Friday, August 20, 2004

This way leads the Inquisition

The Christian Guide to Small Arms Online starts off with the following statement:
The Christian's Guide to Small Arms was developed in response to the fact that most American Christians have fallen into ignorance concerning the responsibilities and skills required of the Christian freeman.

CGSA is not intended to be THE definitive source on this subject, but rather a primer for the Christian who is beginning to reject the false theology that requires him to be a pacifistic patsy in the face of heathen hordes.
But it's just too much crap for me. Here's what somescriptures have to say.

Proverbs 25
20 Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar poured on soda, is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
22 In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.

Matthew 5
38 "You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' 39 But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.

Matthew 5
43
"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

Matthew 25
41 "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'
44 "They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'
45 "He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'
46 "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

Romans 12
19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. 20 On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.


Now, to be fair, the site does include an Apologetics section where they detail their argument using scriptures, notably Luke 22:35-38 and Proverbs 25:26.

While the ability to find scriptures for every position make the Bible an annoying source document, one of the reasons I reject their argument is the manner of their argument. They belittle those who think differently, calling them a "pacifistic patsy" and them demonizing the enemy who needs to be crushed as a "heathen hoard." This language is inflamatory and does not serve the spirit behind any of the above scriptures, even where the argument for armaments may be valid.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

My favorite is:
Matthew 5
38 "You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' 39 But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.

Keep in mind one only has two cheeks (arguably four)... and after the second mile, all bets are OFF.
I wager we can find more than a few Old Testament verses celebrating how God or his people took up not only small arms, but big ones too. There are few old-school ass-kickings like those in the Old Testament. In fact, I think the taunt "I'll hit you so hard your mamma will feel it" is found in the third chapter of Leviticus... just after the part about "demonizing the enemy who needs to be crushed as a "heathen hoard."

Word to your mother,
Paul Davidson