long before the problem will arise.

When I went to Nepal for the first time in 2001 after 9/11 I had resolved that I was prepared to die if that was to be the outcome if the radical Hindu population rose up against me when I went over there on up to 12 trips since then for stays of 3 months in duration.

In considering my choices before I went is the same as you have done with respect to your choice of defending your loved one in circumstance where their wellbeing was being threatened.

Shalom

I am sorry I did not comprehend and pray Yashuah blesses your efforts.

 

[th1b.taylor]

“The Relationship Between PTSD and Suicide”

VA.gov | Veterans Affairs

Apply for and manage the VA benefits and services you’ve earned as a Veteran, Servicemember, or family member—like health care, disability, education, and more.

www.ptsd.va.gov

While this government source specifically examines the connection between the two in those who are combat veterans, there should be little doubt that a connection exists, at least to some extent, for those who are not combat veterans but also choose to kill their enemies.

You only make yourself look the fool trying to send me into a service that has helped me for better than thirty years and then you spew nonscriptural-based teaching? Yehova can help you but you must get close to Him.

 

[Matthias]

You only make yourself look the fool trying to send me into a service that has helped me for better than thirty years and then you spew nonscriptural-based teaching? Yehova can help you but you must get close to Him.

The only thing that would make me look good in your eyes is if I preached that disciples of Jesus should kill their enemies. That’s never going to happen. I’ll happily remain a fool in your eyes and be seen obedient and faithful in his.

 

[Matthias]

“The Relationship Between PTSD and Suicide”

VA.gov | Veterans Affairs

Apply for and manage the VA benefits and services you’ve earned as a Veteran, Servicemember, or family member—like health care, disability, education, and more.

www.ptsd.va.gov

While this government source specifically examines the connection between the two in those who are combat veterans, there should be little doubt that a connection exists, at least to some extent, for those who are not combat veterans but also choose to kill their enemies.

I’m very happy for every soldier who is getting help from the VA. (My nephew is a disabled combat veteran who has been receiving such help and is also employed by the VA in Texas.) Someone who is being treated for PTSD should not be advocating for others to kill their enemies and have to seek the same treatment.

Killing your enemies screws up the mind, even to the point of pleading for others to screw up their minds.

If the reader is a veteran who needs help, please seek out. And for the love of God, don’t send others down the path that took you to this place in yours.