Pacifism is defined as, "opposition to war or violence of any kind."
Our culture today seems to be torn, those who agree with war, and those who hate it. Now, both are wide categories. And we can lump a whole lot of people into both of them. Many people think of war as evil and should never be used, not even as a last resort. War should not be used. Period.
But on the other hand, there are those who know and acknowledge that war is a terrible thing, but that it is still necessary to resolve our issues. Because as a race we are fallen, we can stumble and refuse to solve the specific problem with the other person, so sometimes we need to resolve it the hard way.
Christians should not lay down and just let themselves be kicked around. Christians are called to go out into the world. Christians receive their marching orders at the end of Matthew, "18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[b] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” We are told to declare war on this earth. But this is not a war to hurt and harm, it is to love and heal.
Christians are not Pacifists. We are called to turn the other cheek, yes. But we are also called to defend those we love, the faith we love, and the God we love. In the Old Testament there are numerous accounts of the Israelites defending their country as God commanded them. And that included shedding blood now and then. We must not forget that the God who inspired the Old Testament inspired the New. He is one and the same. Now if the Lord is one and the same, then why should it seem so outlandish that our Father would not use similar means to capture, not just the Land of Canaan, but the securing of a host of souls?
Christians are warriors of the Almighty. We are in the middle of a war that we know has already been won. To accept peace and to relax our watchfulness for intruding evil, would be equal to surrender. To compromise would also be equal to surrendering. Christians are called to love, sacrifice and fight for our faith. We will not make peace with darkness. We will not rest until the principalities and powers of the world are troubled and know the name of Christ. We will not rest until all the peoples and nations praise the Lord of Hosts on bended knee.
Christians are not Pacifists. We are called to turn the other cheek, yes. But we are also called to defend those we love, the faith we love, and the God we love. In the Old Testament there are numerous accounts of the Israelites defending their country as God commanded them. And that included shedding blood now and then. We must not forget that the God who inspired the Old Testament inspired the New. He is one and the same. Now if the Lord is one and the same, then why should it seem so outlandish that our Father would not use similar means to capture, not just the Land of Canaan, but the securing of a host of souls?
Christians are warriors of the Almighty. We are in the middle of a war that we know has already been won. To accept peace and to relax our watchfulness for intruding evil, would be equal to surrender. To compromise would also be equal to surrendering. Christians are called to love, sacrifice and fight for our faith. We will not make peace with darkness. We will not rest until the principalities and powers of the world are troubled and know the name of Christ. We will not rest until all the peoples and nations praise the Lord of Hosts on bended knee.
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