Talk:About the Absolute moral (Plan A)
Add topicRe: Critisism of Cliffe Knechtle -
"As I understand, no one truly Christian can participate in any war - even in a war for liberation of his own country from a foreign occupant - under condition he unconditionally accepts the rule "Love your enemies"
This statement is simply incorrect, unless one takes it very literally "As I understand...". While this may be the author's understanding, it does not accurately reflect the bulk of Christian thought as represented by Christian holy writings and hermeneutics.
Jesus said "love your neighbor" and "turn the other cheek", but never made a statement condemning war in general or self defense in particular. In fact, He instructed His disciples, at a particularly dangerous time in their ministry, to arm themselves with swords. No pacifist He! The Bible also states "There is a time for war, a time for peace, etc". There are some segments of Christianity, such as Mennonites, who are pacifistic, but by no means is pacifism considered sine qua non to being "truly Christian".
Cliffe isn't inconsistent here; he's merely contrasting U.S. actions in attempting to end a war with Nazi actions in attempting to perpetuate it. He's making a case for absolute morality, but one that distinguishes between just and unjust military actions. It's an argument that's nuanced and cogent.
Jesus Christ also said "My kingdom is not of this world..."(John 18:36). If there was a time for the disciples to fight it was when their Master was about to be crucified. If there is a time to take up weapons of violence as Christians, it should be asked for which enemy? Every Christian is familiar with all the Scriptures that direct the focus onto the spiritual enemy and the spiritual battle. Billy Graham and his like, to which group Mr. Knechtle belongs, have supported the U.S. in ill-founded military actions, in Vietnam and more recently in the two Iraq wars. Knechtle is not equal to great intellectual debate, as for example, R.C. Sproul is. Anyone of serious intellect who has heard his style of debate and dissertation comes off unsatisfied with his frequent references to the Nazi's and the Jews, "Les Miserables" and Jean Val Jean and Javert; to the terrorists and US, the good guys. This style of debate is truly contemptable, especially when there are great and competant Christian intellects at many colleges in the tradition of C.S. Lewis, Kierkegaard, and G.K. Chesterton.
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