Saturday, August 13, 2011

I love my enemy enough to kill him before he can sin again

David Murray filmed a brief video clip discussing the question: Was Christianity responsible for the crusades? I think David had an OK response given that he was trying to deal with an issue that, while unfortunately inextricably linked with Christianity, really had nothing to do with the church founded by Christ. He didn't like his answer so he had a couple of other people add updates to help flesh it out. The worst update was the second one, from PCA pastor James Hakim. Here is the most troubling paragraph. Try reading this in light of what Christ taught:
Yes, Christianity certainly teaches me to turn the other cheek when it is only my life or property that is at stake. But it also teaches me to love my brother and to love my neighbor, even unto the laying down of my life. And, sometimes, if it is the last option available to me in defense of brother and neighbor, loving my enemy will mean taking his life to prevent him from the bloodguilt of yet another murder at the judgment.
There is so much tragically wrong with that.

A) Jesus doesn't add a qualifier to turn the other cheek by adding "only if it is my life or property that is at stake" It is not stated or implied in what He said.

B) Certainly loving my brother and neighbor presupposes that I may be called to lay down my life for them. But...and this is a huge "but" that doesn't not translate to a willingness to kill for them, especially when more often than not when you cut through the hypothetical situations people always throw at this issue to excuse our disobedience you find that Christians throughout history rarely kill in self-defense or in the defense of their family and typically are killing others based on the command of a nation and for her self-interest.

C) The idea that neighbor loves means a willingness to kill someone else to both save the life of my neighbnor and to prevent a sinner from committing another sin is outrageous. Based on that stance, we ought to advocate in the name of Christ nuking the unreached people groups around the world before they have the chance to sin again. Some who have commented here might think that is a splendid idea.

Brothers, I appeal to each and every one of you who might read this. Examine your hearts and seek the heart of Chris. There is no excuse for a follower of Christ to take up arms to slay another, no matter how pious our intentions might be. The human heart is foolish and wicked and prone to excusing away sin.We can play the "What if?" game all day long and never get to the heart of the matter. God is sovereign over the affairs of men and nowhere is that more true than in the lives of His people. We must trust Him in His sovereign mercy and justice when it comes to laying down the sword just as we trust Him for the salvation of sinners, for our daily bread and for His eternal covenant promises. There is no place where He is unfaithful. Let's start treating Him as if we believe that.

3 comments:

Misplaced Honor said...

some guy who's name I can't remember inspired this thought: would we send our daughters out to have sex for the good of our country? No! So why do we send our sons out to kill for the good of our country?

Arthur Sido said...

That is a valid question and one without a good answer.

Mike Jones said...

Jesus said if you live by the sword, you will die by the sword. After Peter cut off the ear of the priest's servant in the garden, Jesus stopped Peter from further aggression and healed the servant's ear.

If Mr. Hakim's thoughts are correct, then would not it have benefited Jesus and Peter to just slaughter the whole group who came to take Jesus, to save them from the hideous sin of killing the Son of God?

No, Jesus gave himself to the end, to death. He calls us, in a very real sense, to do that same. There is no conditions on Jesus command to love our enemies and pray for those to do us harm.