Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84 exptools; site whuxl.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxt!houxm!whuxl!orb From: orb@whuxl.UUCP (SEVENER) Newsgroups: net.religion,net.religion.christian Subject: What does it mean to be a Christian? Message-ID: <603@whuxl.UUCP> Date: Wed, 24-Apr-85 15:36:30 EST Article-I.D.: whuxl.603 Posted: Wed Apr 24 15:36:30 1985 Date-Received: Thu, 25-Apr-85 04:11:51 EST References: <893@topaz.ARPA> <2635@mcnc.UUCP> <> <366@gargoyle.UChicago.UUCP> <414@cybvax0.UUCP> <1292@shark.UUCP> Organization: /usr/exptools/lib/netnews/myorg Lines: 68 Xref: watmath net.religion:6739 net.religion.christian:670 Our current political leader, named as the second most-admired man in America by a recent poll of teenagers, continues to beat his chest in proclaiming his Christianity. Recently he claimed that the Pope supported his plan to give military aid to terrorists in Nicaragua. The Pope promptly denied any such support. However several months ago President Reagan cited a parable by Jesus Christ to support the biggest spending for War in history. He said: ****************************************************************** * You might be interested to know that the Scriptures are on our side * on this - Luke 14:31 - in which Jesus, in talking to the disciples, * spoke about a king who might be contemplating going to war against * another king with his 10,000 men. * * But he sits down and counsels how good he's going to do against the * other fellow's 20,000 and then says he may have to send a delegation * to talk peace terms. * * Well, I don't think we ever want to be in a position of only being * half as strong and sending a delegation to negotiate, under these * circumstances, peace terms with the Soviet Union. ****************************************************************** Wouldn't the Christians and others who admire Jesus Christ's life of nonviolence say that this is a travesty of all that Jesus stood for. Jesus allowed himself to be crucified rather than oppose his persecutors with violence. Here is the actual passage President Reagan referred to: ****************************************************************** * Or what king, going to encounter another king in war, will not * sit down first and take counsel whether he is able with ten * thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? * And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends an * embassy and asks terms of peace. * * So therefore, whoever of you does not renounce all that he has * cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:31 ****************************************************************** Isn't it clear that Jesus, as with all his life and words, is counseling Peace rather than War? In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said: (Matthew 5:9) "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." Jesus did NOT say "Blessed are the warmakers and those who prepare for War." When Jesus was seized to be crucified Matthew 26:51-52 says: ****************************************************************** * And behold one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand * and drew his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest, and cut * off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into * its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword." ******************************************************************* Our President has been wrapping his militaristic policies in a cloak of Christianity. Is this what Christianity really means? Are Christians going to support such policies as other "Christians" supported the Inquisition and the Crusades? Fundamentalist Christians were reported to have voted for Ronald Reagan by a margin of about 77%. Is this what you voted for? Do the Christians on the net really believe the lesson of Christ's life was to abandon all other social goals to prepare to incinerate the planet? tim sevener whuxl!orb