tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9112439593032667008.post6119349172696300383..comments2023-04-22T12:31:37.714-07:00Comments on Blogging the Bible: January 20Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15063678082377147197noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9112439593032667008.post-40450358993297158402010-01-21T04:06:36.954-08:002010-01-21T04:06:36.954-08:00Becky,
I think you are right on about the comment...Becky,<br /><br />I think you are right on about the comments about people and places we don't know very well. I've learned over time to let a lot of those comments go and not let them bother me, b/c, as you said, I don't think they really mean it.<br /><br />I was thinking more about personal defense. I really do believe that Christ-like love is a radical, self-sacrificial love, but my new understanding of the sermon on the mount makes me think that there are some things we can never do except by His Spirit. I'm like you: I would go down swinging, if left up to me. So if you ever read in the paper about me getting killed while turning the other cheek, you can know that that was ALL God:).Kimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15063678082377147197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9112439593032667008.post-68442374427654679712010-01-20T20:10:06.786-08:002010-01-20T20:10:06.786-08:00I am torn as well about how our rights as citizens...I am torn as well about how our rights as citizens of this country and our responsibilities as Christians jive. As far as personal defense from physical violence, my inclination would be to protect myself at all costs (though if they are just stealing something and not actually trying to hurt me, that might be different), but I can see where that gets fuzzy when trying to turn the other cheek. I don't know. I do know that I get really annoyed with people who, for instance, make a big stink at the fast food restaurant when the underpaid workers get their order wrong. Sure, we have the <i>right</i> to complain, but is it worth ruining the workers' day (and, if they know we are Christians, ruining our witness) just to get a big mac without special sauce? (Okay, yes, I know there are ways to ask for these things nicely, but more often than not people get all huffy about it.) I wouldn't fault someone for pulling out a gun when someone attacks them. It's the stupid, little things that get to me. Those situations are easier to judge. (Though I probably shouldn't be judging anyway.)<br /><br />I know it sounds like a cop out to relegate things we don't understand to the spiritual world, and sometimes it is. But, I still say that even when we do things for the Kingdom in this physical world, we are acting according to the Spirit. (Really, though, everything we do has spiritual ramifications whether we realize it or not.) I guess that's the same thing you said, but in reverse.<br /><br />As for people who want to nuke Iran (or whatever other stuff like that), I would want to know what their motivation is. Are they just angry, or are they legitimately concerned for their safety or the safety of others? I agree that it seems hypocritical to claim spiritual peace on one hand while lashing out in anger on the other. Most of the time, I think people just don't realize what they are saying. It is easy to say "bad" things about places and people we don't know personally. It amazes me some of the really awful things people say about celebrities. Some of it is downright mean, but the people talking think it's okay just because the people are celebrities, like they don't count as actual people. (This is just another example of something that we think is okay in our culture, even in our Christian culture, that I think is really NOT okay.)<br /><br />Anyway, yeah, it's hard to let go of things we feel are our rights. Unfortunately, many of those things are things that, as Christians, we really shouldn't be doing.<br /><br />(Sorry, this is probably way off topic from the original passages for today.) :)beksterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15724637942561747185noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9112439593032667008.post-33268510698321284472010-01-20T15:18:04.450-08:002010-01-20T15:18:04.450-08:00Mom--I love Joseph, too! Finally, a character we ...Mom--I love Joseph, too! Finally, a character we can all love!:) I love you, too!<br /><br />Becky--We are on very close to the same page when it comes to our beliefs in the use of force. I am kind of torn: on one hand, I find the idea that we as Christians do NOT wage war like the world does to be extremely compelling. (2 Cor. 10: 3-4--"For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.") But I also find the argument (made by CS Lewis and others) that we have no right to turn OTHER people's cheeks to be equally compelling. So...I am not a pacifist. <br /><br />But it is easy to argue for violence on the national level. Even in relegating "turning the other cheek" to the personal level, how does that play out for a Christian? For example, do you shoot the robber (or beat him with a tennis racket b/c you don't have a gun in the house) or do you share Christ with him? We are always taught that we have the "right" to defend ourselves, but as citizens of the Kingdom, do we? <br /><br />Also, and this is probably a matter of semantics, but I wouldn't necessarily call the current Kingdom purely spiritual. When we do acts of love as a result of our citizenship, we bring it into the realm of the physical. Plus(and I know that you aren't doing this), my concern is that when we call something "spiritual," we divorce it from all "practical" matters. And we end up saying that we have peace in our heart while simultaneously wishing that the U.S. would just nuke Iran. Things like that:).Kimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15063678082377147197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9112439593032667008.post-54738867927964835762010-01-20T14:36:59.645-08:002010-01-20T14:36:59.645-08:00I always love the Joseph story. I can totally rel...I always love the Joseph story. I can totally relate to the idea of things culminating into something that makes sense. I'm glad you brought up the fact that Joseph needed time to think about what to do with his brothers. I just thought he was getting back at them, but I like your idea better.<br /><br />As for the Kingdom of God stuff, I have certainly not studied it as extensively as you have, but, basically, I think that the Kingdom is a spiritual thing and not so much a physical, literal "peace on earth" kind of thing, so the timing doesn't matter to me. I agree that it is "already, but not yet," and the "already" part is spiritual. It doesn't change how I act. Jesus said to love God and to love our neighbor. Different people have different ideas of the best way to go about "loving," and I think that's okay. I am not a pacifist, but I am certainly not a warmonger either. If it takes force to protect someone who needs to be protected, then so be it. I wholeheartedly believe that there will NEVER be political peace on this physical earth. However, people can have spiritual peace in their hearts despite living through a physical war. Paul advised us to live at peace with everyone as much as it is possible with us (Romans 12), but I think that is on a personal, not national, level. I think this is true of "turn[ing] the other cheek" too. If someone wrongs me personally, I should not get back at them for it. However, I think it would be irresponsible for the leader of a country to allow another country to invade without even trying to defend the borders. Yes, the people in the country could pray for God to save them, but who's to say that God doesn't work through national leaders and military might? Anyway, to me, the stuff going on on this earth is not what's important (at least I <i>try</i> to have that view). It is the spiritual stuff that's important, and only God knows about that. We can only ask for His guidance and trust that He'll stear us right. We don't have to understand His timing. It is enough to know that <i>He</i> knows. (Though, like I said, I have not studied this stuff very much, so maybe I'm wrong. These are just my opinions.)<br /><br />I think it is interesting when Solomon talks about his father because we know who his father was. It's like, "Oh yeah, he's talking about David! I know that guy..." It is always neat to see children taking after their parents.beksterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15724637942561747185noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9112439593032667008.post-44202363902540760852010-01-20T14:27:39.868-08:002010-01-20T14:27:39.868-08:00Wow! Thanks for all that, Kim. It was fascinatin...Wow! Thanks for all that, Kim. It was fascinating study. Joseph is my favorite Bible character. After reading today's account, I had to jump ahead through day 24! Like I didn't have a clue how the story would end! Like I hadn't read it many many many times and even held Bible studies on it! It just does that to me. It is so personal! I love personal. Love you!Gagahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09747145949566817043noreply@blogger.com