reply to post by Simplynoone
I am glad that you take the scriptures to heart, but I must inform you that you are mistaken.
Jesus is not the one who told the soldiers not to commit violence. In Luke 3, as you quoted, it is John giving the instructions to the crowd which
included the soldiers. Also, the King James translation you used is one of the few to make it a blanket statement concerning violence. Consider the
NASB and the NIV.
Luke 3:14 (New American Standard Bible)
14Some soldiers were questioning him, saying, "And what about us, what shall we do?" And he said to them, "Do not take money from anyone by force,
or (A)accuse anyone falsely, and (B)be content with your wages."
or...
Luke 3:14 (New International Version)
14Then some soldiers asked him, "And what should we do?"
He replied, "Don't extort money and don't accuse people falsely—be content with your pay."
or even the New King James...
Luke 3:14 (New King James Version)
14 Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, “And what shall we do?”
So he said to them, “Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.”
Christians have too often bought into the lie that we are supposed to be complete pacifists and let the world walk over us. This is not the case.
God created us in His image and we are worth so much more than that. The scripture regarding turning the other cheek (Matt. 5:39) is speaking of
being insulted, not assaulted. A strike on the cheek is one of the worst insults you can receive, especially in a Middle-Eastern culture. We aren't
supposed to let that bother us, but instead consider it a blessing as we suffer ridicule for His name sake.
Some would use Romans 13 to argue that we are to be completely submissive to the government regardless of what they are doing.
Romans 13
Submission to the Authorities
1Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that
exist have been established by God. 2Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do
so will bring judgment on themselves. 3For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear
of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. 4For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for
he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5Therefore, it is necessary to
submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. 6This is also why you pay taxes, for the
authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. 7Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then
revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
If the governing authorities are obviously opposed to God and His supreme authority, then they are obviously not submitting themselves as His
servants. They have no authority except what God has given them, and that authority is to do what is good, and punish the evil-doer. They have no
right or God-given authority to abuse the people, just as John said back in the book of Luke.
If the Yeshua (Jesus) you know is only one of peace, you have not read enough abut what he is going to do to the wicked when he returns to establish
His kingdom. Revelation 19 is a fine illustration of the power of the Messiah.
After all,
30For we know him who said, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay,"[a] and again, "The Lord will judge his people."
31It is a dreadful thing to
fall into the hands of the living God.
-Hebrews 10:30-31
The constitution is the authority set up for the USA that does no wrong to its people and keeps the wicked in check. It is the authority we are
supposed to submit to. We have an obligation to stand up for the widow and the orphan, the innocent and the weak, those being walked over by this
corrupt and evil government. The revolution that the people will bring is nothing compared to the judgment that the Lord of Lords and King of Kings
will bring upon this sinful generation.
God Bless.
[edit on 3-4-2010 by Mykahel]