David Kuo has been walking with Jesus for more than 20 years, during which time he has served as special assistant to the president in George W. Bush’s White House, policy director for Sen. John Ashcroft, and speechwriter for a gaggle of conservatives (plus a few liberals here and there). He is the author of “Tempting Faith,” a book about God and politics, and is currently the Washington editor for Beliefnet.com. He is in love with his wife Kim and three other females named Laura, Rachel, and Olivia, conveniently also known as his daughters. He is a member of the Association of Professional Bass Fishermen.
J-Walking welcomes your emails. You can contact David Kuo at davidkuo@beliefnetstaff.com
posted September 23, 2007 at 8:12 am
Apropos of the message in David’s post, here is a bit from my favorite Christian tract, from the 17th century (which I may have posted before! if so, sorry!):
Ye are called to peace, therefore follow it; that peace is in Christ, not in Adam in the fall. All that pretend to fight for Christ are deceived; for his kingdom is not of this world, therefore his servants do not fight. Fighters are not of Christ’s kingdom, but are without Christ’s kingdom: for his kingdom stands in peace and righteousness, but fighters are in the lust: and all that would destroy men’s lives are not of Christ’s mind, who came to save men’s lives. Christ’s kingdom is not of this world; it is peaceable: and all that are in strife are not of his kingdom. All that pretend to fight for the gospel are deceived; for the gospel is the power of God, which was before the devil or fall of man was: and the gospel of peace was before fighting was. Therefore they that pretend fighting, and talk of fighting so, are ignorant of the gospel. All that talk of fighting for Sion are in darkness: Sion needs no such helpers.
~George Fox
posted September 23, 2007 at 7:56 pm
Great quote above!!
Looking at what Walter Wink calls – “the third way of Jesus” has been a way of abandoning the ‘fight or flight’ ways of living my faith. Everytime I run into a Christian who believes we must fight for the Gospel, I recall Wink. Amazing old guy and I recommend two of his books. “the Third Way” and “Embraced by the Powers”.
posted September 24, 2007 at 8:42 am
But certainly we “Christians” are not to be victims for just any reason or no reason or all. Jesus of course spoke may times about the kinds of people we should avoid, but He also spoke about defending yourself from those you cannot.
In Luke (22) Jesus advises His disciples to arm themselves for defensive reasons:
35 Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you out to preach the Good News and you did not have money, a traveler’s bag, or extra clothing, did you need anything?”
“No,” they replied.
36 “But now,” he said, “take your money and a traveler’s bag. And if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one! 37 For the time has come for this prophecy about me to be fulfilled: ‘He was counted among the rebels.’ Yes, everything written about me by the prophets will come true.”
38 “Look, Lord,” they replied, “we have two swords among us.”
“That’s enough,” he said.
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There are people that will harm us just because they want to rob us. And there are even worse people that want to harm us by poisonous doctrine and cunning and clever lies. Especially those lies that look like they are coming from people that claim to be Christians. Jesus warned us of these kinds of people often.
A good way to see both political parties in America. But notice that the GOP allows for individual freedom to defend yourself from both physical attackers and spiritual attackers. The Democrats deny the (real) Christians both.
posted September 24, 2007 at 9:36 am
Donny, but the point of the tract Skipchurch cited, and it makes good sense to me, is when you arm yourself you’re defending yourself, not Him, or you’re fighting for your own power rather than His kingdom. The creator doesn’t need to be defended from creatures unless your scripture is Jules Verne.
Skipchurch, what kind of socialist bidding?
posted September 24, 2007 at 12:20 pm
The really bad stuff…like feeding the hungry, caring for the sick, educating children, and trampling on Sacred Corporate Rights in the name of justice and equality.
You know, in our great country people are free to be selfish, cruel, heartless, bigoted militaristic jacka***s. I just wish they wouldn’t wrap themselves in the cloak of Jesus of Nazareth and piously claim to be the(real) Christians.
It’s distasteful, unattractive, and false.
posted September 24, 2007 at 1:10 pm
The Bible teaches that in the end times there will be those who come and teach a false doctrine. This false doctrine will seduce even the faithful away from the true message of the Gospel.
I believe a strong case can be made that the current iteration of politicially active evangelicalism is this false doctrine, and that the lust for power that these folks have given themselves over to may well be the great falling away described in II Thessalonians 2.
posted September 24, 2007 at 1:11 pm
Oh, that kind.
I was afraid you were going to make me read Oprah’s book of the month.
posted September 24, 2007 at 3:23 pm
For Donny, the story of George Fox and William Penn’s sword, and Luke 22-
http://www.qhpress.org/quakerpages/qwhp/pennswor.htm
The origins and orginal statements of the Quaker peace testimony-
http://www.quakerinfo.com/quak_pce.shtml
John 18:10-11
Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.
Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?
Isaiah 42:1-2
Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.
He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.
It takes a long education in prayer and humility to arrive at the inner serenity and conviction of spiritual reality all these things speak of and witness to. Many who preach have none of these qualities.