Hi all, especially my brother, Andrew, Have I missed something here? Has something happened to supercede the words of Jesus and the gospels? What about: "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Mat 5:43-48)
And what about the actions of Jesus in allowing himself to be arrested and crucified? Does all that mean nothing at all? I know the world (especially USA) is in favour of pre-emptive strikes, but surely that is not the way of Jesus. A defence force, OK, but only as large as is absolutely necessary and then with its first priority being reconciliation rather than obliteration. Surely our neighbours are as important in the eyes of God as we imagine we are. Because they are poorer perhaps more important. As for the UCA providing chaplains to the military - that's something that I could never have done. I remember reading how both the Germans and the English had chaplains during the second world war each seeking God's support as they sought to blast their enemies into oblivion. If war worked how come we are still at it after so many millenia? Let's give love a chance, eh! Peter. Peter & Jan Elliott 26 Crowe Place Cootamundra NSW 2590 Phone: 02 6942 1212
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