Quote:
Originally Posted by SemperFideles  They're entitle to disagree with the Truth but not have the Truth. I'm sorry Joel but you sound like Oprah Winfrey with your appel to "different understandings". There are plenty of boards where people treat the Scriptures like "...what does that mean to you..." but this isn't one of them. We are a Confessional board here. What Church upholds pacifism that you can point to? |
So we can never have different understandings about anything? So because I believe in infant baptism not credobaptism (only) does that mean I should just say everyone who doesn't agree with me (and of course therefore Scripture--without any humility that my fallible understanding may be limited) is foolish? I should just tell that they are ignorant of Scripture's teaching, are foolish, are impious and should correct their silly ways? Wow. I'm just not prepared to be that dogmatic. Don't get me wrong. There are some things I'll die for. There are some things I don't think we can have a "different understanding" of. Salvation is by faith alone e.g. But to all the specifics of the Confession? No, not willing to say that. And I'm not willing to say that everyone who disagrees with the confession is a fool. I might think they are wrong, and will discuss the issues with them and explain why I believe I am right. But to just say, "You're ignorant and foolish"? Somehow I don't think that is right. I hold ot the confession, but doesn't mean that I am committed to all the points to the point of death. And I would take exception at some points.
Quote:
|
It is not at all unclear.
|
To you.
Quote:
|
On the basis of the Scriptural principle that life is to be defended even as it is commanded not to be taken violently. Men who hate the things that God loves and love the things that God hates need to repent when they are confronted with these principles. Pacifists stand apart from every decent Confession of the Church and arrogate to themselves interpretive authority and then twist the Scriptures on this point. Roman Catholics, on the basis of natural theology, call the death penalty and evil punishment and, by doing so, impugn the character of an immutable God. It's in the habit of cults and sects to do things to the Word of God and I'll never be a party to being a soothing affirmer to wicked men.
|
Where is that principle? "even as it is commanded not to be taken violently." Is that not what one would be doing? Again, I'm not committed to the pacifist position, but I do see where they are coming from. I have just read through much of the literature of the early church, and they were largely pacifist.
I think I'm done with this discussion. All you are saying is, "I'm right. They're wrong and you're wrong and that's all there is to it.
That's just not where I am at. I find Scripture encouraging us to a deep humility. Not an arrogant attitude that just labels everyone who disagrees "foolish."