Help: America Is Caught In A Feedback Loop

Another day, another mass shooting in America.

Once more, a white man with an assault rifle opens fire on innocent people.

Most people say there’s nothing we can do. Others insist that only our thoughts and prayers matter now.

Many Christians believe that the Second Amendment overrules the Sermon on the Mount. So, the next time a killer with a semi-automatic rifle enters a church he’ll be blown to smithereens by all the Jesus-loving Christians who keep a sidearm cocked and loaded in the shoulder holster under their Sunday best.

Halleluiah!

Just think, if the earliest Christians in the first century had only adopted this brilliant preemptive strategy, killers like Saul of Tarsus would have been slaughtered where they stood.

Not only would that have prevented the death our dear brother Stephen, it would also have prevented us from having to carry around such a thick New Testament text, since half of it would never have been written.

But, maybe there’s another way?

I know it sounds crazy, but hear me out for a minute.

There are about 175 million Christians here in the United States. So, if even half of us decided to love our neighbors and bless those who curse us and do good to those who hate us, maybe we could use this preemptive strategy to love people?

I know, it sounds kinda crazy to follow that Jesus guy. He was SO “first century”, ya know?

But, I once heard someone say that the definition of insanity was doing the same thing over and over again while expecting a different result.

Since almost no one has tried putting these Jesus ideas into practice lately, what do we have to lose?

-kg

PART 2: PODCAST- Does The Evangelical View of the Cross Lead To Violence?

Part 2 of a conversation between Quoir authors Keith Giles, Jamal Jivanjee and Matthew Distefano about how Evangelical Christian views of the crucifixion relate to ideas about redemptive violence, and more.

LISTEN TO PART 1 HERE

NOTE: I personally do not believe that the Penal Substitutionary Atonement Theory is what ultimately leads to violence. 

Case in point: The early Christians did not embrace this PSA theory until John Calvin introduced it in the 1500s, and yet they did engage in a lot of violence against others, and even one another.

However: The PSA view does impact the way we see God and it does often provide justification for our own violence because, if God is violent can't we be violent, too?

In this Podcast we talk about:

*Why did Jesus have to die on the cross?

*What is the mechanism that creates the necessity for Christ's death?

*What is Mimetic Theory and how does it relate to the crucifixion?

*If Jesus wasn't killed by His Father to satisfy His wrath and make it possible for us to be forgiven, then what was the cross all about?

*Why did Peter deny Jesus? Was this a special character flaw or are we all wired to go along with the crowd?

*Why is Jesus' invitation to "Follow Me" crucial to our ingrained tendency to imitate the desire of others?

*What does it mean to say that "No one has ever seen God at any time [except Jesus]?"

AND MORE!

LISTEN HERE:



LEARN MORE?

Suggested reading for further study:
*Reading the Bible with Rene Girard, edited by Michael Hardin
*I See Satan Fall Like Lightning by Rene Girard
*From The Blood of Abel by Matthew Distefano
*Raising Abel by James Alison
*Desire Found Me by Andre Rabe

For more on the "Flat Bible vs Jesus-Centric" discussion:
*Jesus Untangled:Crucifying Our Politics To Pledge Allegiance To The Lamb by Keith Giles

Online Resources:
VIDEO: The Monster God Debate [Start with part 2 here]
VIDEO: The Beautiful Gospel by Brad Jersak

WEBSITES:
www.RavenFoundation.org
www.PreachingPeace.org

Why Is Jesus Violent In Revelation?

According to the book of Revelation, when Jesus returns He will bring an army and strike down His enemies in a bloody war.

Before I get into this one, let’s start off with a few observations: First, this objection seeks to temper the numerous commands of Jesus to love our enemies, turn the other cheek and bless those who curse us by saying, “Look! Jesus gets violent in the end”, as if this negates His clear commands to His disciples.

It does not.

Whatever Jesus has commanded, we must obey. Regardless of what might happen in the future, we here today are still expected to follow Jesus as our Lord. As He says, “Why do you call me ‘Lord, lord’ and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46)

Secondly, just because Jesus acts as the Judge of all mankind—as He is seen doing in these Apocalyptic passages within Revelation—it does not follow that we are also allowed to act as judges.

In fact, we are specifically told by Jesus not to judge others, and we are reminded by Paul that our calling is to feed our enemies and to allow God to be the judge who repays them for any evils they may have done.

“Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 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.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:17-21)

So, what exactly is going on in Revelation? Why do we see a picture of Jesus that looks so radically different than what we see in the Gospels? How did He go from the suffering servant who said, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do” to the guy on a white horse with a sword coming out of his mouth and wearing a robe dipped in blood?

Let’s look at Revelation Chapter 19 where most of this violent imagery is found.

Especially these verses: 

“I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself.  He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.  On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: King of kings and Lord of lords.

"And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, 'Come, gather together for the great supper of God, so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and the mighty, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, great and small.'

"Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse and his army. But the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who had performed the signs on its behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. The rest were killed with the sword coming out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.”  (Revelation 19:11-21)

Pastor Mark Driscoll famously celebrated the gore of Revelation at one time, saying that Jesus is depicted here as “a prize fighter with a tattoo down His leg, a sword in His hand and the commitment to make someone bleed.” For some Christians, this picture of Jesus is the one they prefer. Driscoll himself has said that he finds great comfort in this violent picture of Jesus because, “…that is a guy I can worship. I cannot worship the hippie, diaper, halo Christ because I cannot worship a guy I can beat up.”

For those who embrace a more violent Gospel, this seemingly violent Jesus serves as a welcome buffer against the Jesus they appear to fear the most: The Jesus who commands them to love their enemies and turn the other cheek. But what is really happening here? Is Jesus suddenly a warmonger who delights in slaughtering thousands of His enemies? What happened to the command that we should love our enemies? Are we held to a higher standard that God? Isn’t the admonition to love our enemies connected to God’s love for the just and the unjust? Aren’t we imitating God when we do this? How then can we explain these passages in light of the Sermon on the Mount?

First of all, we have to recognize that the book of Revelation is a different genre of Biblical literature than the Gospels are. In the same way that none of us would read a fantasy novel like “The Lord of the Rings” the same way we might read a romance novel, or a children’s story, we cannot read all genre’s of Biblical literate the same way either.

The book of Revelation is an example of apocalyptic literature. As such, it contains certain motifs and even borrows specific metaphors from other apocalyptic sections of books like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel. These images and metaphors are never to be taken literally. The original audiences for these writings did not believe that the smoke from a city that was judged by God would literally rise up forever and ever. They understood that this was hyperbole intended to illustrate that the finality of such judgement was absolute—as far as those who received that judgement were concerned. In the Gospels, even Jesus referred to these same apocalyptic metaphors whenever he prophesied the destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the Jewish age. (See Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21)

So, if we understand that the images we read about in Revelation are not intended to be literal, that can help us on one level, but we still may wonder what exactly is going on and what is it we are supposed to glean from passages like chapter 19?

First of all, Revelation 19 shows us a picture of Jesus as the Judge of the World. He has been given authority by the Father to judge the nations and to execute judgment on those who have rejected Him as their King. The sword is not in His hand, as Driscoll claims. It is coming out of His mouth. Why is that? Why does Jesus pull a sword out of His mouth like a magician on a carnival sideshow? Again, because this isn’t meant to be taken literally. The sword that comes out of His mouth is symbolic. It tells us that the judgments spoken by Jesus have authority. His words hold the power of life and death.

The robe Jesus wears is dipped in blood, but we must keep in mind that this blood is not the blood of His enemies. It is His own blood. Jesus has the authority to judge the nations because He has suffered and died and risen again to sit at the right hand of the Father. The Lamb who was slain is given the authority to open the seals of the scroll and to execute judgement. Only the Lamb who was slain is worthy. No one else.

Still, we have to admit that the imagery near the end of the chapter is quite gruesome. Birds are called to gorge themselves on the flesh of the slain. But, again, we have to remember that the connection between the apocalyptic hyperbole and the actual fulfillment is not the same thing.

When God prophesied against Egypt in Isaiah 19, we read that God will be seen “riding on a swift cloud” (v.1) as He comes to judge that nation. This is not a literal event. God is not saddling up a cloud and riding into battle against Egypt. The fulfillment of that image is when the armies of an invading nation ride into battle against Egypt and destroy her cities. In other words, these fantastic images of God (or Jesus) riding into battle against the people of the earth to do battle with them is fulfilled when the armies of other nations rise up and attack. There is always a practical fulfillment to these sorts of prophesies, as we see whenever God’s prophets proclaim judgment on nations using these kinds of apocalyptic hyperbole.

In Ezekiel 39 when God prophesies against Assyria (or Gog) He says “I will give you to the birds of prey of every sort and the beasts of the field to be devoured.” (v.4) This is the exact same apocalyptic hyperbole used in Revelation 19 to describe the fate of those who will be judged by the words spoken by Jesus against those who reject Him as their King.

Simply put, Jesus is the righteous judge. He has said that those who reject Him will perish and will not receive life. This is the sword that comes out of His mouth. Those who refuse to repent and to turn to Jesus as their Lord will die. They will not receive the gift of life. The author of Revelation borrows violent apocalyptic hyperbole found in the Old Covenant scriptures to illustrate this truth. He expresses it in dramatic, yes even violent metaphorical terminology, but if we boil everything down all that is really happening in Revelation 19 is that Jesus, who is the Judge, speaks life to those who love Him and those who reject that life receive the penalty of death.

Jesus takes no pleasure in the death of anyone. Not even those who reject Him. His love for you is the same as His love for Hitler. That is to say: enough to die for both of you and to extend to everyone the same mercy, grace and forgiveness.

The images of Jesus riding into battle on a white horse with a sword coming out of His mouth are meant to call the sinner to repentance. It is intended to warn those who have rejected Jesus as Lord of their ultimate fate—which is certain death—if they refuse to accept the life that is available only through Christ.

[From the bonus e-book “Unraveled” by Keith Giles]

Jesus Came To End War

Over the last few years, I've debated and argued and reasoned with many Christians on the subject of non-violence.

I've tackled all the usual arguments - what about Cornelius the centurion, or when Jesus overturned the tables in the Temple, or when Jesus said he came to bring a sword, or when Jesus told the disciples to go and buy a sword - and I've recorded podcasts, made videos, hosted events, and written blogs and books to answer all of those objections to the idea that Jesus really was anti-war and pro-peace.

But here's another angle on the whole subject:

Jesus is the Messiah.

The Messiah is called the "Prince of Peace".

It is prophesied in Isaiah that he would "do no violence".

His mission is to "teach us his ways so that we may walk in his paths."

His "path" leads the nations to "beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks" so that "nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore."

When Jesus arrives on the scene, he comes as a baby, not a warrior.

His birth is announced by angels who proclaim, "Peace on earth!" and goodwill to all men.

His message was that we should love one another, and turn the other cheek, and bless those who curse us, and do good to those who hate us.

After saying that he added, "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord' and do not do what I say?"

He rebuked James and John when they wanted to call down fire from heaven against another person saying, "you know not what spirit you are of".

He wept as he entered Jerusalem - the city of peace - on a donkey saying, "If only you had known the things that make for peace."

He disarmed Peter saying, "Those who live by the sword will die by the sword."

He told Pilate at his trial, "My Kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my disciples would fight."

He prayed for those centurions who nailed him to the cross saying, "Father forgive them, they know not what they are doing."

He rose from the dead, appeared to the disciples who abandoned him and denied him and said, "Peace!"

He disarmed a zealous Pharisee named Saul of Tarsus who was going around having Christians arrested, beaten and stoned to death saying, "It is hard for you to kick against the pricks" - meaning that violence against his children was physically painful to him as well.

This same Pharisee denounced violence and began to preach "the gospel of peace" wherever he went.

He reminded us that "our weapons are not carnal" and that our enemy is "not flesh and blood."

He urged us to "overcome evil with good" and reminded us to "feed our enemy if they are hungry and to give them water if they are thirsty."

Jesus is the Prince of Peace. 

His Kingdom is here now.

His purpose is to overcome evil with good; to disarm hatred with love; to transform this violent world with proactive agape.

This is not a fringe teaching. It is not an addition to the Gospel. 

It IS the Gospel of Jesus.

-kg

Why We Shouldn't Fight

Paul’s conversion experience was miraculous, but it also tells us a lot if we’ll pay close attention to the details.

First, Paul thought he was doing God a service by travelling around to arrest Christians. Sometimes this “ministry” involved standing by while these Christians were brutally beaten or stoned to death. But for Paul, these were necessary steps to ensure that those who held differing religious opinions were silenced.

Then, something incredible happened. Jesus appeared to him on the road to Damascus and knocked him off of his horse.

The words Jesus spoke to Paul in that moment are especially profound. He said:

“Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’” [Acts 26:14]
So, here Jesus explains to Paul [Saul] that whenever he does harm to someone who is in Christ, he is actually causing harm to Jesus, too.

Keep this in mind.

If anyone does harm to another Christian, then they are doing harm to Jesus.

It doesn’t matter if we try to justify our violence by saying, “But Jesus, those Christians were disagreeing with my theology”, or “Those Christians were soldiers fighting for the other side.”

It doesn’t matter if we attempt to validate our aggression by claiming that those Christians are citizens of another nation.

It doesn’t make any difference to Jesus if our reasons for hurting, or shooting, or bombing, or killing our brothers and sisters in Christ are based on religion, or nationalism, or anything else.

No. The simple truth is this: We are not allowed to bring harm of any kind to another brother or sister in Christ for any reason.

There is no excuse.

According to Jesus, whenever we do harm to another Christian, we are causing Him pain as well.

That means that we, as followers of Christ, are not allowed to justify violence against other Christians by claiming that we’re simply following orders.

And this is why I believe that Christians shouldn’t participate in military combat. Because there’s no way of knowing if the people we are about to shoot, or bomb, or kill are members of our Christian family.

Shooting those brothers and sisters in Christ is the same as shooting Jesus. 

"Whatever you have done to the least of these, my brothers, you have done it unto me." - Jesus

Bombing those Christians is the same as bombing Christ.

But, if we remain neutral in matters of war then this is never an issue for us.

Let us resolve to repent of our violence and to forever lay aside all weapons of war.

Our King is the Prince of Peace.

Our Gospel is the Gospel of Peace.

Our Nation is a Holy Nation.

Our weapons are not of this world.

Our enemy is not flesh and blood.

-kg

UNJUSTIFIABLE

The shooting of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge this week was unjustifiable.

The shooting of Philando Cortise the next day in Minnesotta was unjustifiable.

The shooting the next day in Dallas of 10 police officers, 5 of whom died, was also unjustifiable.

We cannot justify any more violence.

We cannot use violence to justify.

Violence destroys. It does not create justice.

Someone has to break the pattern of violence.

Someone has to decide to respond to violence with love.

Until then, unjustifiable actions will continue.

Love really is the answer.

We just have to put it into practice.

-kg

PROTECTING THE INNOCENT

“Greater love has no man than this; that a man may lay down his life for his friends” – Jesus [John 15:13]

It’s honestly a real struggle for many American Christians to process Jesus’ commands to love our enemies. Especially when we try to filter that through years and years of indoctrination from our society about what it means to be a “Good American”. We have been raised from infancy to glorify violence as a redemptive act. All of our heroes growing up used violence to stop evil. Most of my heroes were holding guns.

So, it’s very hard for us to look at Jesus through that paradigm. He is sort of a hero, but he didn’t kill anyone. He laid down his life for us, to set us free, and we see that as a noble sacrifice. That fits into our American hero grid a little better. But when Jesus commands us – His followers – to walk away from a fight, or to go beyond that to actually bless the person who hates us, or to demonstrate actual love to someone who would like to see us dead – that is another story.

In fact, for many American Christians, it’s just simply impossible to even consider. There’s no way Jesus meant that we shouldn’t fight back. What about using violence to protect the innocent? [Like maybe our spouse or our children are being held at gunpoint by an armed intruder, for example. What then, Jesus?]

I get it. This isn’t easy. But believe it or not, Jesus was serious about loving our enemies. 

Dead serious.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus asked a powerful question. He asked “If you love those who love you in return, what credit is that to you? Don’t even the tax collectors do that?”

This question highlights what sort of love Jesus has in mind. He expects us to love extravagantly. We’re not allowed to settle for ordinary love. We’re called to be filled with His brand of extraordinary love that extends to every single person around us.

I hate to break it to you, but killing an armed intruder to protect your family falls under the category of “Loving those who love you in return”. It’s simply not good enough. 

As Jesus goes on to say:

“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for those which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for He makes the sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends the rain upon the just and on the unjust.” [Matt.5:44-45]

Surprisingly, Jesus has very little to say to us about how we should respond to protect the lives of the innocent. Here’s what we do see:

*Peter used a sword in an attempt to protect the life of Jesus and Jesus rebuked him for it.

*Jesus told Pilate, “My Kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight.”

And that is about all the New Testament has to say about the subject.

Maybe the reason Jesus said so little about our need to protect others is because he knew that doing so would necessarily involve violence?

At any rate, Jesus gives us no commands about protecting one another's safety. 

What we do see for the first 300 years or so of Church History is that Christians who were putting the words of Jesus into practice were put to death all the time for their faith. We have no examples of other Christians stepping up to protect the lives of their brothers and sisters. What we see is that everyone was expected to be responsible for their own life. Sometimes Christians would offer their lives in exchange for their brothers or sisters in Christ. Other times they would offer to die alongside of their brothers and sisters so as to share in the sufferings of Christ together. But we see no evidence – not even once – of Christians fighting to protect the lives of others during almost 300 years of intense persecution.

Why is that?

Well, maybe because they understood that their lives were already forfeit to Christ on day one. They understood that anyone who seeks to save their life will lose it, but the one who loses his life for the sake of Christ will save it and keep it forever. [See Matt. 16:25]

My question is: Why don’t we understand this?

Perhaps because we are American Christians who have been told that being American and being Christian are nearly synonymous [even though the two ideals couldn’t be further apart].

We’ve been told to salute our flag, pledge allegiance to our nation, applaud the military, carry a gun and fight for our rights. Jesus told us none of those things. In fact, Jesus is dead against Nationalism, swearing oaths, using violence and demanding our rights.  Jesus told us to love everyone – including our enemies. 

If you love someone you don’t kill them. That’s pretty obvious.

Unless, of course, you don’t want to see that. Then, it’s practically impossible to convince you that loving your enemies and using violence are incompatible concepts. [Believe me, I’ve tried].

“But what about when someone is in danger and we have the power to stop the violence?”

Great question! But stopping the violence can be accomplished without more violence. One way to stop someone from hurting another person is to insert ourselves in between the attacker and the victim. We absorb the violence ourselves and allow the victim to escape. We might even be able to convince the attacker to stop and win an opportunity to explain what compelled us to take such a bold, and dangerous step. [Hint: It’s the love of Jesus].

Honestly, I don’t know if the Church in America will ever really awaken from Her dream of retributive, redemptive violence and embrace the self-sacrificial love of Jesus. I don't know if we can ever really accept the idea of fighting without weapons or defeating evil without violence.

What I do know is that I can’t stop reminding the Church what Jesus said, and what Jesus called us to do in the face of evil.

Our only hope is Jesus. Our only weapon is Love. And if it comes down to it, we are the only one's who die.  

-kg

Guns and Jesus

Guest Post by William Guice

This gun issue is very simple for me it's pretty cut and dried:

1) Jesus wouldn't carry a gun. He for sure wouldn't carry or keep it with the intent of harming another human being. That wasn't his thing, and so it shouldn't be ours. The harming of another human being is antithetical to what it means to be a Christian.

The earliest Christians got this. We don't have a single document that supports the taking of life for the first 300 years of the church. Three hundred years! Where did we go so far astray?

(I could stop here, but...)

2) Every explanation I see of why we should have and carry guns is rooted in some type of fear - literally every one. When (if) you said yes to Jesus your worldview was to change. You are not promised a country or safety or that bad or even horrible moments wouldn't come. You WERE promised that he would never leave you or forsake you. You were promised peace that passes all understanding. You were promised that what is in Christ is greater than what's in the world. You were promised a cross, but you were also exhorted over and over again to "fear not."

Fear is killing us folks.

Real freedom is the release of fear.

3) The 2nd amendment when used to defend present day ideas of gun ownership is taken completely out of context and doesn't even really make sense. If we used the same logic and methodology with the Bible, we would have some crazy beliefs.

4) Common sense dictates that if there are fewer guns, there are fewer gun deaths.

5) Global statistics prove #4 and that we are in the wrong or that we are behind on this issue in so many ways. Other developed countries simply don't have this problem.

6) I highly recommend the writing of David Gushee. His work along with the work of Greg Boyd and Glen Stassen are clear, compelling, and concise on these topics.

P.S. > The master said, "Fear Not!"

Peace!

William Guice

Anabaptists and Evangelicals: The Differences

By Nolan Martin

What are the distinctive beliefs of Anabaptists? The first difference, and perhaps the only difference many Anabaptists would mention, is their belief in nonresistance, which Evangelicals do not hold. 

Although this visible divergence is a significant difference, it springs from deeper doctrinal differences. The most basic of these differences lies in the interpretation of Scripture. Although both groups believe in the authority of Scripture and would even use similar methods to interpret Scripture, Anabaptists approach the Bible with some different presuppositions that lead to vastly different outcomes.

First, an Anabaptist interpretation of Scripture is centered on the teachings of Christ and his call to discipleship. The rest of Scripture is then viewed through this lens and interpreted so as not to contradict the teachings of Christ, the head of the church. This produces different conclusions than when interpretation is centered on the writings of Paul as often seen in Evangelical teaching. A Christ-centered interpretation maintains that Christ's teachings can be followed with God's enabling grace and must be followed if an entrance into the kingdom of God is to be gained. A Paul-centered interpretation tends to overemphasize man's sinful nature and makes man utterly helpless in the pursuit of good. Consequently, many of Christ's teachings are considered unattainable in the present. In fact, some who interpret the Bible this way postpone the validity of Jesus' teachings to some future time. God's mercy and forgiveness is emphasized in this system rather than careful obedience.

Second, Anabaptists believe the New Testament takes precedence over the Old Testament. They believe the Old Testament points forward to Christ, whereas the New Testament is the final and ultimate revelation of Christ. On the other hand, many Evangelicals have a "flat Bible," putting the Old and New Testaments on the same level. Except for Jewish ceremonial and dietary laws, Evangelical morality closely resembles Jewish morality. Oaths, accumulation of wealth, participation in war, and divorce and remarriage are acceptable for Evangelicals because they were acceptable in the Old Testament. For the Anabaptists, the New Testament teaching on these issues trumps the Old Testament teaching.

Third, Anabaptists believe the Bible is best interpreted when the believer is committed to obeying it. Early Anabaptists were concerned about how the learned of their day “twisted” the Scriptures to get around the force of a command. Anabaptists today reject the common distinctions made between New Testament commands on the one hand that are binding both in form and spirit upon Christians for all time and those on the other hand that are to be observed only in spirit. Many hold that to the former class belong such items as baptism and communion, whereas to the latter class belong such commands as to greet one another with a holy kiss, to wash one another's feet, and to anoint the sick with oil. Anabaptists hold that these New Testament commands as well as communion and baptism are to be observed by all Christians everywhere until the end of the age. Mennonite theologian J. C. Wenger said, "There is no exegetical consideration against the observance of feet washing, for example, which would not also bear against the observance of baptism."

Read more at:

http://www.anabaptistchurch.org/DifferencesEvangeliicalsAnabaptists.htm

The Family That Love Built

After the horrific church shooting in Charleston, many are calling for Christians to start carrying weapons to church. One GOP Presidential candidate, pastor Mike Huckabee even said, “It sounds crass, but frankly the best way to stop a bad person with a gun is to have a good person with a weapon that is equal or superior to the one that he’s using.”

While we can applaud Huckabee’s conscience for admitting how crass his statement sounds, we must also point out how decidedly anti-Christian it is, too.

Thankfully, we don’t have to look much further than the Christians who were the victims of this shooting for a better example of how an actual follower of Jesus responds to violence.

“No matter how much hate there is in the world, it's no match for love" Chis Singleton, son of slain Sharonda Singleton, said. “Love is always stronger than hate.”

And the daughter of Ethel Lance, addressing the killer directly in court, said, “I will never talk to her ever again. I will never be able to hold her ever again. But I forgive you." 

She added: "You hurt me, you hurt a lot of people. May God forgive you." 

Anthony Thompson, husband of the slain Myra Thompson, echoed Lance's daughter's words. "I forgive you, my family forgives you," he said.

Felecia Sanders, the grandmother who shielded her 5-year-old granddaughter from the gunfire, but lost her son in process, told the killer that the parishioners "welcomed you Wednesday night at our Bible study with open arms."  

She continued, fighting tears: "You have killed some of the most beautiful people that I know… And it will never be the same. But as we said in Bible study, we enjoyed you. May God have mercy on you."

Alana Simmons, granddaughter of victim Daniel Simmons, said: "Although my grandfather and the other victims died at the hands of hate…everyone's plea for your soul is proof that they lived and loved and their legacies will live on.”

"Hate won't win," she concluded firmly.

A relative added, "I am a work in progress and I acknowledge that I am very angry. But we are the family that love built. We have no room for hate so we have to forgive."

While Christians like Huckabee can only suggest bigger and more powerful weapons to solve problems like hate and violence, these dear followers of Jesus – the ones most directly injured by the murders – have demonstrated what the most powerful weapons against hate really are – Love and Forgiveness.

Now, imagine a world where Christians carry guns to church. Imagine a scenario like the one in Charleston where the killer enters and is shot to death by a minister of the Gospel of Jesus. What sort of message would that send? Certainly not one of mercy, and grace, and love. How would that bear witness to the power and the truth of the Gospel? Not at all.

The pastor who lost his life in Charleston can stand before His Lord and Savior in Eternity and hear the words, “Well done, my good and faithful servant” because the evidence of the Gospel he preached is now on display in the midst of this tragedy for the entire world to see.

This is why Christian nonviolence makes sense. This is why Jesus commanded His followers to overcome evil with love, not with more evil.

The killer wanted to start a civil war between the races. If Christians listen to people like Huckabee, the killer will get exactly what he wanted.

But if Christians listen to their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, then the killer and everyone else will, instead, experience the uncommon, otherworldly, extravagant enemy love that only Jesus can teach us.

May the whole world take notice of what a real follower of Jesus looks like in America today. They are the loved ones of those who were gunned down by hate, but they are also the family that love built, and they have no room for hate, only for love.

Thank you for showing us what the love of Jesus looks like in the real world.

-kg

NOTE: Quotes taken from this article in The Daily Mail and People.com