tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8974429219716701289.post8401585313957158972..comments2024-01-26T11:49:58.607-06:00Comments on Don's Desk: A Christian perspective on Osama Bin Laden's Death. To celebrate, or not to celebrate?Donhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07546750748775259199noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8974429219716701289.post-72523693758724507922011-05-03T20:01:35.092-05:002011-05-03T20:01:35.092-05:00Good points, "Anonymous".
I have often...Good points, "Anonymous". <br /><br />I have often pondered, contemplated, and tried to understand and reconcile the different types of responses recorded in Scripture, such as those you mentioned, some of the "Imprecatory Psalms of David" such as Chapters 7, 35, 55, 58, 59, 69, 79, 109, 137, 139, etc., and also some passages in Revelation, after the letters to the 7 Churches.<br /><br />For example,<br />Psalm 139:21 (ESV) Do I not hate those who hate You, O LORD? And do I not loathe those who rise up against You?<br />And:<br />Revelation 6:10 (ESV)10 They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before You will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?<br /><br />They seem to usually be dealing directly with the Jewish people, the Israelites. I can't recall seeing this type of response in the Gospels or the Epistles directed specifically to Gentile believers. (I realize I may be overlooking some). And I realize many of you reading will say "but we are Israel" today, and you make no distinction between the Church and Israel. I respect that, and I don't really want to get into that at this time.<br /><br /> <br />But when I read the Gospels, and see Jesus tell us to behave differently toward our enemies, scolding James and John for wanting to call down fire from Heaven to consume the Samaritans, and on the cross praying "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do", I have trouble fully understanding where the imprecatory responses fit in with those of us living during this age, and how to apply them, in between Christ's first and second Advent. I'm not saying they don't have a place, I'm just not there yet on my understanding.<br /><br />I realize this can open up a "whole new can of worms", dealing with differences we may have in eschatology, the Church and Israel, etc., and I realize Paul told Timothy "all Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness".<br /><br />So, in summary, the more I study and learn many mysteries of God revealed in His Word, and I realize Scripture contains God's Word for our lives, this is one of many areas of Scripture that I'm still working through, and don't have all the answers on. <br /><br />Thanks for commenting, and I look forward to more.Donhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07546750748775259199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8974429219716701289.post-65265713169072633422011-05-03T15:22:44.060-05:002011-05-03T15:22:44.060-05:00This is from Esther:
Then Mordecai recorded these...This is from Esther:<br /><br />Then Mordecai recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far, OBLIGING (emphasis added) them to celebrate the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same month, annually, because on those days the Jews rid themselves of their enemies, and it was a month which was turned for them from sorrow into gladness and from mourning into a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and rejoicing and sending portions of food to one another and gifts to the poor. <br /><br />PS: The Jews still celebrate to THIS DAY.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8974429219716701289.post-80963596153322650732011-05-03T14:54:07.539-05:002011-05-03T14:54:07.539-05:00I read this from someone's post on Facebook an...I read this from someone's post on Facebook and thought it was relevant here:<br />The fact is that when a government acts justly, it is something that should be commended by Christians.<br /><br />Romans 13:4 describes the role of the government in justice by saying "but if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.”<br /><br />People often forget that justice is a huge part of love. As Solomon says in Proverbs 18:5 "It is not good to be partial to the wicked or to deprive the innocent of justice."<br /><br />Today I celebrate the training and ability of the Navy Seals to be able to bring this justice swiftly (after finding out where he was hiding) and skillfully (with minimal casualties) and also the fact that the families of many victims of the terrorists attacks have not been deprived of justice.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8974429219716701289.post-58811270285089050462011-05-03T13:54:51.144-05:002011-05-03T13:54:51.144-05:00Amen, and thanks for sharing, Jeff.Amen, and thanks for sharing, Jeff.Donhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07546750748775259199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8974429219716701289.post-91537336500360203502011-05-03T09:38:35.314-05:002011-05-03T09:38:35.314-05:00I sincerely believe the Sermon on the Mount is a g...I sincerely believe the Sermon on the Mount is a glimpse of the Kingdom of God as described in words of Jesus. While there who would this description is a "goal" only fully realized in God's eternal Kingdom, I would push back against that reminded of Jesus' instructions to us concerning our prayer: "Our Father... May your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." As we pray, we act in faith on that prayer by doing. If we are praying and doing people (assumed that we are also filled with the Third Person of the Trinity), should not our hearts be filled with the same desire for restoration of all men? Should not our hearts be quick to forgive? Should not our hearts be filled with remorse when even one is lost to sickness, disease, sin, and/or eternal separation from God Almighty? It seems incongruous to me that a Christian response would be jubilant celebration over this event. Perhaps justice was served, but even if that is true my response should also be one of quiet and somber remorse. --my 2 cents.Jeff Bordenhttp://icrucified.com/icruciblog/noreply@blogger.com