http://www.masstheology.com/2008/07/23/question-the-pacifist-and-romans-131-7/ Conversations in Theology and its interaction with Culture Sun, 07 Feb 2010 03:50:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 http://www.masstheology.com/2008/07/23/question-the-pacifist-and-romans-131-7/comment-page-1/#comment-6357 Steven Fri, 25 Jul 2008 04:22:19 +0000 http://www.masstheology.com/2008/07/23/question-the-pacifist-and-romans-131-7/#comment-6357 In my opinion Romans 13 is difficult for all Christians, no matter if they are a declared pacifist or not. We are called to follow Christ no matter what, and at times it contradicts what governments "preach." They do not always love their neighbors (other countries), yet they do show love within themselves (Ex: FEMA after natural disasters). Anyway, back to pacifism and Romans 13: To me Paul never denounces individual people from keeping peace, he simply states that governments have the right to bear the sword. As I stated earlier, as Christians, we are called to honor God and follow Christ way before we honor America (or any other country). This may seem like a weak argument on Romans 13, but worldly governments are "broken" and "fallen" and most likely do not live up to God's original plan (even Satan mentions this to Jesus in Matthew 4 and in 1 Samuel 8 it shows what not trusting Him as complete King would do). The question I want to end with is this: How can we go with the state if it goes against our King and Savior? In my opinion Romans 13 is difficult for all Christians, no matter if they are a declared pacifist or not. We are called to follow Christ no matter what, and at times it contradicts what governments “preach.” They do not always love their neighbors (other countries), yet they do show love within themselves (Ex: FEMA after natural disasters). Anyway, back to pacifism and Romans 13: To me Paul never denounces individual people from keeping peace, he simply states that governments have the right to bear the sword. As I stated earlier, as Christians, we are called to honor God and follow Christ way before we honor America (or any other country). This may seem like a weak argument on Romans 13, but worldly governments are “broken” and “fallen” and most likely do not live up to God’s original plan (even Satan mentions this to Jesus in Matthew 4 and in 1 Samuel 8 it shows what not trusting Him as complete King would do). The question I want to end with is this: How can we go with the state if it goes against our King and Savior?

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