At least that’s what John H. Yoder liked to call it. Behind the simple claim that only violence is effective, there is a power of deception deeper than mere illogic. One of its most extreme forms is what I have called the “King-Che discrepancy.” The thought pattern is widespread. I was first struck by it [...]
The social contract rootage of a moral imperative or legal provision, to which modern thought usually resorts in order to explain when something is right or wrong, would lie in calculations about what kind of society you get if life is protected or if it is not. This kind of thinking generally calls for the [...]
Yoder produced an excellent commentary on Matthew xx.25-26 and lording over others. Some things to think on.
Thursday afternoon, I was listening to Tuesday’s broadcast of Dr. Albert Mohler‘s radio program via podcast. I like to check out some of his shows because he always has relevant topics, presents his take on it, and interacts with callers and emailers with respect, intellect, and a genuine heart for not only truth but also [...]
I have been participating in the women’s Bible studies that our church has been offering over the past couple of years. I have really enjoyed those studies and God has always used them to richly bless me and lead me into a deeper understanding of Himself. During this last study that we just completed we [...]
This is not something I could not discuss. It is incredibly disturbing, even if it’s nowhere near novel, new, unprecedented, unheard of, or surprising. A shock, most definitely. But, unfortunately, expected whenever you have the evil called war. On 5 April 2010, WikiLeaks “released a classified US military video depicting the indiscriminate slaying of over [...]
It’s sad to say I was glad to see CPT’s report on Iraq after seven years come in my email today. The update, titled "Iraq Reflection: Iraq, After Seven Years of War," by Peggy Gish should be a welcome reminder for everyone. You can read the update here in full, but I’ve quoted some interesting [...]
If you’re a Christian pacifist, no doubt you’ve come across advocates for war who challenge our understanding of the words of Jesus in the Sermon of the Mount (Mt. v-vii or Lk. vi). One challenge in particular has to do with the application of these words from Jesus: Love your enemies, do good to those [...]
As I continue to read and think about the so called Just War theory, I more often question how many Christians who advocate for war actually believe in the Just War theory. Do we see the theory being applied? Are wars being tested by it’s requirements? If a war doesn’t meet a requirement, are Just [...]
But even if they [advocates for war, or the war as needed folks] refuse to hear me, and to respect the restraints they are theoretically committed to [by the requirements of the Just War tradition they promote], I owe it to their dignity as fellow humans, some of whom are fellow Christians, to address them [...]
