I remember in basic training when I was in the US Army and we learned how to use bayonets for the first time. All of us soldiers were standing around a platform as the Drill Sergeant talked to us.
"How many of you joined the Army for college money raise your hand" he said.
About half or more of the people there raised their hands.
"Well today, you're going to learn how to kill" was his reply.
The process of affixing a bayonet to the end of your M16 is a rather simple task, but what it means to the soldier is not simple at all. When you 'fix bayonets' it means that you have either a. ran out of ammo or b. you are about to be in very close quarters combat. Either of these options is not really an exciting prospect for anyone.
After fixing our bayonets, the Drill Sergeant would yell "what makes the green grass grow?" and we would reply " Blood Blood Bright Red Blood!". For the new soldier in basic training, the thought of using a bayonet, when you joined for college money, is quite startling I'm sure.
Here's the deal- whether people like it or not, our country was formed with the blood of the patriots that have fought in our numerous wars. Its horrible to think about the scores of people who have died in our nations wars, but important to remember that it is their sacrifice that has directly provided the freedoms that we have today.
The thought of blood being the price to pay for someones freedom is a kind of macabre. But the reality is that sometimes it is only through death that actual freedom and progress can be made. I know that the peace-nics don't accept or understand this notion, but history has proven it true.
I wish there were another way for resolution in diplomacy devoid of blood and death, but when you look at where we've come from, I'm not sure if it would have been possible.
Today I am reminded of the most powerful sacrifice and bloody death ever experienced. It was the death of Jesus of Nazareth on a cross. His bloody death was an act of service for all humanity. His blood provided a way to freedom and a payment for our sins. It was sad. It was bloody. It was necessary.
Yes, death and blood are scary and sad, but I thank God for the sacrifice of those young men and women who have provided my freedoms today. I honor them, and their families for what they have given.
I will never desecrate their name, Dishonor our flag, or forget what they have done.
Thank you
Matt
If im a Christian, and my enemy is a Christian - then whose side is God on? Has anyone ever wondered this?
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting that you give the kind of honor to your country that should be given to God first.
You speak of our country and its soldiers as something that should be worshipped.. in doing this you take honor from God and im sure this makes him sad. People call this patriotism, but isn't it really a type of worship?
There is a way for resolution of any kind of dissagrement.... WALK AWAY!
There are those who don't follow this, but isn't it taught that we should turn the other cheek. God didn't say "thou shalt not kill, except when your country sends you to war.. then its ok" He means everyone at everytime.
God also says that vengence is for him, not for you or some government agency, but for him alone.
I don't want this to sound like an attack, but rather questions you should ask yourself.
I'm getting tired of all these misconeceptions caused by incorrect translation of the bible. The original hebrew word from which they translated "kill" means "murder" (spilling innocent blood) not just "kill" in general.
ReplyDeleteGod gave the commandent not to kill (not to murder) and yet he sent them to many battles after that.
Hope this sets things straight.
I just wanted respond to the first persons comments really quick. Alot of people tend to take words in the Bible way out of context. As the person above stated, the initial hebrew word means murder, not kill. If it was meant to include self defense Jesus himself wouldn't have told his disciples to sell what they had and go pick up swords(Luke 22:36). Alot of times you need to understand the times to understand the meaning behind something and not the literal translation. A good example of this is the "turn the other cheek" reference you made... This passage has been interpreted as an injunction of nonviolent resistance, and a teaching that it is wrong to commit violence, even in self-defense or retaliation. Since this passage calls for total nonresistance, and since human governments defend themselves by military force, it has led some to Christian anarchism.
ReplyDeleteA figurative interpretation relies on historical and other factors. At the time of Jesus, striking someone deemed to be of a lower class with the back of the hand was used to assert authority and dominance. If the persecuted person "turned the other cheek," the discipliner was faced with a dilemma. The left hand was used for unclean purposes, so a back-hand strike on the opposite cheek would not be performed. The other alternative would be a slap with the open hand as a challenge or to punch the person, but this was seen as a statement of equality. Thus, by turning the other cheek the persecuted was in effect demanding equality.
Also, I don't see anywhere in here where we were told to build a golden calf to our soldiers and pray to them... Personally I pray FOR them all the time. I think what this blog's message was is really to be thankful. I believe he was using todays theme of Veterans day and the freedom of America to parallel a point that we, like America are free because of the death of someone else. If anything he was raising the point that we should be worshipping God that much more. And as a Veteran who helped fight for our freedoms, I want to thank any Veterans for the things they gave up for me. Just think how much more we should thank God for his sacrifice and what he gave up.
This isn't an attack either, just a little education... God Bless -Ryan
Yes, God has sent many men into battle.
ReplyDeleteBut it was God who chose to do this, not men.
You see we cannot put ourselves at the same level as God, therefore for us to justify a death by another humans hands is not our place, we couldn't possibly begin to know when God thinks a battle is justified.
So to Kill, or murder or youthanize or abort or commit suicide... however you want to say it and in any context... still doesn't make it right.
So I ask again,
If you are a Christian and your enemy is a Christian, whos side is God on?
I personally don't think hes on either side, he wouldn't want you to kill your fellow man no matter the reason.
There is no justification for putting country above God, which most of America does!
That is true to a point. However, we aren't sent to another country to kill. We are sent there to show a military force and create peace. However, if someone starts shooting at me while I am there, I can shoot back in self-defense. If my enemy is truly Christian, he won't start shooting at me in the first place... To generalize that most of America puts country above God is rediculous. That's like saying all Muslims are radical terrorists. Not the case... I will tell you that whatever reason people think up as to why we are in Iraq and Afghanastan, we are doing good over there. When I first got there, kids were running around in the streets. Not a bad thing until I mention they had no sewer system plan and that the streets were the sewer system. Thier water towers were empty or contaminated. I could tell a million stories of how we have helped thier infastructure and created a better quality of life for those people. War, no war. Those people needed help too and it just happened that it was our military that did those things. Terrorism exists. Our choice is do we let them come and fight us here in America and have 9-11 again, or do we go there and fight it away from the ones we love. It's not a matter of if we should go to war, but a matter of where...
ReplyDeleteNot only killing is justified in some cases but is actually required in many cases. Murder (spilling innocent blood) idol worship, whichcraft, adultery... that's just to name a few
ReplyDeleteThere is a number of violations of God's law for which God commanded the death penalty.
To say it's ok to go to war and to kill only when God has commanded to do so, is to say that God Himself commands that we transgress His own commandments (thou shall not kill) in this case, which would be absurd.
Therefore it should be understood that the commandment says thou shall not murder. We can (and should) still have capital punishment for criminals and to fight wars.
greater love hath no man than this, that he would lay down his life for his friend...Jusus did this for me and you, and the Men and Women of our armed services have put themselves in that position for all of us too. Even in "peace time" it is a great sacrifice. Thank you Matt, and all of our Vets and Service people.
ReplyDeleteTo appreciate them is not to place them above God, it is just to recognize their sacrifice and say thanks.
Dan Alexander