didn't jesus teach us to turn the other cheek? then why do so many christians sign up for the military and go to war? why are there so many soldiers in iraq right now? what was the point of the "shock and awe"? why didn't we just turn our other cheek on 9/11? certainly, it's better to realize danger, and not offer our other cheek as jesus had taught. do you agree? i'm not saying i agree with the way this war has been handled. it's the mother of all screw-ups, if you ask me. but it doesn't change the fact sometimes turning the other cheek is not always the best solution.
2007-12-06 03:31:05 · 8 answers · asked by just curious (A.A.A.A.) 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
whitehorse, no we shouldn't have turned the other cheek. we should have come up with a better plan of action. as it is written, it says we should turn the other cheek and offer it to our enemies. what should we take from that. that we should say, "ok, you got us. why don't you crash some planes into some other place now?"
2007-12-06 03:39:42 · update #1
dd, i'm not talking out of both sides of my mouth. i'm talking about people who go to war, not people who founded this country. i don't follow how you think that equates to me contradicting myself.
2007-12-06 04:50:29 · update #2
just because i believe this country was not founded on christian principles does not mean there are not a large number of christians who live here. my question has nothing to do with that. my question is asking why so many christians are apparently pro-war. they could be christians in another christian. where they live is second to the fact that they are pro-war christians.
2007-12-06 04:52:31 · update #3
Jesus said a lot more than just turn the other cheek. (If Jesus existed at all... but that's another question.) He said "RESIST NO EVIL."
Matthew 5:38-48
2007-12-06 03:36:06 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes. We do pick and choose what we want to follow, and you are a perfect example of what you are criticizing.
Christians are taught to turn the other cheek. Christians are also taught to sacrifice our lives so that others may have life. If we truly hunger and thirst after righteousness and justice, then sometimes it will take personal sacrifice.
I'm not a big advocate of war. I believe that war is only done when no other option remains viable. In the case of 9/11 the USA found itself being attacked but with many supporters. Even Muslims could not believe that it was possible for such a thing to come from other Muslims. Even liberal Democrats wanted to go to war!
Once the USA was entrenched in the war then the USA found that it had no supporters. It was viewed as Nazi-like, evil and war-mongering.
A better response would have been to set up an office of Islamic affairs within the Executive Office. Then our policy would be seen as strengthening reason, and enabling Muslim countries to seek democracy and oppose extremism. The terrorists may have never been able to attract popular support amoung their Muslim brothers.
2007-12-06 11:46:55 · answer #2 · answered by Dr. D 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We should have turned the other cheek...look at the mess we are in and the innocent lives lost as a result of our disobedience.
We are the most powerful nation in the world and the country we are at war against doesn't even have a formal military. No airplanes, no nuclear bombs, etc. And yet we cannot find victory. Do you think this would be the case if we were following God's will like when the Israelites obeyed the Lord in the face of their enemies?
5 This is what the LORD says:
"Cursed is the one who trusts in man,
who depends on flesh for his strength
and whose heart turns away from the LORD.
6 He will be like a bush in the wastelands; (Jer 17)
2007-12-06 11:34:29 · answer #3 · answered by whitehorse456 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
in regards to the U.S. not turning the other cheek...didn't you say earlier that our nation was NOT founded on christianity (or the principles)? so, from that point of view, why should we turn the other cheek? don't talk out of both sides of your mouth...
and yes, iraq IS the mother of all screw ups...i PRAY that our boys come home SOON!!! let dem crazy bastids kill each other over there...
your question==>Founded by christians?
why do people claim this country was founded by christians, when non-christian native americans lived here for centuries before any christian, european settlers arrived? did the native americans not discover this land first?
20 hours ago - 3 days left to answer.
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averell, as opposed to the peaceful european colonists?
so, if the country was not founded by christians, why do we need to use christian principles?????????????????
2007-12-06 12:11:57 · answer #4 · answered by ddking37 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You presume that the destruction of one's body in this world by an enemy is undesireable. If you believe the bible, then you should turn the other cheek. It doesn't say, "Turn the other cheek unless it means you're going to get hurt."
2007-12-06 11:35:52 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's called "free choice". Most of the men are THERE so YOU can be HERE demonstrating YOUR FREEDOM. If you were there, do you think you would be allowed to express yourself as you have here? Why do you think people flock to this country? In the United States there are only two people who have died for YOU! JESUS and THE AMERICAN SOLDIER! If you are in the USA don't burn the flag, get behind it!
2007-12-06 11:41:33 · answer #6 · answered by tampagramma 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Turning the cheek is for minor insults, like here.
We all fall short from the glory of God, and we all need Him for our salvation
2007-12-06 12:37:16 · answer #7 · answered by Nina, BaC 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
now you are talking about confessed sinners,right.
2007-12-06 11:49:40 · answer #8 · answered by Od Ephraim Chai 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋