Stan Warford Makes a Point
A friend of my mother-in-law gave a speech recently at one of Pepperdine's regular convocation assemblies (Christian school attendees, think "chapel"). If you feel like being challenged on this, I highly recommend you check it out.
Here's the link for the text of the speech.
Even if you dispute the historical accuracy of his facts, or if you question his interpretation of the facts, you will find it much more difficult, as a Christian, to argue against his point that we must all deal with the scriptures as they appear at face value.
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2 comments:
Warford (interesting irony in his name) certainly does make a point. His is another form of rationalization which leads him to a cop out in dealing with the violence of human sin. Clearly God is not opposed to corporal punishment if you take the OT into account.
At what point of "violence" would Warford have us stop? If his line of reasoning is followed then police would be unable to stop criminals in the act of killing others. I find this thinking reprehensible. His line of thinking goes further to prevent me from defending my wife and children from attack and molestation. I wonder how his family feels about his thoughts. "No that's fine honey, I want you to follow your conscience while I am being raped. God and I will understand!"
I can't say I understand exactly what Christ was thinking, but there are MANY sayings of His that we understand cannot be literal - body and blood, born again, hate parents, and many others.
Personally, I believe he was talking about defending the faith. If a man tries to take one of my kids, I defend them. If someone says I will kill your son unless you denounce God I will see my son in heaven, although not without a struggle, and I will probably join him.
Jesus Himself did not condemn soldiers in the very same address in which Warford refrences the "turn the other cheek" quote.
Revelation tells us that Jesus will return as a warrior leading his armies to destroy his enemies. I want to be in that army.
What do you do Ephesians 6 where the christian is asked to put on armor. Can the object of you metaphor be a forbidden occupation and still carry much weight?
Warford had just thought his way out of dealing in the only effective way possible with the worst of sin, the kind that is truly oppressive. The army of the US is not perfect, but it is the most effective, compassionate and restoring army our world has ever know.
You’ve put your keyboard (albeit not explicitly) on one of the issues Christians face when working out their faith and salvation, namely picking and choosing the scriptures to follow what we’re most comfortable following. I think Stan’s heart is in the right place, but as you pointed out, there are many other things to consider surrounding this issue.
Question, though: Are Christians REALLY called to deal with evil in society? Or only in our lives and the church? Jesus tells us not to resist an evil person. We’re to resist the devil in the battleground of our hearts, and to keep the church pure of false doctrine. Those evils we’re given permission to resist.
But, having said that, I think I would also be ready, as it sounds like you would be, to defend my family with violence, against violence. I pray we’re never in the position to find out what that’s like.
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