I loved this one so much that I actually quoted the entire piece in my article from this morning (which still needs revision), but can be read over at What Would Charles Martel Do? (the link for which I wouldn't work in here for some reason) in its current form.
I'm REALLY angry about the murdered Priests as well as the statements being made that our freedoms need to be curtailed to appease muslims.
Thursday, February 23, 2006 11:00:00 pm
Anonymous said...
As a general rule, I'm all for people defending themselves when other people are trying to kill them.
With Christians responding to persecution (which is really what this is), how should the response be informed by what Jesus said to Pilate about His arrest?
The relevant text is in John 18:36, "Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence."
So, what is the Biblical response when a crowd of angry Muslims gathers outside your house and announces that they want to kill you?
That is confusing, isn't it Uncle Pavian? I've pondered that question, and it fills me with fear and trembling, to be honest.
Our relationship with God is sometimes a struggle to come to understand His meaning and Will.
I guess the question we need to answer is do we want to let the Muslims take away all we have worked so hard to build? Do we want to let them deny our children and grandchildren a life? Do we want to allow them to create a world where no one will ever hear of Christ again?
An angry mob of muslims demonstrating outside of my house would be free to rant all day without concern of reprisal by myself or my husband. I believe in freedom of speech. I would be scared, but while their threats would intimidate ... "sticks and stones".
If, however, one or two (or more) of those angry muslims stormed my front door, I would interpret their actions as an intent to harm or kill my family members, and therefore I would not hesitate to blast large holes through their skeevy little heads/hearts ... acting as decsively as my abilities would allow in order to neutralize that threat. "... over my dead body!"
I believe that with regard to our own lives, Christians are to remain passive. But with regard to the lives of others, we are to defend the helpless, and protect those under attack. (BTW - regardless of religion, or color of skin, gender, marital status, or age.) Christians value life ...e even above freedom of speech, the right to bear arms, Roe vs. Wade and democratic elections.
That being said ...
Without so much as batting a long luscious eyelash I would attempt to kill anyone (man, woman, child, or beast) if I thought the lives of my husband, or children were threatened. I would hope that I would not hesitate a moment.
Yet, I would pray for grace to suffer and die with a Christlike testimony if the same threat would come against myself.
With the heart of a lion I would defend others. As a sheep to the slaughter would I defend myself.
This is the same principle I teach my children: Be wise and avoid conflict when you can — so you do not end up suffering for being a fool (which usually means an inability to keep your big mouth shut when you should). If wisdom fails you, and no amount of maneuvering will keep you from the aggressors, then entrust your soul to Him who judges righteously (given you are being persecuted for Christ). If, however, you come upon others who are being attacked, then use every means available to defend the defenseless, and do so to your death!
Does Jesus act differently ... the Lord of Hosts? His wisdom avoided conflict many times. When, however, his hour had come, he was arrested, tortured, and finally executed ... as a lamb to the slaughter. Yet, He will bring justice to those who harm His lambs.
He is the Lamb of God. He is the Lion of Judah. His name is Jesus ... and there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved!
I find myself looking rather to Matthew 7:15-23. Jesus was decidedly not as peaceful regarding those who would claim to know the will of God, or of false prophets.
Having watched with sadness and dismay the recent development in some States in the Northern part of this Country where many Christian Churches and other property have been wantonly destroyed by some Islamic fundamentalists, the Christian Association of Nigeria is compelled to issue the following statements:
From all indications, it is very clear now that the sacrifices of the Christians in this country for peaceful co-existence with people of other faiths has been sadly misunderstood to be weakness.
We have for a long time now watched helplessly the killing, maiming and destruction of Christians and their property by Muslim fanatics and fundamentalists at the slightest or no provocation at all. We are not unaware of the fact that these religious extremists have the full backup and support of some influential Muslims who are yet to appreciate the value of peaceful co-existence.
That an incident in far away Denmark which does not claim to be representing Christianity could elicit such an unfortunate reaction here in Nigeria, leading to the destruction of Christian Churches, is not only embarrassing, but also disturbing and unfortunate. (Pastorius note: Wow, that's a sublime understatement.)
It is no longer a hidden fact that a long standing agenda to make this Nigeria an Islamic nation is being surreptitiously pursued. The willingness of Muslim Youth to descend with violence on the innocent Christians from time to time is from all intents and purposes a design to actualize their dream.
It is sad to note that all acts of hostility meted against Christians by Muslims in the past have remained unaddressed with nobody paying compensations or the culprits brought to justice. We do appreciate the fact that at this stage of our national development, peace is absolutely necessary for realizing our dreams and aspirations. It is in view of this that Christians in Nigeria agreed to participate in the forthcoming National Census as sacrifice for the peace and progress of this nation, in spite of our protest over the non-inclusion of Religion and Ethnicity as necessary demographic data.
May we at this stage remind our Muslim brothers that they do not have the monopoly of violence in this nation. Nigeria belongs to all of us – Christians, Muslims and members of other faiths. No amount of intimidation can change this time-honoured arrangement in this nation. C.A.N. may no longer be able to contain our restive youths should this ugly trend continue.
We now demand that further destruction of Christian Churches and property in this nation be permanently put to an end.
All levels of Government in this country should take adequate steps to protect the lives and property of Christians everywhere in this land as no further destructions will be tolerated or ignored.
The Federal Government and those States where Christian Churches have been destroyed are hereby urged to take urgent steps at rebuilding those structures and paying adequate compensation while assuring Christians of adequate protection in this country. These governments should now show in practical terms that Nigeria belongs to all of us by going beyond mere promises of rebuilding destroyed Churches and property as in the past to actual reconstruction, which will help the victims to quickly put this unfortunate incident behind them. A stitch in time saves nine.
Signed
Most Revd. Peter J. Akinola (CON, DD.) President, Christian Association of Nigeria
9 Comments
Close this window Jump to comment formLet me know when ABC, NBC, CBS, and CNN pick it up
Thursday, February 23, 2006 6:16:00 pm
Wow, I wish a lot more countries would come out and just put it point blank like that.
Thursday, February 23, 2006 6:25:00 pm
I wish Bush would hang out with him, he might learn something.
epaminondas, nice pic, geo orwell, no?
Thursday, February 23, 2006 7:02:00 pm
yes, ex communists who wake up and smell the coffee are always wondrous.
Almost as much as democrats like myself
Thursday, February 23, 2006 7:22:00 pm
I loved this one so much that I actually quoted the entire piece in my article from this morning (which still needs revision), but can be read over at What Would Charles Martel Do? (the link for which I wouldn't work in here for some reason)
in its current form.
I'm REALLY angry about the murdered Priests as well as the statements being made that our freedoms need to be curtailed to appease muslims.
Thursday, February 23, 2006 11:00:00 pm
As a general rule, I'm all for people defending themselves when other people are trying to kill them.
With Christians responding to persecution (which is really what this is), how should the response be informed by what Jesus said to Pilate about His arrest?
The relevant text is in John 18:36, "Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence."
So, what is the Biblical response when a crowd of angry Muslims gathers outside your house and announces that they want to kill you?
Damfino.
Friday, February 24, 2006 12:57:00 am
That is confusing, isn't it Uncle Pavian? I've pondered that question, and it fills me with fear and trembling, to be honest.
Our relationship with God is sometimes a struggle to come to understand His meaning and Will.
I guess the question we need to answer is do we want to let the Muslims take away all we have worked so hard to build? Do we want to let them deny our children and grandchildren a life? Do we want to allow them to create a world where no one will ever hear of Christ again?
Friday, February 24, 2006 3:02:00 am
Uncle Pavion,
An angry mob of muslims demonstrating outside of my house would be free to rant all day without concern of reprisal by myself or my husband. I believe in freedom of speech. I would be scared, but while their threats would intimidate ... "sticks and stones".
If, however, one or two (or more) of those angry muslims stormed my front door, I would interpret their actions as an intent to harm or kill my family members, and therefore I would not hesitate to blast large holes through their skeevy little heads/hearts ... acting as decsively as my abilities would allow in order to neutralize that threat. "... over my dead body!"
I believe that with regard to our own lives, Christians are to remain passive. But with regard to the lives of others, we are to defend the helpless, and protect those under attack. (BTW - regardless of religion, or color of skin, gender, marital status, or age.) Christians value life ...e even above freedom of speech, the right to bear arms, Roe vs. Wade and democratic elections.
That being said ...
Without so much as batting a long luscious eyelash I would attempt to kill anyone (man, woman, child, or beast) if I thought the lives of my husband, or children were threatened. I would hope that I would not hesitate a moment.
Yet, I would pray for grace to suffer and die with a Christlike testimony if the same threat would come against myself.
With the heart of a lion I would defend others.
As a sheep to the slaughter would I defend myself.
This is the same principle I teach my children: Be wise and avoid conflict when you can — so you do not end up suffering for being a fool (which usually means an inability to keep your big mouth shut when you should). If wisdom fails you, and no amount of maneuvering will keep you from the aggressors, then entrust your soul to Him who judges righteously (given you are being persecuted for Christ). If, however, you come upon others who are being attacked, then use every means available to defend the defenseless, and do so to your death!
Does Jesus act differently ... the Lord of Hosts? His wisdom avoided conflict many times. When, however, his hour had come, he was arrested, tortured, and finally executed ... as a lamb to the slaughter. Yet, He will bring justice to those who harm His lambs.
He is the Lamb of God.
He is the Lion of Judah.
His name is Jesus ... and there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved!
Lots Tusej
Friday, February 24, 2006 2:12:00 pm
I find myself looking rather to Matthew 7:15-23. Jesus was decidedly not as peaceful regarding those who would claim to know the will of God, or of false prophets.
Friday, February 24, 2006 4:24:00 pm