If we are commanded by God, to love thy enemy, then are we defying Him when we g

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   backporchstoriesposted 12 years ago

   If we are commanded by God, to love thy enemy, then are we defying Him when we go to war?
   
   Throughout history, man has conquered nations in the name of Jesus or their God, yet we are told to love all.  How are we being true to God if we so readily take up arms for political and social issues.  (Hoping to hear from several on this one, especially Gusser!)

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   msorenssonposted 12 years ago

   The answer is the whole Bhagavad Gita......................

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      backporchstoriesposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      What does Bhagavad Gita mean....sorry I do not know.

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      msorenssonposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhagavad_Gita

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      backporchstoriesposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks!  That was interesting read!

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   Vegas Eliasposted 12 years ago

   You have already got the answer. It is in the 'Bhagwad Gita'. Loving your enemies is fine as long as they are not active against you and have understood their mistakes. However if an enemy continues to be a enemy to you and continues to indulge in activities to harm you then you have to choose the path suggested by the 'Bhagwad Gita.' Here it is advocated that you duty is of prime importance. If you are at war your duty id to exterminate the enemy. If you do not carry out this duty you will be exterminated. This rule applies not only to human beings but to all forces of the universe. That is why you find black holes swallowing up stars and galaxies and one star swallowing up another star and such other things.
   When you have to fight you have to fight.

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   Gusserposted 12 years ago

   Certainly NOT. God commanded Israel to go to war and take the land he promised them in Moses days. They were instructed to kill all males and keep their women as slaves and wives.

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      backporchstoriesposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I try hard to understand the complete Bible and sometimes these things make me question it.  Thanks for your answer.

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      Gusserposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Your search for understanding will lead to many blessings.

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      tonymead60posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      what an easy excuse to justify an act of terror and war by saying that God commanded it. Would Jesus have given those same instructions. By the way there is no evidence that Moses ever existed and non to say that they were ever in Eygpt as slaves.

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   ackman1465posted 12 years ago

   I find it interesting.... and it is a primary source for my disdain for "religion"... that so many armed conflicts have been undertaken in the name of "religion."
   
   Isn't it ironic, how many leaders - both present and past - posed as "righteous" and "religious".... yet didn't really display pious attitudes and actions when it came to them gaining or keeping POWER here in the mortal world?????
   
   IF one were to assume that there is a "God"... then I expect that He lives there in Heaven..... watches what goes on in this World every day (both Fox AND MSNBC!!).... shakes His Head side to side and mutters,  "WHAT THE f**k was I doing, when I designed those fool humans????"

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      backporchstoriesposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I am really sensitive to the Native American Indian issues of how they were first approached.  Our forefathers stripped them of the land, dignity and spirit as well as family and culture, all because they thought them as "heathens".

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      ackman1465posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      That's just another trump card in my story....

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      Gusserposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Some of our forefathers treated native Americans as equals. Our History books are sometimes very inaccurate.

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      ackman1465posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Gusser:  Consider the PROPORTIONS and the INFLUENCE!!! I'm sure that MANY of the people in Germany, in the 1940s, were very nice and fair-minded about their Jewish neighbors....

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      backporchstoriesposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I am well aware the many were nice to the Indians back then, but the government as a whole gave them a dirty deal...all because they did not understand.  I walk the Red Road, but Jesus and His teachings walk with me.  Scary being American these days!

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      Gusserposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Totally agree on the raw deal from Gov't. My comment was concerning private citizens.

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      backporchstoriesposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I suppose, sometimes it becomes a gray line...

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      Gusserposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      It has been a very long time since we had a government doing the will of the people. Since about the 1790's  sounds about right.

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   Freeway Flyerposted 12 years ago

   Personally, I feel no need to try and explain the various, apparent contradictions found in various religious philosophies. But I will try anyway. I think that most Christians would draw a distinction between our personal relationships and our civic responsibilities. And while it is a noble thing to do your best to be as empathetic, ethical, and tolerant as possible in your relations with all people - whether you like them or not - there will be times in an unjust world when a society must defend itself, and the pain and suffering that will result from being pacifistic will be greater than that caused by war. It seems to me, however, that Christians should turn to war as a last resort. Unfortunately, however, it does not always work out that way.

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   backporchstoriesposted 12 years ago

   I guess what made me think of this question was when I reflected on the Crusade and the Spanish Inquisition.  Wondering if we force ourself on other cultures prematurely in the name of God, when maybe God judges us by reacting too quick.  Some of these reflections are the result of my husband, who served in Nam and he told some grusome stories of things that made him question morales.

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   cassiefranksposted 12 years ago

   If you are in war it is not exacty pinpointed on hating them. There is reasons that we go to war, such as resources. We are  currently fighting a war for oil not for hate but oil. that is a resouce that we "need" yet in america we don't really need it. You can still love your enemy and fight them in war. The way that i see it is that the media is what gets us to hate our enemy in war. They tell us that they do something wrong, rather then tell us that we are going to get resources. that's where it all goes wrong.

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   ercramer36posted 12 years ago

   There are two separate issues here, personal and government.  Jesus gave that command to individuals, not governments.  God gave governments the power to make war.  Hitler is the easiest example.  Should we have loved him or went to war to stop him from taking over the world and exterminating the Jewish race?  The greater good in that case was to take Hitler out, to stand against evil.  Civil war is another great example of standing up to tyranny.  Freeing the slaves and setting them free is better than loving the confederate people and doing nothing.

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      backporchstoriesposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Great explantion of the difference.  Did not think of it that way when I asked.  Thanks!

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    MilesArmbrusterposted 12 years ago

    Nation states are not commanded to love their enemies. Nation states have the responsibility to protect their citizens, or subjects in the case of a monarchy. I, for one, am glad that our nation takes seriously the role of protecting my family against all enemies, foreign and domestic. I would like to hear how stopping Hitler in World War II was defying God. At the other end of the spectrum, if someone broke into my house and attacked my wife and children, I would use everything possible to protect them, at least until the proper authorities could intervene.
    People have done all kinds of stupid things claiming God or the name of Christ as their motivation. That does not mean that they or their actions reflect God or Jesus.

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