Is it ever ok to kill our enemies in the name of Jesus?

[Neogaia777]

Hi Brother . I think Paul said that government was instituted by God to punish evil doers and potentially reward well doing but if and when you suffer for well doing , count it all joy. Nero was in charge when this was written. That being said , it may be a stretch to equate America with doing the will of God by demonstrating the mercy God shows to repentant sinners through the sacrifice of His beloved Son and those outside America as evil doers. Adultery is evil . How shall we deal with it . ( In our own land ? ) Covetousness is the sin of idolatry and is an abomination ( no different than a homosexual agenda ) The pursuit of money is what often dictates our career choices. How shall we deal with it ? ( in our own land ...particularly when it is what fuels our current lifestyle ) That is why the early church would have broken communion with those church members who put their money out to usury. Fornication is an enemy of God but perfectly legal . Do we bear arms against that ? What about idolatry. When we worship the temporal more than the eternal ? What if America is an idol. How do we deal with that ?

I only used America's enemies as an example, while I admit that America is not perfect when it comes to sin, there is a big difference in what America lets slide, than Islamic extremist terrorist nations or groups do... I mean killing innocent children by cowardly bombings, We do not want to kill them, but see them as leaving us with very little choice in the matter, but, they take great pleasure in killing us, if you not an Islamic Muslim than your an infidel, and if your a Muslim with any empathy or compassion for America or American's or their allies than your no better than an infidel and deserve death as well...

Big, major difference...

America does not openly approve of most sin, but see's some things as uncontrollable or very hard to try and do something about legally, being the land of freedom and all...

I'm loyal to the land in which I live, and I do not think that my loyalty is idolatry...

God Bless!

 

[he-man]

I do not see the current model of church functioning in this way. I can't recall now but it seems there was a king in the old testament that made priest out of base and profane men . Do we do this . I posit this question against the parablel that said to go invite both the good and the bad that the feast be supplied with guest.

You fail to understand the deep meaning of the Bible. "Esau the wicked, will veil himself with his garment, and sit among the righteous in paradise, in the world to come; and the holy blessed God will draw him, and bring him out from thence, which is the sense of those words, Oba1:4. "Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the Lord."'' their own consciences will condemn them, their mouths will be gagged, and they will have nothing to say in vindication of themselves; their righteousness will not answer for them in a time to come. (l) T. Hieros. Nedarim, fol. 38. 1. [GILL]
Not having a wedding-garment (mē echōn enduma gamou). Mē is in the Koiné the usual negative with participles unless special emphasis on the negative is desired as in ouk endedumenon. There is a subtle distinction between mē and ou like our subjective and objective notions. [Robertson]
How couldest thou expect to meet with acceptance with me, or to be suitable company for my people, not being arrayed with the garments of salvation, and robe of righteousness, as they are? [GILL]
Mat 22:11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
Mat 22:12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was gagged.
Do you not know that God selects men to rule so that His Plan will soon be seen?
Dan 4:17 This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.
Galatians 1:6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, (7) which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. (8) But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.
Galatians 4:8 But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods. (9) But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? (10) You observe days and months, and times, and years.
Dan 4:14 He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches:
Mat 13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them up: but gather the wheat into my repository.
48 Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.
Are you familar with the parable of the fig tree?
Joh 15:6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned up.
Luk 13:7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?
Jer 24:6 For I will set mine eyes upon them [Israel] for good, and I will bring them again to this land: and I will build them, and not pull them down; and I will plant them, and not pluck them up. 8 And as the evil figs, which cannot be eaten, they are so evil; surely thus saith the LORD, So will I give Zedekiah the king of Judah, and his princes, and the residue of Jerusalem, that remain in this land, and them that dwell in the land of Egypt:
9 And I will deliver them the evil figs; to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth for their hurt, to be a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse, in all places whither I shall drive them.
10 And I will send the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, among them, till they, the evil figs, be consumed from off the land that I gave unto them and to their fathers.
see Luk_3:9; Exo_32:10; Dan_4:14; Mat_3:10, Mat_7:19; Joh_15:2, Joh_15:6
why: Exo_32:10; Mat_3:9

 

[he-man]

I'm loyal to the land in which I live, and I do not think that my loyalty is idolatry...God Bless!

Galatians 1:6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, (7) which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. (8) But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.
Galatians 4:8 But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods. (9) But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? (10) You observe days and months, and times, and years. [As idolatry]

 

[NeedyFollower]

You fail to understand the deep meaning of the Bible. "Esau the wicked, will veil himself with his garment, and sit among the righteous in paradise, in the world to come; and the holy blessed God will draw him, and bring him out from thence, which is the sense of those words, Oba1:4. "Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the Lord."'' their own consciences will condemn them, their mouths will be gagged, and they will have nothing to say in vindication of themselves; their righteousness will not answer for them in a time to come. (l) T. Hieros. Nedarim, fol. 38. 1. [GILL]
Not having a wedding-garment (mē echōn enduma gamou). Mē is in the Koiné the usual negative with participles unless special emphasis on the negative is desired as in ouk endedumenon. There is a subtle distinction between mē and ou like our subjective and objective notions. [Robertson]
How couldest thou expect to meet with acceptance with me, or to be suitable company for my people, not being arrayed with the garments of salvation, and robe of righteousness, as they are? [GILL]
Mat 22:11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
Mat 22:12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was gagged.
Do you not know that God selects men to rule so that His Plan will soon be seen?
Dan 4:17 This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.
Galatians 1:6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, (7) which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. (8) But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.
Galatians 4:8 But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods. (9) But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? (10) You observe days and months, and times, and years.
Dan 4:14 He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches:
Mat 13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them up: but gather the wheat into my repository.
48 Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.
Are you familar with the parable of the fig tree?
Joh 15:6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned up.
Luk 13:7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?
Jer 24:6 For I will set mine eyes upon them [Israel] for good, and I will bring them again to this land: and I will build them, and not pull them down; and I will plant them, and not pluck them up. 8 And as the evil figs, which cannot be eaten, they are so evil; surely thus saith the LORD, So will I give Zedekiah the king of Judah, and his princes, and the residue of Jerusalem, that remain in this land, and them that dwell in the land of Egypt:
9 And I will deliver them the evil figs; to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth for their hurt, to be a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse, in all places whither I shall drive them.
10 And I will send the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, among them, till they, the evil figs, be consumed from off the land that I gave unto them and to their fathers.
see Luk_3:9; Exo_32:10; Dan_4:14; Mat_3:10, Mat_7:19; Joh_15:2, Joh_15:6
why: Exo_32:10; Mat_3:9

Thank your forbearing with me as I seek to understand. I try to not look into things which are too high for me. I suspect at times I either get ahead of God as Sarah did by promoting Hagar and thus I create my own " Ishmael" . Maybe reaching for things which are not given to me to do in my zeal ( maybe misplaced as I still feel like I am a baby )..if that makes sense. I do feel like a tree that needs pruning ..maybe dunging and digging. And our Father has been faithful to chastise me in ways that may seem harsh but was for my good.

My understanding which I perceive to be correct ( I am not a good theologian ) is that everything is about the Lord our God and His Christ. It is not about me , not about man . It is for man and is for me but not about me. This is my starting point. My salvation is not about me ..it is about God and according to His purposes. I do not feel comfortable with worship services but if I allow myself to think any knowledge or supposed knowledge I think I may have has any value, it only leads to self-righteousness and spiritual death. Spiritual pride is so difficult for me to see.
We may have come from different places but I am a wicked man who our Lord God had mercy on for reasons I can only attribute to His pity . I owe the Lord Jesus more than most and to whom much is given , much is required. I truly appreciate your response(s) and these are things I think on . I am profited by a challenge or a rebuke as I know flattery is death. It might be wise for me not to engage in too many of these forums at my level of spiritual growth because if I answer them to show how smart I am , it can lead to flattery or maybe I am seeking to be flattered . I believe the quote , The Heart is exceedingly wicked , who can know it and " There is a way that seems right unto man and that way leads to death . ( The quote from John 5:44 just came to my mind ) Do you understand where I am coming from ? I do greatly desire your prayers that I glorify God and His Lamb and despise myself ..That is my sincere prayer request.

 

[Honoluluwindow]

As Christians is it ok to kill our enemies ? Jesus told us to turn the other cheek, what if we are called to war or someone is trying to hurt our families?

We are commanded to impose the death penalty per God's covenant with Noah, an everlasting covenant.
Yes it would be theologically incorrect to impose the death penalty on the basis of the 613 (not just 10) laws of Moses because Messiah rendered that law inoperable but the Noahic Law is still in effect and therefore killing men for premeditated murder is perfectly doable including war on an unrighteous enemy.

Just what do you think Messiah is going to be doing at the second coming? Killing.

 

[MJFlores]

Killing in the name of Jesus Christ is totally wrong
Killing in self defense is justifiable
Killing for the sake of killing is murder and barbaric
Killing by authorities to enforce the law is in:

Romans 13:4 New International Version (NIV)

For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.

 

[he-man]

I suspect at times I either get ahead of God as Sarah did by promoting Hagar and thus I create my own " Ishmael" .

Gen 21:10 Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac. 12. ...in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.

It is not about me , not about man . it is about God and according to His purposes.

Ecc 3:17 I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.And what is the purpose of God? Isa 14:24 The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand: Eph 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: And the Eternal Purpose is to establish Jerusalem as the City of God when Christ returns to earth the second time and finds the "heavenly" Jerusalem, here on Earth.
Psa 132:13 For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation. Isa 2:3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. Isa 24:23 Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously.

Spiritual pride is so difficult for me to see. Heart is exceedingly wicked , who can know it and " There is a way that seems right unto man and that way leads to death . ( The quote from John 5:44.

Joh 5:44 How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only? Rom 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? Mat 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

I do greatly desire your prayers that I glorify God and His Lamb and despise myself ..That is my sincere prayer request.

God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob. [Proverbs 13:15 Good understanding gains favor,]
But the way of the unfaithful is hard. 'To make a bad witness in ignorance or weakness is one thing, but to know better and deliberately mislead is another matter altogether.' [John W. Ritenbaugh]
After spending 40 years in the wilderness only two made it out. Aaron and Moses. Because Moses murdered an Egyptian he was not allowed to enter the Promised Land. Deu 34:4 And the LORD said unto him, This is the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying, I will give it unto thy seed: I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not go over thither.

 

[NeedyFollower]

Thank you brother. At times I may get glimpses of truth ..I believe I saw that the bible as a whole serves prophecy . I believe Moses also failed to sanctify the Lord God in front of the children of Israel when he said " Must I bring forth water from this rock ." But even that served God's purpose ....maybe as a form of prophecy , it was not for Moses to take the children into the promise land nor more than the Law is able ...it was left to Joshua ..I believe his name can also be translated ..Yeshua ..do you see that might be pointing us to the Savior ? The Law came by Moses but grace and truth by Jesus Christ .

 

[he-man]

But that said would I fight Isis in the name of my country? If Christ himself asked me then yes I'm all in.
My great grandfather died in the trenches of ww1 to protect me, am I to think he is going to hell?
This would disturb me incredibly.
In fact I would renounce Christianity at once if I thought any of my family were not invited to heaven to be alongside me.

Sorry, to disturb you but you will not find your grandfather or your family there because not even David has yet gone to heaven. Act 2:34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, 35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool. John 3:13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
1. The Early Christian View of War and Military Service
G.C. Macgregor (The New Testament Basis of Pacifism) points out that ‘until about the close of the third quarter of the second century the attitude of the church was quite consistently pacifist.’ Harnack’s conclusion is that no Christian would become a soldier after baptism at least up to the time of Marcus Aurelius, say about A.D. 170 (Militia Christi, p.4). After that time signs of compromise became increasingly evident, but the pacifist trend continues strong right up into the fourth century."
"For many years many Christian regarded services in the army as inconsistent with their profession. Some held that for them all bloodshed, whether as soldiers or executioners, was unlawful."
"The Didaskalia forbids the acceptance of money for the church ‘from soldiers who behave unrighteously or from those who kill men or from executioners or from any (of the) magistrates of the Roman Empire who are polluted in wars and have shed innocent blood without judgment,’ etc."
2. THE TESTAMENT OF OUR LORD
It will be observed that...’The Testament of Our Lord’ is consistently rigorous in refusing baptism to soldiers and magistrates except on condition of their quitting their offices, and forbidding a Christian to become a soldier on pain of rejection (from the Church):
But if they wish to be baptized in the Lord, let them cease from military service or from the post of authority, and if not let them not be received. Let a catechumen or a believer of the people, if he desire to be a soldier, either cease from his intention, or if not let him be rejected. For he hath despised God by his thought, and leaving the things of the Spirit, he hath perfected himself in the flesh, and hath treated the faith with contempt."

 

[RDKirk]

As Christians is it ok to kill our enemies ? Jesus told us to turn the other cheek, what if we are called to war or someone is trying to hurt our families?

"As Christians," who are "our enemies?"

Scripture has the explicit answer to that question:

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Oh, you meant the enemies of some particular earthly king, right?

So there are Christians in Iran, and Iran's enemy is the US. And there are Christians in North Korea, and North Korea's enemy is the US. Are you asking if it's okay for Christians in Iran and North Korea to kill Christians in America?

 

[RDKirk]

Yet Exodus 22:18 contradicts that. "Murder" is clearly a different concept than the justifiable taking of a life. Just like it is in our present legal system. Otherwise why is King David held in such high regard after killing hundreds on the battlefield?

I don't know about that. The commandment not to murder was part of a Mosaic Law that defined what killing was sanctioned by that same law. All non-sanctioned homicide was either accidental (and there were regulations for the consequences of accidental homicide) or murder.

Even capital punishment was surrounded by explicit rules of evidence, penalties for perjury, and rules of equality under the law. Capital punishment that was not carried out under those rules was also murder (as noted by God through the pre-Captivity prophets).

The Old Testament is not a valid authority for any homicide not in accordance with its regulations.

 

[he-man]

Thank you brother. At times I may get glimpses of truth ..I believe I saw that the bible as a whole serves prophecy . I believe Moses also failed to sanctify the Lord God in front of the children of Israel when he said " Must I bring forth water from this rock ." But even that served God's purpose ....maybe as a form of prophecy , it was not for Moses to take the children into the promise land nor more than the Law is able ...it was left to Joshua ..I believe his name can also be translated ..Yeshua ..do you see that might be pointing us to the Savior ? The Law came by Moses but grace and truth by Jesus Christ .

Rev 15:3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. Isa 51:11 Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away. Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Psa 118:8 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. 22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. 23 This is the LORD'S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.
Mat 21:42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
Eph 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
1Pe 2:6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on Him shall not be confounded.

 

[he-man]

"As Christians," who are "our enemies?"

Scripture has the explicit answer to that question:

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Oh, you meant the enemies of some particular earthly king, right?

So there are Christians in Iran, and Iran's enemy is the US. And there are Christians in North Korea, and North Korea's enemy is the US. Are you asking if it's okay for Christians in Iran and North Korea to kill Christians in America?

THE TESTAMENT OF OUR LORD
It will be observed that...’The Testament of Our Lord’ is consistently rigorous in refusing baptism to soldiers and magistrates except on condition of their quitting their offices, and forbidding a Christian to become a soldier on pain of rejection (from the Church):
But if they wish to be baptized in the Lord, let them cease from military service or from the post of authority, and if not let them not be received. Let a catechumen or a believer of the people, if he desire to be a soldier, either cease from his intention, or if not let him be rejected. For he hath despised God by his thought, and leaving the things of the Spirit, he hath perfected himself in the flesh, and hath treated the faith with contempt."

 

[Pale Blue Veil]

You are confusing what you might do in a civil society, with what you might do in an uncivil society. Jesus and the apostles all lived in the days of Pax Romana, i.e. times of peace guaranteed by numerous legions of Roman soldiers stationed at the frontiers of the empire. Not once did Jesus or the apostles ever condemn a soldier for being a soldier. So being a soldier in not de facto against Christianity.

Fast forward to the days of Charles Martel at the Battle of Tours 732AD. If he and his soldiers had not massacred the muslims armies, you would not be a Christian, for the whole world would be muslim. So I cannot agree with you. As per Ecclesiastes 3:8, "there is a time for war and a time for peace."

I am not confusing anything. The choice stands regardless of civil / uncivil, both of which are irrelevant to the point.

I am not saying Jesus is against soldiers at all. I am saying that such a path, if chosen is treacherous. Jesus said why it is treacherous, because we risk uprooting the good with the evil.

Jesus speaks of the spirit of humanity. War is one of those things that can destroy our spirit. As a veteran myself who has worked with other vets PTSD I can see that risk is very real. Destroying our spirit will uproot our own selves not to mention others whom we may face in combat. To ignore this for political justification misses the point of Jesus' teachings in the first place.

To leap to the conclusion that if our ancestors didn't fight against Islamic invasions, then we would be muslims today is an assertion that needs more evidence to prove it. I reject that conclusion. It is a clear lack of faith.

I trust in God's judgement. I do not put anything before him. Therefore whatever happens God has allowed it. We don't know what would have happened if this, then that in any form of reading the entrails of history to divine the future. Historians through cliches would have us believe otherwise.

So, it is a life choice to enter into war. It is treacherous and dangerous for all who are involved on both the physical/political realm and the spiritual realm. Therefore, if you choose this path you should be guarded and ready for what may happen. Your spirit depends upon it. To deny this is to ignore the facts of damage and suffering that war has always caused. It is a practical and realist view to approaching that life choice.

 

[he-man]

I am not confusing anything. The choice stands regardless of civil / uncivil, both of which are irrelevant to the point.

I am not saying Jesus is against soldiers at all. I am saying that such a path, if chosen is treacherous. Jesus said why it is treacherous, because we risk uprooting the good with the evil.

Jesus speaks of the spirit of humanity. War is one of those things that can destroy our spirit. As a veteran myself who has worked with other vets PTSD I can see that risk is very real. Destroying our spirit will uproot our own selves not to mention others whom we may face in combat. To ignore this for political justification misses the point of Jesus' teachings in the first place.

To leap to the conclusion that if our ancestors didn't fight against Islamic invasions, then we would be muslims today is an assertion that needs more evidence to prove it. I reject that conclusion. It is a clear lack of faith.

I trust in God's judgement. I do not put anything before him. Therefore whatever happens God has allowed it. We don't know what would have happened if this, then that in any form of reading the entrails of history to divine the future. Historians through cliches would have us believe otherwise.

So, it is a life choice to enter into war. It is treacherous and dangerous for all who are involved on both the physical/political realm and the spiritual realm. Therefore, if you choose this path you should be guarded and ready for what may happen. Your spirit depends upon it. To deny this is to ignore the facts of damage and suffering that war has always caused. It is a practical and realist view to approaching that life choice.

Amen, but Harnack’s conclusion is that no Christian would become a soldier after baptism at least up to the time of Marcus Aurelius, say about A.D. 170 (Militia Christi, p.4). After that time signs of compromise became increasingly evident, but the pacifist trend continues strong right up into the fourth century."
THE EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH CONSCIENTIOUSLY OPPOSED TO MILITARY SERVICE

 

[SolomonVII]

If you want to destroy ISIS people are going to die.
Otherwise leave them alone, and lock our gates to keep that disease from spreading.
There must be fifty ways to kill your enemy, and none of them are without blood, guts and gore.

 

[2 know him]

As Christians is it ok to kill our enemies ? Jesus told us to turn the other cheek, what if we are called to war or someone is trying to hurt our families?

That depends as to what kind of Christian you are: is Jesus you Lord, or do you follow the bible: which includes Paul? Paul says it is okay, but Jesus absolutely forbids such actions: as he states what measure you mete it will be measured to you... Do you want God's grace mercy compassion and forgiveness? Then you better show it to others. Christ didn't fight those who killed him in self-defence and he is our example... The only way to rid the world of evil is by stopping it within yourself: as that is all you can control. Follow Jesus, read and obey his words and take his advice, not peoples advice from here.

 

[RDKirk]

That depends as to what kind of Christian you are: is Jesus you Lord, or do you follow the bible: which includes Paul? Paul says it is okay,

When did Paul say it was okay?

Paul said: "We do not wrestle with not flesh and blood..." He also said, "Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good."

All Paul said about earthly government was, "Pay the taxes, honor the officials, obey the laws..." which Jesus Himself did.

 

[2 know him]

When did Paul say it was okay?

Paul said: "We do not wrestle with not flesh and blood..." He also said, "Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good."

All Paul said about earthly government was, "Pay the taxes, honor the officials, obey the laws..." which Jesus Himself did.

You ask a question and then answer it with your own response. It appears you are more interested in defending Paul and your faith in him then you are hearing my answer.

 

[RDKirk]

You ask a question and then answer it with your own response. It appears you are more interested in defending Paul and your faith in him then you are hearing my answer.

I did not bring up an issue of Paul saying anything different from Jesus. You made that assertion out of nothing apropos to the topic--without providing any substance to your assertion.

You asserted that Paul said it was "okay" to kill our enemies in the name of Jesus (which is the topic), so you defend your own assertion.