It is wonderful to say that we only need to stand back and pray, as a matter of fact this is the easy route. I would gratefully only stand back and pray. However, I do not believe this is always the correct the thing to do. Yes, Jesus dealt with absolute evil by giving up his life and resurrecting, but this act subverted evil. Giving up my life will not always subvert evil; when it will, put my head on the chopping block.
The question I ask is when do Christians have the liberty in joining with the State to stop or at least hinder radical evil? Do Christians have the liberty to join with the State to stop and even kill a force for radical evil such as Hitler? I would argue that Christians do have this liberty. I do not think it is our responsibility to be completely separate from the State. Our allegiance is first to God but we do have the liberty of being citizens of States, as Paul was a citizen of Rome. If Christians do not have the liberty to join with the State to stop or slow evil how far is this to be taken? If it is not permissible for Christians to join the State militarilly it would not be permissible for them to join the State civilly either. No Christian would have the liberty to be a police officer, if they did not have the liberty to be an army officer. For both police and army officers at times are called to end the lives of others for the greater good. If we were to carry this to its end, we as Christians would not have the liberty to pay taxes to the State (which Christ allows) for the state will use our resources for hiring these officers. How can one be a citizen of a State and not have the liberty to be a part of that state?
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3 comments:
"Giving up my life will not always subvert evil; when it will, put my head on the chopping block" I don't remember Jesus saying "love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" when it is effective. If anyone was in a place to sanction violence it would have been Jesus. The Jews were trying to overthrow the Roman oppressors who were killing them and refusing to give them their God-given country. This was God's chosen people, and the land that He had promised them, and yet Jesus told His countrymen to pray for the enemy. If there was ever a just war, I think it would have been the right of God's people to fight for the land He gave them.
I don't understand why the way of life Jesus has given us to live, with all it's enemy love, is not enough. If Jesus found it to be enough, and it was Jesus' way, why shouldn't it be our way?
I don't believe in non-violence because it is always the most effective strategy, I believe in non-violence because it is what Jesus modeled for us, and then sanctioned us to live in. He is the Prince of Peace and He demonstrated it for His followers. Caesar claimed to be the Prince of Peace, and like the rulers of the rest of the world, he brought "peace" through the sword.
I am amazed at how quickly you concede that the ultimate power to deal with evil is not found in Christ, but in the State.
I really am dumbfounded at how, apparently, you believe that Christ and the power of God are inadequate when it comes to dealing with radical evil, like Hitler.
If Christ holds the power to conquer death and evil, then why would we want the "liberty" to align ourselves with a the fallen State in order to deal with another fallen State, especially in ways that contradict clear statements from Christ about our enemies?
One last comment and I'll wait for a reply or two. I believe that Paul didn't think that prayer was the easy way to deal with evil. As you well know, Paul lived in a time that was not easy for Christians and for Jews. For the Jews there was persecution from Rome, and for the Christians there was persecution from Rome and from the Jewish authorities, not to mention anyone else who was offended at the Gospel, and Paul's solution was prayer and arming ourselves in the Spirit. He told the Ephesian Christians to "be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His power... for our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in heavenly places."
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