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RE: What do you think about bringing a knife to church? - 10/4/2009 8:30:15 PM
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agapist
Posts: 662
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I take the question as being mostly playful; the serious folk are talking about bringing guns. When we consider the usual weapons of terrorism, a knife is naive.
Do we look to protect our loved ones? Of course. What are we protecting? Their souls primarily. If we are looking for a weapon, it is good to show our loved ones The Weapon is The Word. When we emphasize the need for worldly protection, we de-emphasize His protection. The peace of the lord be with you; this is not easy to realize when we are concerned with self-preservation. for ourselves or for others.
This may not seem to fit here but obliquely it does: "I have not come to bring peace but a sword...anyone who loves his father or mother (son or daughter) before me is not worthy of me." The physical safety of our loved ones is a concern but it is not our ultimate concern. And what is death, which we will all face, if our heart is true. Do we seek to preserve life at all costs? Is the preservation of life really that important?
Life is short. Don't lengthen it unnecessarily with fear or worry.
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RE: What do you think about bringing a knife to church? - 10/4/2009 8:56:38 PM
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agapist
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It is my experience that Christian Americans confuse the Bill of Rights with God's standard; notably here, the "right" to bear arms. Resorting to a worldly weapon for our protection seems not merely wise but sanctified. It's "inalienable" for crying out loud!
The best standard we can use over questions like this is, Are we being fooolish in our response? If so, good. The Way, which is Christ, is radically different than conventional wisdom and CONTRADICTS worldly values.
Rule of thumb: if it seems reasonable and logical, we are probably overlooking God's standard.
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RE: What do you think about bringing a knife to church? - 10/4/2009 9:31:59 PM
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navyblueret
Posts: 1972
Joined: 11/29/2008
From: S/W Nebraska
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agapist is absolutely correct in his statement. We all should be able to do exactly as he states.
You all may have to leave me behind, because I have never been able to lay down my weapons and invite my enemy to kill me, even though I know they cannot kill me, as I am a son of God, and would only graduate to my eternity in His presence.
Agapist, you speak well, and may have that mustard seed of faith, which I am still striving to achieve. Of course, if we were able to do as you say, we would not have a need for God to close the Age of Grace. I fear, my friend, that we all still have a ways to go before achieving the perfection of spirit that you describe. I do agree with you.
In Messiah. Arley
_____________________________
In the name of 'THE' Mashiach, Man the wall, set the watch, sound the Shofar. Our redemption draws nigh.
Messiah, my Captain, and Helmsman.
(Joh 14:6 KJV) ... I am the way, the truth, and the life: ...
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RE: What do you think about bringing a knife to church? - 10/4/2009 9:52:24 PM
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John_O
Posts: 7803
Joined: 9/5/2006
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quote:
ORIGINAL: agapist
It is my experience that Christian Americans confuse the Bill of Rights with God's standard; notably here, the "right" to bear arms. Resorting to a worldly weapon for our protection seems not merely wise but sanctified. It's "inalienable" for crying out loud!
The best standard we can use over questions like this is, Are we being fooolish in our response? If so, good. The Way, which is Christ, is radically different than conventional wisdom and CONTRADICTS worldly values.
Rule of thumb: if it seems reasonable and logical, we are probably overlooking God's standard.
If a couple teachers at columbine were armed and able to take out the perps a bunch of those kids the perps killed wouldn't be in hell right now.
We (Christians) don't bear arms so much to defend ourselves as to defend others. This is why we oppsoe terrorism. The terrorists cannot really hurt us (Free ticket home!? Cool beans!!) But when they are blowing themselves down to hell they sure can take a bunch of people with them. people that may hear and respond to the gospel given a chance.
_____________________________
Psalms 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
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RE: What do you think about bringing a knife to church? - 10/5/2009 12:49:00 AM
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agapist
Posts: 662
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John_O, do you see where that leads? There is Lk11:21, but everything Christ said has to be taken within a spiritual context, not a worldly one. Where the balance is, is what matters. We find our balance in Christ, not in our reason.
The "ifs" are many and really not worth exploring. But in responding to the threat, a teacher may have accidently killed someone who would not have been injured. The cowardly assassin might have used their weapon, after killing another person who might not have been slain, to kill still others. The question if lives would have saved is mote. There is no way to know for certain.
Yet in a logical analysis, without the happenstance and variables that could happen, we will conclude "teachers being armed" would have saved lives. God is in control. Death, for a true follower of Christ, is reward.
It is a worldly value to preserve life at any cosy, especially those of the innocent.
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RE: What do you think about bringing a knife to church? - 10/5/2009 6:25:29 AM
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DaveW
Posts: 3812
Joined: 4/12/2005
From: MD suburbs of Washington DC
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quote:
ORIGINAL: agapist
I take the question as being mostly playful; the serious folk are talking about bringing guns. When we consider the usual weapons of terrorism, a knife is naive.
CSI WILLOWS: Who brings a gun to a knife fight??
CSI GRISSOM: The winner.
_____________________________
Avatar is my daughter Laura and SIL David on their wedding 9/20/09 ====================================
Our CD is now available here:
http://cdbaby.com/cd/dswaggoner
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RE: What do you think about bringing a knife to church? - 10/5/2009 8:21:44 AM
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leftwing
Posts: 213
Joined: 5/25/2009
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I'm gonna jump into it here but this whole topic just 'gets my goat'!
For one thing, I've carried a pocket knife since before I was a cub scout. Lost most of them but Dad kept giving me one.. to learn to carry it, to use it and to have it when (and there is ALWAYS a need for a pocket knife, if for no other reason than to strip a wire while working on your old truck)
This question would not have been asked if not for the paranoia that came from 9/11. The fact that the terrorists used box cutters to carry out their acts of murder and intimidation has gotten the whole country on this 'OMG, a knife???!!!' trip.
Lets remember, we are a nation of 99.9% good people and in my opinion, I prefer every man and woman to always carry a knife of their own.. that way I don't have to loan them mine. 
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RE: What do you think about bringing a knife to church? - 10/5/2009 6:44:24 PM
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navyblueret
Posts: 1972
Joined: 11/29/2008
From: S/W Nebraska
Status: offline
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Well Said, leftwing, Well Said.
In Messiah. Arley
_____________________________
In the name of 'THE' Mashiach, Man the wall, set the watch, sound the Shofar. Our redemption draws nigh.
Messiah, my Captain, and Helmsman.
(Joh 14:6 KJV) ... I am the way, the truth, and the life: ...
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