VENGEANCE ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE
by Eddie Snipes
Scripture: EZEKIEL 9:4-6, MATTHEW 5:44-46, PROVERBS 24:17-20
Vengeance According to Scripture
Eddie Snipes
Ezekiel 9:4-6; Matthew 5:44-46; Proverbs 24:17-20
In the wake of the recent bombings of the World Trade Centers and other terrorist attacks, many moral dilemmas have come to the forefront. Can we stand by idly after 5,000 people have been murdered without a cause? Can we forgive the men who ordered these murders, vow to continue murdering and have a history of mass murdering? Are we allowed to return fire? Does God avenge, or do we? Is God judging America, or is He calling America to judge wicked men?
I will state up front that I cannot see any examples in the scripture where we are told to allow a murderer to continue. We are commanded to stand against evil, but with very specific guidelines. If we become like our enemy, how can we be judges against our enemy? If we don't fight against wickedness, what is the result? We do have many modern history examples. If you look across history, you see one pattern that stands tall. Not one tyrant has plagued the world without the apathy of those who should have stood against him. Hitler rose to power without opposition. Deitrick Bonhoffer was the only pastor in Germany who openly opposed Hitler. Hitler preached hate and used hate to paint a rosy picture of Germany's glorious future. Where were the Christians? They either sided with Hitler and believed they were enlightened, or they were silent. Hitler rose to power ONLY because he was unopposed until he used his power base to trouble the world. Evil never stays behind its boundaries. If it is allowed, it always spreads.
Unfortunately, sometimes the only way to peace is to stop those whose goal it is to take away peace. Jesus said, 'blessed are the peacemakers for they shall see God'. Who is the peacemaker? In the glory days of Israel, the warrior King David was used by God to give Israel peace by defeating the troubling nations around them. David killed Goliath and defeated countless enemies of God through battle. Yet ...
Eddie Snipes
Ezekiel 9:4-6; Matthew 5:44-46; Proverbs 24:17-20
In the wake of the recent bombings of the World Trade Centers and other terrorist attacks, many moral dilemmas have come to the forefront. Can we stand by idly after 5,000 people have been murdered without a cause? Can we forgive the men who ordered these murders, vow to continue murdering and have a history of mass murdering? Are we allowed to return fire? Does God avenge, or do we? Is God judging America, or is He calling America to judge wicked men?
I will state up front that I cannot see any examples in the scripture where we are told to allow a murderer to continue. We are commanded to stand against evil, but with very specific guidelines. If we become like our enemy, how can we be judges against our enemy? If we don't fight against wickedness, what is the result? We do have many modern history examples. If you look across history, you see one pattern that stands tall. Not one tyrant has plagued the world without the apathy of those who should have stood against him. Hitler rose to power without opposition. Deitrick Bonhoffer was the only pastor in Germany who openly opposed Hitler. Hitler preached hate and used hate to paint a rosy picture of Germany's glorious future. Where were the Christians? They either sided with Hitler and believed they were enlightened, or they were silent. Hitler rose to power ONLY because he was unopposed until he used his power base to trouble the world. Evil never stays behind its boundaries. If it is allowed, it always spreads.
Unfortunately, sometimes the only way to peace is to stop those whose goal it is to take away peace. Jesus said, 'blessed are the peacemakers for they shall see God'. Who is the peacemaker? In the glory days of Israel, the warrior King David was used by God to give Israel peace by defeating the troubling nations around them. David killed Goliath and defeated countless enemies of God through battle. Yet ...
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