Re: moral dilemnas No1

In message <dbjtrp$2m6$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
"Daveytoo" <davey2623@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> So the question is this: how should a Christian approach this? Should I let
> a mugger or someone attacking me 'do their thing' and then turn the other
> cheek to have a second go? (as I have heard say they did/do)

You little realise the can of worms you are so blithely opening. Should
Christians be doormats and allow anyone to walk all over them? If you do not
resist the mugger, are you not encouraging him to mug others? Should a
Christian woman go to the police if she is raped?

My personal belief is that Jesus was asking us to forego personal
retaliation. If someone does you a wrong, don't brood on ways in which to
get even, don't start a feud. If possible, forgive the offender, but in any
case just get on with life. Don't stand on your "rights", don't expect
others to be perfect.

When third parties are involved, however, things are slightly different. We
should resist as far as we can the oppression of others or wrongs done to
others. In personal cases this may involve violence (I have twice
apprehended shoplifters and neither went quietly!) but in social cases one
should not use violence but passive resistance and persuasion.

Family life - which is what you referred to in the prologue to your question
- is another matter entirely. I don't believe that one is ever justified in
using force or violence against one's marriage partner. Children,
particularly small children, are a different matter: one may need to give
them a smack or even two or three smacks, but that should never be done in
anger. It's very easy to thrash a child when your blood is hot, it's very
difficult to do so when one is calm.

God bless,
Kendall K. Down

--
================ ARCHAEOLOGICAL DIGGINGS ===============
| Australia's premiere archaeological magazine |
| http://www.diggingsonline.com |
========================================================
.

Relevant Pages

  • Indias Anti-Christian Violence Unparalleled Among World Democracies
    ... Orissa violence continues unabated and enters seventh week as police ... All India Christian Council Regional ... Some police, mostly in rural areas, are neglecting their duties. ...
    (soc.culture.pakistan)
  • The Fertile Crescent
    ... Religious violence, be it of the cross or crescent, ... my religion – Christianity. ... Christian doctrine. ... Does anyone hear all that many Muslim voices condemning Hasan? ...
    (alt.politics.bush)
  • Re: Convert from Islam to Christianity killed
    ... Would you provide some examples of such modern day Christian violence? ... majority do not think funding embryonic stem cell research is in the ... examples of bigotry I can parade about - be it based on religion, ...
    (soc.retirement)
  • Re: What is the "Cause of God"
    ... religious violence from Christians, but not from the Baha'i Faith. ... wars of both the Islamic and christian clerical systems over the past ... did) that Jews are somehow evil and inspires his protestant church ... in the name of religion, that all prophets of God be respected. ...
    (soc.religion.bahai)
  • Major "religious right" leaders contribute to abuse of women -- keep em barefoot, pregnant,
    ... high-profile conservative Christian pastors. ... Andersen maintains that domestic violence in Christian families "often ... Anderson told me that the work of Dobson and MacArthur ... percentage of battering cases are instigated and provoked by the wife." ...
    (alt.politics)
Loading