I don't think I've EVER read anything so incredibly profound, yet shockingly simple. Kyle Lent has done it again. Conservative Christianity, here's the rebuke to end all rebukes. It's amazing what you learn from your own mistakes...
I have no doubt that Bin Laden and Saddam Hussein are evil and hateful men. I have no doubt that what they do - or did, in Hussein's case - is terrible and wrong. But here is the quandary, and this is where things become complicated: they are supposed to do those things. They are without Christ, and they have not been changed by His love. Those who are lost act lost. They don't know any other way. The problem is that I should know better. I am not called to judge them. I justify my revenge enough to believe that war is an answer. The truth is that, even though I am saved, I hate them and I deem myself worthy to judge them. I slap God in the face twice; not only with my hate and my inability to love my enemies, but through my belief that although He has decreed that He will judge all those according to their works, I still think that I know better than He does. It is as if I have completely torn Romans 2 from my Bible.
Comments
regan, thanks for the support. there are many things on both of these matters that i still find puzzling and am searching for what the Bible says on them. but overall, i feel the same.
please feel free to join the discussion over on my blog. God bless.
Posted by: kyle at August 27, 2007 09:12 AM
Nice. Kyle, add in Romans 12. I was having a conversation last year with someone about war and how I don't think the Christian call is to be involved in lethal action. I remember it vividly because I was a bit of a jerk.
He said: Well, I think that's a matter of interpretation.
I said: No it's not, it Romans 12.
Posted by: James at August 27, 2007 10:07 AM