Bloodthirst and Christians

This is a simpler matter than creation science.

We are told many places in the NT that murderers and deceivers will end up in the lake of fire aka the second death. How can we support killing and violence without becoming murderers by accomplice? How can we smooth over this bloodthirst, including violent sports, without encouraging it?

Duirng the Vietnam war, I volunteered for the US Army. Toward the end of my tour of duty I accepted Christ taking home with me a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the United States Armed Forces Educational Service (USAFES) and a Schofield's Refernce KJV. I had also studied Chinese Karate while serving the US. It took a long time for me to realize that to live violently and participate in violence was probably putting me closer to that lake of fire.

There are many far more graceful sports out there that don't encourage violence. I don't know this for certain, but it stands to reasoin that the more involved we become in these violent sports, the more we slip away from Christ and nurture our carnal nature toward this bloodthirst. Participating in hockey or football or other "gateway" sports like basketball or baseball, are not much different from being so eager to attend a "stoning" or to watch the bloody games in the arenas of death.

Any other takes on this? i know I simply can't find it in my soul to offer a "smoothie" on this when I should be speaking out against violence.


Dr. C.

It looks like football is more powerful than God. God is not powerful enough to stop the superbowl. Push the homeless guy out of the way, for the game must go on. Tebow to Jesus. Make this goal for me...

Hey Dr C

Let me start by saying that Creation Science is pretty simple - believe in God and take His Word as fact and read the first chapter of Genesis - done!

Also I am surprised that no one responded to your post here yet.

Here is one of many definitions of "sport" - "Physical activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively." No where in there do I see any reference to violence and sport is usually an exhibition of skills.
The sport of martial arts or boxing or wrestling or for that matter knife throwing and target practice with guns or arrows does not have to be viewed as violent when done correctly and by the rules. High school wrestling for example with the right protective gear and using the point system is fun to watch for many.
I believe it is biblical to learn to fight and to learn to defend yourself and bear arms to hunt. Unfortunately I personally never learned martial arts or boxing or how to hunt. I feel I would have had a stronger Christian life if I knew these things as they would have made me feel stronger and more confident and have less fear of being an active evangelist to strangers.
The world will always have wars (that is biblical) and as long as there is Christian persecution (which will always exist), there is nothing wrong with learning how to fight and defend or to go to war and fight battles - and if your country is trying to help the persecuted.
(side note: there is a difference between "peace" and "world peace" and it is nice to pray for world peace but it will not happen till the End Times when the anti-christ is in power under a one world government)
Picture this - go back 40 years and what if half of the persecuted men in Sudan had your skills and knowledge and instead of kneeling down in fear and getting hacked by a machete, knew instead how to defend themselves. Would a genocide be possible.

Thank you for serving our country during the Vietnam war, it is OK Dr C.
Remember when King David "got tired" of the blood and going off to war - that is when his troubles really got started?
When you defend what you believe in, unfortunately it will get bloody and violent sometimes. Imagine if you had to purposely kill woman and children like in the Old Testament.

It is true that as sports like hockey, football, baseball, and basketball evolves backwards and becomes more and more about the individuals and the money to be made, yes it does become less of a team sport. But it is meant to be a form of public entertainment and if you take it too seriously - then yes you should not watch or participate in it.
Now ultimate fighter or whatever it is called is another story. On one hand it is pure violence but on the other hand it is two consenting adults. My missionary friend (who faces possessed people) in South Africa loves it - I'll ask him why next time we see each other.
Just as "Creation Science" depends on our attitude and mainly our worldview, so does the way we look at "blood thirst" sports I guess. But for what it is worth, ever since I gave up gambling and gave my heart to The Lord in 1997, I no longer watch sports and have much more time for bible study and daily time with The Lord.
My wife who used to not mind watching boxing and has been a solid Christian since she was a little girl, also taught me when I was a new believer that there is no relationship between being a pacifist and being a christian. (As long as you do not seek out violence and thirst for blood.)

Plus do not lose your context or perspective here, if you ever attend a Christian Super Bowl party, you will find the atmosphere and events quite different from a secular Super Bowl party.

In His Presence, Paul

You might be encouraged by the testimony of one of the children of northern vietnam.

No matter the outcome of the war ... the Lord's arm is long. He is reaching out to them even now.

In Him.

You might want to search the scriptures... God considers it a righteous thing to fight for that which is right.

He and His people have killed many to defend righteousness, and God is going to allow many to suffer eternal torment in hell, so it depends on what the fight is for as to whether it's wrong to kill or not.

God never said thou shalt not kill.... He said thou shalt no do murder.

BIG difference between the two!

I have a couple of sections of verse to quote regarding this theme:

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace."
(Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)

"But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.
I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. Let not then your good be evil spoken of:
For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.
Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.
It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.
And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin."
(Romans 14:10-23)

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-- NightWatchman