Aunty Jane
Well-Known Member
I think you mean Mal 3:6….”For I am Jehovah; I do not change.”…..and he does not change, but that doesn’t mean he never alters his actions to accommodate his will. He does not change his standards, but lives up to the meaning of his name…”I will be what I will be”….(incorrectly translated to “I Am That I Am) Rather than proclaiming his existence which his people already knew, God was declaring that he would “be” or ”become” whatever he needed to be, in order to bring about the fulfillment of his purpose.How then do we reconcile God commanding a human army (the Isralites) to kill everything that breathes (Deu 20:16)? Yes, this was under the Old Covenant before there were Christians, but God Himself said He changes not (Mal 3:16).
Under the new covenant, which cancelled out the old one, Jehovah now concentrated on “the Prince of Peace”….the discples of his son would “not learn war anymore”, as Isaiah prophesied….”In the final part of the days”. . . .
“He [Jehovah] will render judgment among the nations
And set matters straight respecting many peoples.
They will beat their swords into plowshares
And their spears into pruning shears.
Nation will not lift up sword against nation,
Nor will they learn war anymore.” Isaiah 2:2-4)
In this “time of the end“ when the nations are at war, we have put down our weapons because we “will not learn war anymore”.
The only “just” war is one sanctioned by God….but he has not sanctioned a war since Israel was defending their God-given land. Please tell me what land today is God-given?…and not stolen with bloodshed, from others who were there first?Even some early Christians, such as Saint Augustine of Hippo and Thomas Aquinas, believed in the concept of a just war. Clearly, the use of force to murder, as indicated in Gen 9:5–6, is morally wrong. But again, a distinction must be made between violence\murder and war\self-preservation.
Gen 9:5-6…
”Besides that, I will demand an accounting for your lifeblood. I will demand an accounting from every living creature; and from each man I will demand an accounting for the life of his brother. 6 Anyone shedding man’s blood, by man will his own blood be shed, for in God’s image He made man.”
How do you read? How does God demand an accounting for the loss of human life?…and especially for “the life of his brother“…..in warfare, where those on opposing sides profess to be Christians, whose side is God on in that case? When brother slaughters brother, where is the Christian God?
Martyrdom is not something people choose…..obeying Christ is the choice, martyrdom is the consequence.Many Christians have chosen to follow Christ's example in allowing themselves to be marytered, and that is their choice. However, is it a sin to defend yourself?
A Christian will take a bullet for his brother, but he will never fire one.
We are not to deliberately cause harm to anyone….resisting is indeed recommended, but not to the point that you place a person’s life in jeopardy.…..like Christ and the apostles we are to be non-violent. Peter was rebuked for using his sword.…remember? In Israel even an accidental manslayer was held accountable for taking someone’s life.Will God hold it against someone if they resist being murdered? I don't believe so, and there is no scripture to indicate that either.
Matt 5:38-39…
”You heard that it was said: ‘Eye for eye and tooth for tooth.’ 39 However, I say to you: Do not resist the one who is wicked, but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other also to him.” We are not to be provoked and then “return evil for evil”. (Rom 12:17-21)
The bottom line is that we are not animals. We have reasoning ability, and we are told to develop qualities that are called the “fruits of God’s spirit”…..”self control” is one such….God put the will to live in every living creature. Even the most docile animal will fight back if cornered. The bottom line is, there is no prohibition against self-defense.
”the fruitage of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, 23 mildness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (Gal 5:22-23)
Try as you might, you can never justify violence at the hands of a genuine Christian….there is no way that a disciple of Jesus can have blood on their hands (Isa 1:15)….especially not innocent blood, with the indiscriminate use of weapons of mass destruction used in today’s warfare. No Christian can serve in the military because God does not uphold patriotism over adherence to the law of the Christ, which involves ‘loving our enemies’…not killing them. (Matt 5:43-44)
There will be an accounting.
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