You know who you are
Israel Responds to Attack - Invades Gaza
I have definite thoughts about this but am wondering what your understanding of the basic facts are and how do you feel about it.
Is Israel Justified?
Was Hamas justified in sending rockets at Israel?
Do situations like this reveal that pacifists are irrelevant in today's world?
Does Israel have a right to exist as a nation and protect itself against their enemies?
Be bold and keep you contributions "short" and to the point.
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Timothy Wright on -
Hi,
Some wars have created peace. I don't like that fact but is true. I am not high a bit overweight though.
As I sit here conversing with you, that really is not my attitude. There may be peace and that would be fantastic. I am opposed to the war in Iraq. We should not have gone there.
But in our org,about two months ago, we had a young lady Gayle Williams shot dead in Kabul. Our org is Christian and she was was killed for working with down syndrome children and other difficulties. That is so sad.
I want peace but not being a person of dhimmi
Tim.
-
Permalink Reply by Alex McManus on -
Karla, I so respect your pov here. I think that when facing structural evil, force and violence are necessary and moral. I totally disagree with you, but I actually side with you against myself here in terms of what is Christian. I definitely think that you may rightfully claim the Christian pov on this. (Or at least a very strong Christian POV). You're a much, much better Christian than me here.
-
Permalink Reply by Karla Elisa on -
You know, thanks to the politics and religious worldview of people like Tim, I don't even call myself a Christian anymore. I did not abandon atheism for Christ only to abandon Christ for a set of phony principles I espouse in his name.
I call myself a follower of Christ. This pseudo Christianity is nothing but bullshit to me.
-
Permalink Reply by Timothy Wright on
-
we are born of the Spirit into His family, we can't choose who our brothers and sisters? We are brothers and sisters. "And the greatest of these is Love"
Tim
-
Permalink Reply by John Gnotek on -
Sounds out of character for secular humanist too.
-
Permalink Reply by Alex McManus on
-
LOL...Yes, I take what I like and leave the rest. I stink at being in a category.
-
Permalink Reply by Timothy Wright on
-
Hi Karla,
I have been thinking about your response to my thinking and I agree with you. There is a hardness in my heart that I am aware of and it extends way beyond this present conflict. I have been on a progressive path of wholeness in Christ for 27 years. And yet, there are places that I need a deeper freedom in Christ than I am experiencing. So thank you for your honesty and showing me to keep pursuing not only seeing things Jesus way but growing in Compassion like Jesus.
Peace
Tim
-
Permalink Reply by Karla Elisa on
-
It's kind of funny, Tim, cuz I've been dwelling on our exchange as well.
I most certainly have my share of weaknesses and flaws. Among them is this reactionary tsunami styled mouth of mine. I fear I fail Christ when I behave that way, as I oft times put the very person I'm trying to reach on the defensive effectively destroying any chance they will be receptive to my point.
Your humility and willingness to explore your dark spots both touch me deeply and inspire me to do the same. Perhaps thanks to this encounter we will both benefit and draw closer to God.
Shalom,
Karla
-
Permalink Reply by Timothy Wright on
-
Hi,
When I hear you, I sense passion for His Justice to be done, not mans. I pray that you keep that passion that is from Him. This is how you are wired, this is His gift to us through you. He is not finished with either one of us. Again, thanks for your passion and honesty.
Tim
-
Permalink Reply by Alex McManus on
-
John (and Karla) below, welcome to real world. That's the world Christians must address. John, btw, it's funny that you suggest a judicial solution (kudos on being constructive), but it's funny to me because only Israel represents a culture of Law in this conflict. The other (Hamas) is contrary to the rule of Law that would allow Israel to exist. It isn't until after people or cultures are governed by an agreed upon value system (or world view as Tim noted) that we can appeal to Law. Law is a derivative of a culture that births it and cannot be the basis of mutually agreed upon solution when one of the parties is lawless.
-
Permalink Reply by John Gnotek on
-
Alex, you better reread my posts. I've not once took the side of Hamas. If it seemed as such it was only playing devil's advocate to lift a mirror to see how ridiculous a statement was. I'm not for Hamas. I'm not against Israel. I put my trust in the teaching of Jesus, thus I choose to be a peacemaker. I'm against war. Why because I'm a pussy maybe? A pacifist? No. Dude I'm not even a Democrat. I voted Ron Paul.
Why am I against war? Because it's unChrist-like. UnGodly. God is about love. Show me love in war! War is evil in its nature. The effects and side-effects of war are evil. There has to be another way!
-
Permalink Reply by Alex McManus on
-
you mentioned "Palestinian freedom fighters". I asked you if we should read "Hamas" there. Who else would you be talking about?
Ron Paul? Nice. I knew that.
Like the Psalmist said, God prepare my fingers for war and my hands for battle. I take it you don't believe God as described in the OT?
Btw, John, I so enjoy you (and Karla as well as the others) for the way you challenge my thinking. A deeply grateful thanks. Truly.
Events
Thoughts from the IMN
The Human Event – Michigan
Join us at Kensington Community Church (Troy, Michigan) on October 13-14 for a 2-day conversation on the future of the church in the post-Christian and Trans-human 21st century west.
Neil Cole (Organic Church) Alex McManus (M Network)
and You.
Who is the Human Event for? Forward thinking, missional activists, thinkers, and leaders. If you think that may be [...]
Holiness and Risk
A few hours after touching down back in Scotland from The International Mentoring Network’s Immersion experience in Orlando, I found myself in a conversation about a Methodist Church initiative called Holiness and Risk.
Is it okay if I tell you a little about this? It’s a really intriguing kind of thing that can emerge [...]
Tomorrow and How to Get There – The Futuristic
Tomorrow. Face it with either fear or anticipation, it doesn’t matter which, it is coming regardless of our grasp of it. Fortunes have been made marketing knowledge about tomorrow whether that tomorrow is 24 hours away or 100 years distant.
Fortune tellers make the promise that that can allay our fears with their prognostication [...]
Communities of Knowing
In his book, The Message in the Bottle, Walker Percy tells the fictional story of a train that hurried through the countryside. The commuters on board saw the passing scenery as little more than a two-dimensional background rolling past their windows.
One day, though, the train breaks down and the commuters have to disembark by a [...]
Into the Beautiful Unknown (Cross-Posted)
Since Alex is publishing this blog post with the IMN newsletter, I thought it ought to have a link from the IMN as well. Enjoy. -Your friendly neighborhood editor-of-doom.
Sometimes I’m asked, What does “M” stand for? I usually answer, “Exactly.” The question is understandable. I use M a lot.
My website is theimn. My social network [...]
Badge
© 2010 Created by Alex McManus.
Powered by 
.
