Shoud we teach them that violence is an acceptable means of making a point?
2006-11-12 07:44:57 · 21 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It is possibly the best example.
Following the resurrection, didn't Jesus say "he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one."
What will you say when Muslims come to your door? "Here's my wife to rape and my children to sell as slaves, go ahead and kill me, I know you're just being obedient to your religion, praise God."
2006-11-12 07:45:50 · answer #1 · answered by s2scrm 5 · 1⤊ 3⤋
I'm a children's pastor & have been for 17 years so I've got a fair idea of what kids can cope with. When I teach them this story, I tell them how Jesus didn't react out of anger. If you read the book of John you will see that he sat down and made a whip out of cord. That would've taken quite some time so he didn't react. He reasoned out what would get the message across. Most people have the idea that religion shouldn't be radical and confrontational. Jesus was, and is, both. By doing what he did in the Temple, he was showing the High Priest that the world of business enterprise did not belong in the Temple.
That some ministers in the churches in the world today would get a hold of that!
I always teach the children that we should never react in anger but sometimes it takes a "radical" act to get the message across.
Hope it helps clarify the issue for you. God bless
2006-11-12 18:33:46 · answer #2 · answered by Rhonda D 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sometimes the only thing evil understands is a kick in the pants.
Before I would attempt to criticize the righteous anger of God, I would make every attempt to consider what other, less merciful options Jesus might have chosen.
Jesus could have simply chosen to have a portion of the temple collapse on them and crush them.
He could have sent an angel to destroy them, on the spot.
He could have caused the earth to open and swallow them up.
All of these things would have been just punishment for those who desecrated the temple of God, used it for dishonest enterprises, and for personal profit.
Instead, he merely broke up and scattered a corrupt operation, much like he would do with Jerusalem, and the entire Jewish temple worship system, 40 years hence.
2006-11-12 16:09:29 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jesus knocked around some furniture, he didn't strike anyone. We're talking here about people who were desecrating temple grounds. The bible also tells us that our bodies are temples. Now for a minute imagine that the sacred thing being desecrated is the body of one of the children you are teaching. Do you not think it reasonable to respond to such atrocity with a little "righteous anger?"
2006-11-12 16:05:00 · answer #4 · answered by Nicole G 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Read the Biblical account more carefully. You will see He hurt no one. His purpose was to cleanse the Temple of the activities that brought shame to its purpose: animal sellers, money changers, etc. are NOT supposed to be present in the Temple. In order to make additional money for themselves, the priests permitted these activities, since they were getting kickbacks from the sellers.
I would be proud if any of my children did such a thing. If you knew and understood Jesus, you would agree.
2006-11-12 15:51:57 · answer #5 · answered by Suzanne: YPA 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the world is in such bad shape these days, i only wish examples like this WOULD work. i think we should go back to the days of cut off a hand for stealing, and hangings for murdering people. the people have gone crazy with all their so called Freedom. some of them take it way too far, and they hurt others. so what is the acceptable means of making a point?
2006-11-12 15:53:40 · answer #6 · answered by Lilypie99 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well... it certainly illustrates the link between chistianity and violence. The prince of peace got mad and hit people with a whip. It is an example of justification.
PS I'm fairly certain jesus issued rulers to all of the nuns.
2006-11-12 15:48:49 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
HAHA. You are so funny. Not.
God does not do anything in the temple towards violent for "our kids "
Its like this , Repay evil with good.
Say a person is evil to god, He will be nice to him and not do any violent stuff to him/her.
Get it ?
2006-11-12 16:29:42 · answer #8 · answered by hello 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself.
John Stuart Mill
2006-11-12 15:48:43 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes
2006-11-12 15:47:07 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Should commercial sellers be selling on church grounds? His anger was at their lack of respect for Holy Ground-Yes, I think it was a good example. When one is in the physical world, one must react physically sometimes,not always with a spiritual answer.....
2006-11-12 15:47:34 · answer #11 · answered by ARTmom 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋