XPost: alt.christnet.christianlife, alt.religion.christian.baptist   
   From: shell-stamford@cox.net   
      
   "A Watcher"  wrote in message   
   news:_zbnk.148082$Lw1.14166@newsfe29.ams2...   
   >   
   > "Chuck Stamford"  wrote in message   
   > news:GL7nk.15702$1N1.15195@newsfe07.iad...   
   >>   
   >> "Mike Painter"  wrote in message   
   >> news:7h7nk.16194$cW3.6902@nlpi064.nbdc.sbc.com...   
   >>> Chuck Stamford wrote:   
   >>>   >>   
   >>>>> You mean you do not find it disturbing and quite inappropriate for   
   >>>>> Christ's brethren to fight and kill each other?   
   >>>>   
   >>>> Christ's "brethern" were enjoined by their God and Lord to obey the   
   >>>> legitimate authorities over them, as all authority comes ultimately   
   >>>> from Him.  The fact men exercise this God given authority over one   
   >>>> another practically guarantees there will be conflicts.  Is there   
   >>>> something in any of this you find contradictory?   
   >>>   
   >>> Who decides which authority is right. That argument was used by kings   
   >>> and emporers for thousands of years with great success.   
   >>> If their authority comes from the same god(s) why is there no piece and   
   >>> why did kings loose power?   
   >>>   
   >>> Mark Twain's War Prayer sums it up nicely.   
   >>   
   >> Not familiar with much of Mark Twain's body of work beyond Tom Sawyer.  I   
   >> liked that story as a kid.  It was nice to see that some kids, at least,   
   >> got to have some fun.   
   >>   
   >> But I digress.  As to you question:   
   >>   
   >> "Who decides which authority is right."   
   >>   
   >> God does.  All I need to know, as a disciple of Jesus Christ, is that the   
   >> authority I'm following isn't an obvious enemy of the Gospel, or isn't   
   >> requiring me to do something that directly contradicts a command of God   
   >> as understood and interpreted by His Son, Jesus Christ.   
   >   
   > You mean like these direct commands......"43 Ye have heard that it hath   
   > been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I   
   > say unto you, LOVE your ENEMIES, bless them that curse you, do good to   
   > them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and   
   > persecute you;" Matt 5:43-44 (KJV)   
   >   
   > "21 ``You have heard that the ancients were told, `YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT   
   > MURDER' and `Whoever, commits murder shall be liable to the court.' 22   
   > ``But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be   
   > guilty before the court;" Matt 5:21-22 (NASB)   
   >   
   > Which would certainly rule out killing any of them.   
      
   Are you suggesting the the proposition, "It's impossible to kill someone   
   without being angry with them" is true?   
      
   >   
   > "Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? 18 And   
   > Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one,   
   > that is, God. 19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do   
   > NOT KILL, Do not steal...." Mark 10:17-19 (KJV)   
   > See above.   
   >   
   > "38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth   
   > for a tooth: 39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever   
   > shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also." Matt   
   > 5:38-39 (KJV)   
   >   
   > This is the commanded passive response to any form of attack on the person   
   > who is following Christ.   
   > Christ does not say "Once he has smitten you on one cheek, immediately   
   > strike your adversary back on his"   
   > He says to offer the other side of your face and allow him to hit the   
   > other.   
   >   
   > Is that not correct Chuck?   
      
   It most certainly is.  And?   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)