Quote:
Originally Posted by SemperFideles  Sonya,
I don't even have to think about what I would do if a man came into my home. He would have to get over my dead body to get at my wife or children. That's what men do! All pious sounding stuff about God's will is so contrary to the REVEALED will of God about our responsibilities to our families and to our neighbors that I have absolutely no patience for a man that claims Christ to believe he has the first clue about what God's will is. Want to know what God's will is? Read your Bible!
Man, this hit a nerve but I am sick and tired of laziness, apathy, and cowardice in men being dressed up in pseudo-pious talk about "...trusting God's will." I don't have a problem with the discussion about Just Wars and the like but the man who is a complete pacifist as the Anabaptists (i.e. Amish and Mennonites) or JW's are, is worthy of derision. I don't care what he thinks his conscience tells him. He is out of accord with the Word of God. |
I am not settled in my views on this subject. I have long lived in the realm that you come from...somebody tries to touch my family or anyone close to me and I wouldn't think twice about beating the bloody pulp out of 'em. And I think that I am still at the point (whether it's right or wrong) that I would do that, because it's natural to me and I can't imagine doing otherwise.
However, with study that I have done on this subject, and the deep wrestlings I have gone through in my heart in thinking about it and the Bible's teaching, here are a couple of things I would want to add regarding your post.
You seem to suggest that all who take a pacifist position do so out of ignorance of the Bible or ignoring what it DIRECTLY teaches. I do not think that can be supported. The few people that I know who have come to that position have only come to it after deep wrestling with the Scriptures, fighting against their own natural inclinations. They have not come to it easily. Certainly not in ignorance of the Bible's teaching. Perhaps their understanding of Scripture is lacking, perhaps not. And my own journey towards sympathy with a more pacifist understanding of Scripture has been difficult. And it is not finished, and I do not know where it will lead me.
You also seem to suggest that all who take a pacifist position do so purely because they have succombed to "laziness, apathy, and cowardice." I would humbly suggest that such a statement is false. Perhaps it is in some. I do not doubt it. But those that I know who are going towards a more pacifist position do so ONLY from a commitment to what they believe Jesus wants from them. Further, you seem to suggest that pacifists do not believe in doing anything when evil threatens them and theirs. That is not the case. They are opposed to taking violent measures. David Augsburger says in "Dissident Discipleship" something to the effect of that he is willing to die for his family but not kill for them. Again, I am not there yet, but I can understand why he is at that point. And I don't think it's because he is a coward. If someone did threaten his family, I am sure he would not just stand there and let them do whatever, but he would attempt everything outside of violence. Which may to you seem like nothing, but he believes he would be following the teachings of Jesus.
I know that many would probably be guilty of what you charge. But that is not always the case. There are some faithful, godly, manly, courageous men who yet would not use violence for any reason in accordance with their understanding of Scripture.