With all due respect, Christianity should be kept as a personal religion, it shouldn't in any way be applied in real life, Countries need armies to survive.
Mat 26:52 But Jesus told him, "Put your sword away. Anyone who lives by fighting will die by fighting.
Thousands of years of fighting and wars (Including betweenChristian nations) Prove my point.
2007-02-22 07:23:53 · 17 answers · asked by ? 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
All turning the other cheek will do is show that you are someone that is weak and can be used as a door mat!
And love your enemy is abserd. Especially in a war loving your enemy can get you killed!
This is one reason I am a satanist. I go by the philosophy hit me on my one cheek I'll smash you on the other!
And Love for those who deserve it! I'm not about to love everyone! A person must earn my love just as they must earn my respect!
Love and respect are not prizes in a box of cracker jacks!
2007-02-22 09:42:10 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think it makes perfect sense. It is not just for Christianity but fro general society. If every one accepted these two very simple things and at least tried to follow then, a lot of trouble and conflict in society would be prevented.
How can Christianity not be applied in real life if it is a way of life. With all due respect, ur opinions should be kept private and not be applied to real life.
Anyway, it takes to to tango....as they say. It takes to ppl/countries to make an argument and if one "turns the other cheek" or shows compassion to their neighbour, the other one wont have anything to fight, so there is a better chance of peice than we have now. Soemtimes things like this make sense, not only from a religious mpoint of view.
Those so called Christian nations were either not Christian as they say they were or they were run by one Christian person who was a lier and a disgrace to God.
It is true that countries need armies for protection. That verse of Matthew 26:52 can be applied for almost every way that life can be lived. If someone lives as a drug adict, the chances are good they will die as a drug adict cos, well there is a big chance the drugs will kill them (if they dont change) . If someone is a good person who follows moral ways, there is a good chance they will die in a good moral way.If they dont change)
With that vers God is telling us to look at our own lives and decide if we want to die this way and if we are living our lives in a good way. (if a person is a drug addict, they should look at their lives and decide if this is the way they should change and if they see that it is wrong, they should change and they wont die that way)
You sould not take small extracts from the Bible, u should read/write a little of what comes before it and after it aswell, the situation of the text.
2007-02-22 15:36:25 · answer #2 · answered by Eryn v 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First off, I don't think there are true Christian nations that exist. What Jesus said may be a little nutty to you, but to Christians, like myself, it is the word of God. If you live by fighting, you will die by fighting. That is logical, rational thought. Loving your enemy and turning the other cheek are things that are found in the Sermon on the Mount. It is when Jesus took Jewish teachings and said, "but, I say this, even though it says this." He added what was the new way of thinking to old teachings.
What he said was radical for the day, and it is still radical. But, choosing to be vengeful and holding grudges against people that harm me gives me greater peace.
Real life is my life. And, if you think nonviolence doesn't work, then you need to read the story of Ghandi and what he did without ever lifting a hand in violence.
Amanda
2007-02-22 15:31:12 · answer #3 · answered by One Odd Duck 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do I think "Love your enemy" and "Turn the other cheek" is ridiculous? And, "Thousands of years of fightin and wars (including between Christian nations) prove my point."
Well...yup. I'd guess I'd have to agree. Agree that not loving ones enemy and not turning the other cheek proves your point!
How well do you think that has worked? Might be interesting if we learned to talk with each other instead of bombing ourselves out of existence, don't ya think?
Seriously, I'm not making fun of you. I just think it's a sad reality that we've just gotten better and more efficient in killing each other. Most wars have been fought over God, Power or Greed.
And while it would be most difficult for me to love someone who just came up to me and started beating on me...I would hope there might be some lead in to the melee so I could enjoin them in talking.
Look, here's the true deal...is it difficult to live up to those maxims? You bet. And believe it or not, it's not just a Christian only ideology. But wouldn't you just love to imagine then to see a world that did practice that? I sure would.
The alternative only gets more dangerous and dire as the years go by.
2007-02-22 17:48:42 · answer #4 · answered by Damuse 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
'he that hath no sword shall sell his garment and buy one'
'those who live by the sword die by the sword'
God wants you to understand others and avoid fighting when possible, not to be killed by them. Self defense is one thing, spreading your way by the sword is another.
Yes we do need armies. They are God's way of keeping us safe. Sure God could work a miracle, but then the mystery would be gone and everyone would KNOW He exists and begin following Him. Then there is no challenge.
As someone who has been in more fights than most men will ever even WITNESS, I can tell you that fighting is stupid and can usually be avoided. It doesn't solve anything. I walk away from fights now because I know...
2007-02-22 15:29:56 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Another time, Jesus said that he who does not have a sword should sell his cloak and buy one.
Love your enemy and turn the other cheek are commands to govern our personal relationships. They are not how nations are to be governed.
2007-02-22 15:36:41 · answer #6 · answered by Maryfrances 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your point seems to be Christianity doesn't work in real life because we've always done things that way. Jesus came to this world because people were doing things the way they'd always done, and it was going wrong. He brought a new, radical way. Of course it won't be understood, until you try it.
2007-02-22 15:42:48 · answer #7 · answered by kevness 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Loving one's enemy is possible, if the dispute is not core value.
Turning the other cheek is simply impractical. One runs out of cheeks way too quickly.
2007-02-22 15:33:46 · answer #8 · answered by mzJakes 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No I think it's absolutely correct.
If you hate your enemy the hate grows.......If you chose love it dissolves. I'm not saying be foolish. I'm saying love them & release the feeling, period.
Countries need armies to survive b/c they believe it. If they were all peaceful, it wouldn't be necessary.
What is your point anyway??
2007-02-22 15:29:32 · answer #9 · answered by ♣Hey jude♣ 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Wisdom of God is Foolishness to Man.
2007-02-22 15:30:09 · answer #10 · answered by jbtascam 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋