A relative of mine had gone back into our ancestry shared it with the rest of the family. It was not too surprising to find many were fleeing religious persecution. Starting out as Celtic origin eventually settling in the US and Northern Canada. We were of the early Brethren faith until my uncles decided to join up in World War two and were shunned. I think we have had a generation in every war since, my father a Korean war vet and I was Vietnam vet. Far from our Brethren roots and faith which prohibits a member from entering armed services.
I believe in peace and without a doubt choose peace over war - but also believe there is a time for everything under the sun. If a neighbor was being mugged I certainly would not sit by and watch or if my children were being harmed would protect them. Luke 6:29 And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also. This is a difficult thing to do, turn the other cheek. I have learned to with hold anger and to not be possessive my things are not worth shooting someone over. I would however protect the life of my grandchildren or fellow soldier in war time.
Is it wrong to go to war - the bible says thou shall not kill. Yet - God has intervened in helping the Israelite in defeating enemies- David and Goliath . There is a time and place for everything, a christian soldier was one of my favorite poets Alfred Joyce Kilmer who wrote the poem "Trees" and another favorite "The House with nobody in it". He was of the christian faith and once turned down a commission to fight on the front lines, in which he lost his life to a snipers bullet. He did not write that many poems considering his main claim to fame was poetry. I can say war is one of my pet peeves, in my poems call it the whore of humanity. A lot of good men and women losing their lives and sometimes in friendly fire. There is a time for even war though- to protect your loved ones from a foreign invader.
I do remember turning the cheek when being mocked as a christian but never left my post or would have any hesitation to fire my weapon if called upon. This is a tough call Jesus did not come to judge the world but to save it, yet there is a time for judgement and a time to act. Fortunately I never had to kill another human being but have lost dozens of close friends in war time, in a plane crash.
I attend the Lutheran church and my wife is Catholic so also attend there too, but could just as much feel at home in a Baptist or any fundamental church. I would not consider ever going back to our origins of Brethren , if we did not fight for this country during the revolutionary war we would be be under the control and persecution of the British still offering oaths to the Queen instead of in God we trust. I know there are pacifist Christians of various denominations who enjoy the freedoms the Baptist, Lutherans and Catholics and others have died for in good conscience and that some day Jesus will come to judge the wicked and with an army,Yes- there is a time for everything under the sun.
Jesus said in Matthew 7:6 "Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you". That is also in the bible. Not everyone will be receptive to Gods grace or words. There are evil and wicked people out there , that have no intention of changing- this is reality. My experience has been to reach others earlier in life for a higher success rate, I would not want to discourage anyone in prison ministry, since they are most needy- so I removed my personal experience from this posting. I regret perhaps sounding harshly toward my Brethren origin, or any Amish or Mennonite Christians that have passive resistance policies asking their forgiveness. Sometimes passive resistance works and would be my first choice , but this is a non -perfect world in which in defense of the innocent and to fight for liberty I would.
One of my favorite persons of all time beside Jesus Christ of course was George Washington , I write about him in my poetry, here is an example of one of his letters:
"The Hand of providence has been so conspicuous in all this, that he must be worse than an infidel that lacks faith, and more than wicked, that has not gratitude enough to acknowledge his obligations". He was talking about service to his country at that time.
http://www1.poemhunter.com/poem/george-10/
http://www.poemhunter.com/joyce-kilmer/
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/those-red-letter-words/
I believe in peace and without a doubt choose peace over war - but also believe there is a time for everything under the sun. If a neighbor was being mugged I certainly would not sit by and watch or if my children were being harmed would protect them. Luke 6:29 And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also. This is a difficult thing to do, turn the other cheek. I have learned to with hold anger and to not be possessive my things are not worth shooting someone over. I would however protect the life of my grandchildren or fellow soldier in war time.
Is it wrong to go to war - the bible says thou shall not kill. Yet - God has intervened in helping the Israelite in defeating enemies- David and Goliath . There is a time and place for everything, a christian soldier was one of my favorite poets Alfred Joyce Kilmer who wrote the poem "Trees" and another favorite "The House with nobody in it". He was of the christian faith and once turned down a commission to fight on the front lines, in which he lost his life to a snipers bullet. He did not write that many poems considering his main claim to fame was poetry. I can say war is one of my pet peeves, in my poems call it the whore of humanity. A lot of good men and women losing their lives and sometimes in friendly fire. There is a time for even war though- to protect your loved ones from a foreign invader.
I do remember turning the cheek when being mocked as a christian but never left my post or would have any hesitation to fire my weapon if called upon. This is a tough call Jesus did not come to judge the world but to save it, yet there is a time for judgement and a time to act. Fortunately I never had to kill another human being but have lost dozens of close friends in war time, in a plane crash.
I attend the Lutheran church and my wife is Catholic so also attend there too, but could just as much feel at home in a Baptist or any fundamental church. I would not consider ever going back to our origins of Brethren , if we did not fight for this country during the revolutionary war we would be be under the control and persecution of the British still offering oaths to the Queen instead of in God we trust. I know there are pacifist Christians of various denominations who enjoy the freedoms the Baptist, Lutherans and Catholics and others have died for in good conscience and that some day Jesus will come to judge the wicked and with an army,Yes- there is a time for everything under the sun.
Jesus said in Matthew 7:6 "Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you". That is also in the bible. Not everyone will be receptive to Gods grace or words. There are evil and wicked people out there , that have no intention of changing- this is reality. My experience has been to reach others earlier in life for a higher success rate, I would not want to discourage anyone in prison ministry, since they are most needy- so I removed my personal experience from this posting. I regret perhaps sounding harshly toward my Brethren origin, or any Amish or Mennonite Christians that have passive resistance policies asking their forgiveness. Sometimes passive resistance works and would be my first choice , but this is a non -perfect world in which in defense of the innocent and to fight for liberty I would.
One of my favorite persons of all time beside Jesus Christ of course was George Washington , I write about him in my poetry, here is an example of one of his letters:
"The Hand of providence has been so conspicuous in all this, that he must be worse than an infidel that lacks faith, and more than wicked, that has not gratitude enough to acknowledge his obligations". He was talking about service to his country at that time.
http://www1.poemhunter.com/poem/george-10/
http://www.poemhunter.com/joyce-kilmer/
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/those-red-letter-words/
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