Nonviolence is at the core of every religion and Jesus promised it is the peacemakers who are the daughters and sons of God.
Jesus denounced injustice, turned over the tables of the bankers in the Temple, was arrested, jailed, tortured and brutally executed, but remained nonviolent, compassionate and forgiving to all.
Jesus called us to love our neighbors-meaning everyone on the planet, to be compassionate to all, to seek justice for the disenfranchised, to forgive our enemies, to put down the sword.
It is a lack of imagination that accepts a future of endless war.
It is fear of the other that fuels fundamentalism.
The brand of Christianity being espoused in the military is a fear-filled ideology that supports empire in this world and does not support what Jesus stood and died for: forgiveness, compassion and nonviolence.
The militarization of Christianity has nothing to do with the teachings of Jesus who promised it is the peacemakers who are the children of God and not those that bomb, torture, starve or occupy others.
The militarization of Christianity defies that "God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. There is no fear in love. Perfect love drives out all fear because fear has to do with punishment." 1 John 4:16, 18
The militarization of Christianity as professed by anti-Christ's [against the teachings of Christ] from the pulpit by John Hagee and in the fictional "Left Behind" series of profane theology expresses the spirit of the anti-Christ: fear of the other that drives one to violence.
The militarization of Christianity thrives on fear of the other but Jesus said: "FEAR NOT! You shall know the truth and the truth will set you free."
The militarization of Christianity leaves behind all the non-negotiables for those who claim to be a Christian; which is you must forgive, bless and love your enemies.
The problem is not with Christianity but that too few have done it the way Jesus taught and modeled: to always work for PEACEFUL resolutions, even to the point of returning violence with compassion and forgiveness, as Jesus did when nailed to a cross and he prayed: "Father forgive them, they do not know what they are doing."
Christians are called by God to prayerfully use the gift of discernment and to test all things according to the teachings of Jesus. A follower of Jesus- or anyone with a good conscience- would choose equality, fraternity, community and nonviolent creative resistance to the evil that is violence.
It is willful ignorance, apathy, arrogance and misinformation that are holding back the transformation of hearts and minds to understand that war is the ultimate form of terrorism and supreme expression of the spirit of the anti-Christ; meaning against what Christ taught and modeled with his life.
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
