Warrior spirit and Matt 6:43,44

[GlockHandgunner]

I have just finished The Combative Perspective. Gabe's book presents a solid mental paradigm for the warrior, a paradigm that happens to agree with me. In church this week Matt 5:43,44 was the sermon topic. I have worn my bible out trying to come to terms with this scriptrure as it relates to the christain warrior. I believe that when studing the word the scripture needs to be taken as a whole and more often then not one will find a common denominator needed to tie the teaching together. However, so far I have not found that common denominator. How can the christian warrior have a mindset (acceptable to the Lord) need to win the fight if we are to love our enemies? I believe the Bible in light of the New Testament indirectly condones self-defense (Luke 22:36) but I have not found the clearity on the topic I am looking for at this time. I would like to open this topic to your thoughts.
Thanks for your time.

Just read "Pict" post of 04/08 (after having posted this) very good info and thanks.

[Jack Rumbaugh]

Matthew 6:43 and 44 dosen't exist. It only goes to 34.

[Ragsbo]

Originally Posted by G30Jack

Matthew 6:43 and 44 dosen't exist. It only goes to 34.

He said Chapter 5, not 6.

[marshall]

You asked,
"How can the christian warrior have a mindset (acceptable to the Lord) need to win the fight if we are to love our enemies?"

Answer:
The key to this question lies in the meaning of the word "love." To love is not "to like." To love means to treat a person with justice, mercy and compassion simultaneously. Christian self-defense then must be MEASURED to meet the attack. A deadly attack may be lovingly met by a deadly defense. An un-armed attacker should not be shot. That might not be just. But he must be STOPPED, perhaps with a well-thrown punch. A mere insult may just be ignored.

One must also balance "love your enemy" with "love your neighbor." If loving my enemy means I turn him loose to go attack my neighbor, then I have failed to love my neighbor. Loving my neighbor takes precedence over loving my enemy, if he is also the enemy of the community.

Finally, we must love as God loves. God loves the world. In a sense, He loves every human being. But He also demands repentance, and has prepared a Day of Judgment and punishment for His enemies.

In conclusion: love is not a virtue to be taken all by itself, but love must be tempered with justice. We should love as God loves, and God does not excuse sin/crime, and sweep it under the rug.

[Jack Rumbaugh]

Originally Posted by Ragsbo

He said Chapter 5, not 6.

I think he corrected it. Look at the thread title at the very top...


Jack

[Gabe Suarez]

I will be doing a more thorough study of Matthew 5:43-44 soon, but we discussed this last night at our Warrior Bible Study.

Some interesting discoveries.

In studying the literal Word we need to determine who is being spoken to, what about and in what context. Only then will we get a picture of what the topic is really intended to teach. Moreover, when certain words are used in translation (like the all-inclusive "love" and "enemy" in the English language), a translation study is in order.

Here is what we found. The concept that "All men are brothers" is a 20th century invention, and nowhere in the Bible does such a thing appear.

Clearly there is a distinction between "the brethren" (i.e. believers, fellow Christians, fellow Jews, etc.) and non-believers. That is not say that non-believers are to be mistreated, but rather that you should seek to have fellowship and give deference to other believers. We are to try to live in peace with all men (as much as depends on us) , but clearly we are not to have fellowship with evil ones, nor to “love them”.

In the text, Matthew 5:43-44, Christ is speaking to Jews, and admonishing them not to fight among themselves (something they were famous for doing). Read a few verses before in -

Matthew 5:22 -"But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without cause, shall be in danger of the judgment".

"Without cause" is a phrase that is very easily forgotten by pacifistic pastors, yet there it is. This infers that is acceptable to be angry…if there be cause.

The actual text in question -

Matthew 5:43 "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your friends, hate your enemies.'
44 But now I tell you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

Christ is speaking to Jews, who are constantly fighting each other over trivial matters. The context of the discussion includes holding grudges, adultery, taking oaths, insults, legal proceedings, etc. In essence, social issues that can destroy a community. Christ was very specific in all things, and had he been talking about something else, such as rapes, murders, robbery, etc., He'd have used examples more in line with physical attacks (and no, a slap or strike to the face is not the same). Repeatedly He mentions "brothers". That brothers should not fight.

Now here is the issue. All Scripture is valid. God does not change. So if God sanctioned the destruction of evil men at the hands of righteous men in the OT, when Israel was a mighty power, He certainly did not change His mind in the NT, when Israel was a conquered nation.

As far as the definition of "enemy". In the OT, Joshua, David, Judges, etc. killed more Philistines and other divisive and evil legions than you can shake a stick at, yet God was not displeased with this. God is the same today, yesterday, and tomorrow. He changes not.

"Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you"...if they are your brothers. That is the message I get out of the text as well as my other brothers who read it.

Later in the NT, Paul mentions in 2 Corinthians 6:14 - Do not try to work together as equals with unbelievers, for it cannot be done. How can right and wrong be partners? How can light and darkness live together?

Do you see?

2 Corinthians - How can Christ and the Devil agree? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?

Now that brings up an interesting point. The Devil is the enemy of all. Big time. Christ would never suggest we must love him, and clearly does not do so here. God is one, and not duplicitous. He will not confuse us by telling us to love an enemy we are supposed to abhor.

Romans 12:9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

You can't abhor (literally hate) something or someone, and yet love them. To think that you somehow can is a 20th century invention. Yet when you read on, and the discussion is about brethren (all believers are saints in the NT), here is what is said -
Romans 12:13 distributing to the needs of the saints, pursuing hospitality.
Rom 12:14 Bless those who persecute you; bless, and do not curse.
Rom 12:15 Rejoice with rejoicing ones, and weep with weeping ones;
Rom 12:16 minding the same thing toward one another, not minding high things, but yielding to the lowly. Do not be wise within yourselves.

The message is not to love everyone unconditionally regardless of who they are and what they do. Love your neighbor, your brother and fellow believer. Try to live in peace with ALL MEN, be examples to ALL MEN, but do not seek fellowship with unbelievers. As far as what is evil, and who is evil...well, the message is clear.

I hope our Chaplain Dale Fricke can add to the discussion as I spent a good portion of last night studying this with him and the rest of the 15%.

[michael]

Great stuff Gabe! I'm printing this off to save with my other Christian Warrior studies.

[tReznr]

Originally Posted by Gabe Suarez

Now here is the issue. All Scripture is valid. God does not change. So if God sanctioned the destruction of evil men at the hands of righteous men in the OT, when Israel was a mighty power, He certainly did not change His mind in the NT, when Israel was a conquered nation.

...God is the same today, yesterday, and tomorrow. He changes not.

Gabe, as always this is very interesting stuff. Let me ask you this though: how do you reconcile the differences between the old and the new testament? While I agree that God does not ever change, the fact remains that we are no longer held by the covenant of the old testament in regards to dietary rules and the need for animal sacrifices.

I actually do agree with what your saying, but isn't it true that there are differences between the old and new testament? Thus, couldn't it be argued by some that the way the old testament warriors acted is not valid today?

[Kobra]

I would suggest you read the article I posted that was written by Martin Luther. I don't recall the title unfortunately. Dale lives by it now. ;-)

Kobra

[Pale Horse]

One thing you must understand is that God never changes. In the OT he said it was OK to defend yourself and not be held liable by the courts/law, the scripture slips my mind.

Christ nor his disciples would ever say anything that negated the OT, however there are some things that were put away because Christ fulfilled that part of the law. An Example is Acts 10:15 when Peter was told that the dietary law was void by Christ. There are some things that are not in play right now because they were meant to set the Jews apart and their diet was one of them.

Another thing is when Christ came the first time it was to, as I said before, to fulfill the law. The next time he comes it will not be the same, he is going to judge the world.

So as you look at the passage in Matt. 5 it is talking about acts that set Christians apart from the world so that the world sees there is a difference. Loving your enemy is an admerable thing and what Christ says will seperate us, but more that being admerable it is a command from Christ. Loving your neighbor/enemy is tough sometimes. For example if you were to sit down with a terrorist what would you do? Would you share with him the good news of Christ or would you plant two in his chest. This is of course assuming he is not trying to kill people. I would be hard pressed to share with him honestly. This is one way that the Lord can change him. God's word does not come back void, it will always have a return. I think Gabe hit the point, "If you shall call your brother Raca (Fool) you are guilty of murder." That is how serious Christ sees the subject.

Love your enemy also love your neighbor. Be at peace with all men and let your charity be known to all men.

Guys I dont have this fully pegged down so if you have questions let me know.