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From: orb@whuxl.UUCP (SEVENER)
Newsgroups: net.religion,net.religion.christian
Subject: Re: Re: What does it mean to be a Christian?
Message-ID: <614@whuxl.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 30-Apr-85 14:32:42 EDT
Article-I.D.: whuxl.614
Posted: Tue Apr 30 14:32:42 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 1-May-85 03:49:47 EDT
References: <5802@duke.UUCP>
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Xref: watmath net.religion:6794 net.religion.christian:686

> >  
> > 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?
> 
>    Do not be quick to dismiss modern Christians as followers of Reagan
> or as apathetic.  Many are, and that is regrettable.  But there are many
> of us who are actively working, right now, to try to persuade the
> U.S. government to refrain from engaging in (or supporting) war for
> American self-interest, to stop using Christian-sounding statements
> to rationalize unjust aggression, and to work for world peace and the
> welfare of other nations.  My first-hand experience has been here in Durham, NC
> -- the local chapter of the Episcopal Peace Fellowship has been
> working with other peace groups this month to protest the proposed
> contra aid -- but I understand that similar protests have been organized
> across the nation.
>    While I understand the desire to prevent the establishment of a
> repressive government in Central America, it disturbs me that our government
> would easily resort to a military solution (that is, that they would attempt a
> military solution before all other means of conflict resolution have
> been tried and shown to be futile).  More significantly, it disturbs
> many other Christians as well.  There is concern and action for peace
> by Christians in this country; and this is action in the "real world",
> not just assorted articles on the net.
> 
>                                             N. L. Tinkham
>                                             duke!nlt
> 
> (The above political opinions are not necessarily held by Duke University, or
> by anyone else, for that matter.)

I am glad that you and the members of your Church are trying to follow
Christ's true path of nonviolence rather than support of war and violence.
One of the very positive things happening in Eastern Europe has been growing
support for the Peace Movement in the Churches in Communist countries.
Last year, when the Soviets announced planned new deployments of SS-20's
in Eastern Europe newspapers and other institutions were flooded with
letters of protest, many from Christians in those countries.
 
Unfortunately many Christians seem very hypocritical in their Christianity:
they want to go to Heaven but they don't wish to follow Christ's admonition
to "turn the other cheek" or the example of nonviolence and love he set
with both his life and teachings.  
 
When this country was debating slavery many Christians were active in trying
to abolish it, but unfortunately there were also many who argued slavery
was "supported by the Bible".
I would like to know how any Christians can argue that war and particularly
preparations for nuclear war when there is already the capability to
destroy the planet several times over, can be supported by the Gospels?
                 tim sevener  whuxl!orb