tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2297123538697121962.post2807933708323369315..comments2024-03-29T06:32:46.796-07:00Comments on Seeking the Truth Of Things: Notes on Christian pacifismColin Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16238440503062979951noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2297123538697121962.post-88211483282972763292018-03-20T15:20:43.030-07:002018-03-20T15:20:43.030-07:00Thank you for reading my blog! You have raised an ...Thank you for reading my blog! You have raised an important point. This is I think is the most difficult problem I faced in trying to think this through, and I don't pretend to have a final answer. I think it is unavoidable that the state's role in repressing wickedness must be exercised, and with wisdom, whether Christians are in the majority or not. Police have to police, make arrests, intervene to prevent or stop violence and crime. The legislators and judiciary have to support this in a righteous way. This takes us into a whole new level of how to govern the problematic aspects of society in a Christian way. That of course is simply restating the problem, and not offering a solution of how Christian pacifism can operate at state level. Indeed, Christians ought to be speaking wisely to the powers-that-be whether in the minority or the majority. Jesus has been made Lord of the nations, and leaders will be accountable to them, so it would make no sense not to speak Christian wisdom into the process of government. I believe that some of my points about non-violent activism sit well in this. Authorising violence is also an unavoidable activity in repressing evil, so I don't believe in absolute pacifism. At this point, I think it becomes more difficult for the church's witness in modelling the new creation. There will be a good deal more to be think through, but I hope this is a useful contribution to a conversation that will run and run!Colin Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16238440503062979951noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2297123538697121962.post-9881756404403075962018-03-20T08:25:34.880-07:002018-03-20T08:25:34.880-07:00"A hypothetical question rears its head here...."A hypothetical question rears its head here. In a state where the vast majority of the populace are disciples of Jesus, how should their government, mainly comprised of Christians, fulfil the state’s role of repressing the wicked?" I'm not sure this a hypothetical question, it's a very real question. Given that the Government is a social structure made up of group of people from within the society with power to govern people in the society. Therefore, "In a state where the vast majority of the populace are disciples of Jesus, how should their government, mainly comprised of Christians, fulfil the state’s role of repressing the wicked?" becomes a very real and important question– the basis for the critique of the criticism of "Absolute Pacifism", especially– when Jesus and his disciples seemed to have represented absolute pacifism.Prince Odoemenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16067624118056056179noreply@blogger.com