If Jesus says to turn the other cheek, why will he come kill children?
821997
''Keep in mind that there is NOTHING in this passage to suggest that the children were at any fault of anything.''\n\nactually, if you read before it, it's talking about the ''children of Jezebel''  but wait mike, didn't Jezebel like...die in the old testament?  that is correct.  well then how are THESE her children?  well, it's like ''the children of God'' or ''the children of satan.'' children in this context does not mean little ones, what it means is ''those who are following in the same teachings of'' Jezebel, who called herself a prophetess, but ate foods sacrificed to idols and enticed some of God's servants to commit adultery with her.  the church was about 40 years old now, and if you read after the verse quoted here, it talks about ''knowing the depths of satan.'' this is a pre-gnostic belief that one was free to engage  and explore the rituals/activities of satan, and participate in evil with the body without harming the spirit.
914855
Both parties are equally childish.\n\nNo, Christ said we need to be childLIKE, in attitudes of forgivness, not childISH.
686829
Your common sense is letting you down,Jim. It developed a flat tire.\n\nJesus did ask God to forgive them - for they do not know what they do (in crucifying our Lord). HOWEVER this forgiveness for killing our Lord did not stop the Jews (those vicious ones, does not include all) from continuing to do wrong and God was displeased with them yes.\n\nDo you really think when Jesus asked God to not lay the act of Crucifying him (gentiles were as guilt and the prayer was for them as well) that this covered everything they did, and thus made those particular Jews behave Godly? NO! There is the free will thing going.\n\nIf I forgive you for hitting me, and you go hit other people, am I supposed to be approving of this? Certainly not.\n\nUnless I am missing what you're getting at - your eyes are blinded or you're just deliberately yanking chains. I love ya man, but you're not using one shred of that intelligence you brag on, here.
1180286
You are not completing these scriptures. Matt: 5:22  reads However, I say to YOU that everyone who continues wrathful with his brother will be accountable to the court of justice; but whoever addresses his brother with an unspeakable word of contempt will be accountable to the Supreme Court; whereas whoever says, ‘You despicable fool!’ will be liable to the fiery Ge·hen′na.\n\nGehenna was a waste heap outside of Jerusalem where the bodies of the dead criminals were burned. This is one of the reasons that man has taught a hell fire doctrine.  Which is not true by the way.  Jesus is talking about non believers and what might happen to them.  Not that it will.  It says liable (or deserving).\n\nMatt: 23:17 Fools and blind ones! Which, in fact, is greater, the gold or the temple that has sanctified the gold?  Meaning spiritual laws or the one who made the laws.  The Jews of Jesus time put more emphasis on obeying the Mosaic laws rather than showing love.  God commands love before the law.\n\nPsalm 14:1The senseless one has said in his heart:\n“There is no God” They have acted ruinously, they have acted detestably in [their] dealing.There is no one doing good. \n\nPeople that claim there is no God are doing so to sooth their consciences.  So they say in their heart "there is no God" and they act detestably in their dealings.\n\nWhy are these contradictory?
616560
The main predictions concerning the Messiah are that he will bring peace to the world, gather the Jewish people from their exile to the land of Israel and rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem. After Jesus' appearance, the Temple was destroyed, the Jews were exiled all over the world and we have not even had one day of peace in the past 2,000 years. (Many of the wars in fact were started and fought by followers of Jesus) These events are enough to show that he was not the messiah.\n\nThe main Christian responses to these objections are:\n\n   1. The Second Coming - First of all, we find this to be a contrived answer, since there is no mention of a second coming in the Jewish Bible. Second, why couldn't G-d accomplish His goals the first time round. Most importantly, the second coming idea is just an attempt at answering an obvious question but it certainly does not constitute proof of messianic claims.\n\n   2. There is peace within his followers hearts - That is wonderful for them, but does that help the victims of the Inquisition, the Crusades, the Hundred Years War, the First World War, the Second World War etc. In each of the events that I mentioned most if not all the combatants, the violent oppressors and torturers where people who claimed to be followers of Jesus. And is peace in the heart a fulfillment of "swords into plowshares etc."
963957
Great question.  We know that the Old Testament preaches "An eye for an eye" but apparantly Jesus made that rule no longer applicable saying to "love thy neighbor as you love yourself" and to "turn the other cheek".  So I find it very contradictory that Christians support the death penalty (among other things but don't get me started).  This is yet another example of Christians who pick and choose which part(s) of the Bible to follow and which part(s) to ignore.  It just depends on what benefits the individual and supports his or her personal opinions.  Not to mention that Christians are supposed to encourage others to get "Saved" before death, so would they not want to reform a person rather than giving them the death penalty?  Would they not want that person to 'let Jesus into their hearts'?  What a tangled web we weave...
14019
Well, there's always "turn the other cheek."  I think the concensus of most Christians is that "turn the other cheek" is not binding in all situations.\n\nIf you're talking about self-defense in a military context, the issues are more complex.  In the writings of the early Christians, for the first 300 years, military service was uniformly condemned:\n\n“We who formerly murdered one another now refrain from making war even upon our enemies.”  Justin Martyr\n\n“I decline military command.”  Tatian\n\n“We are not to draw an outline of … a sword or a bow, since we follow peace.”  Clement of Alexandria\n\n“The Christian does no harm even to his enemy.”  Tertullian\n\n“Is it lawful to make an occupation of the sword when the Lord proclaims that he who uses the sword will perish by the sword? Will the son of peace take part in the battle when it does not become him even to sue at law?” Tertullian\n\n“So the more anyone excels in godliness, the more effective the help is that he renders to kings. This is a greater help than what is given by soldiers who go forth to fight and kill as many of the enemy as they can.” Origen\n\n“Our prayers defeat all demons who stir up war. . . Accordingly, in this way, we are much more helpful to the kings than those who go into the field to fight for them.” Origen\n\n“And murder – which is admitted to be a crime in the case of an individual – is called a virtue when it is committed wholesale. Impunity is claimed for the wicked deeds, not because they are guiltless– but because the cruelty is perpetrated on a grand scale!” Cyprian\n\n“Why would [the just man] carry on war and mix himself with the passions of others when his mind is engaged in perpetual peace with men?”  Lactantius\n\n“Is the [military] laurel of triumph made of leaves, or of corpses? Is it adorned with ribbons, or with tombs? Is it wet with ointments, or with the tears of wives and mothers? It may be made of some [dead] Christians too. For Christ is also believed among the barbarians. Tertullian\n\nAfter the time of Constantine the idea of military service becomes more acceptable.  Today, among American evangelicals and fundamentalists, support for war is virtually universal.  In fact, evangelicals support the war in Iraq by a larger percentage than that of the population as a whole.\n\nBut support for war is not universal among Christians.  For example, the web site of the Orthodox Church in America notes that "when violence must be used as a lesser evil to prevent greater evils, it can never be blessed as such, it must always be repented of, and it must never be identified with perfect Christian morality."
1082678
to A.Qurius Muse, your answer exceeds 10,000 words no one is going to read except the Bible people  who repeatedly read the same old paragraphs.\n\nAnswer to the question:  Jesus wanted to die because he was afraid the truth might come out that he was just an ordinary man.
1029228
We are living in a world which predominently opposes God and many of His principles.  So, the thrust of the public schools will represent God-opposing sentiments.  God's instructions are morally right and make sense, but the world resists this. \n\nIn prophecy, God says, "In the latter time...transgressors are come to the full" (Dan. 8:23).   Jesus said in Matthew 24:3-9 that right to the end of the age, true Christians would be hated of all nations. In Luke 18:8, He asks, "When the Son of Man cometh shall He find faith on the earth?" \n\nThrough Paul, the Holy Spirit says, "Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived" (2 Tim. 3:13).  These verses establish the fact that the world is not getting better or more kindly toward the things of God or the people of God.\n\nMany signs of the coming of the Lord to judge the world in righteousness are apparent.  Violence and corruption would fill the earth Jesus said, "as it was in the days of Noah" (Luke 17:26).  The basic premise of the world is: "There is no God" (Psalm 14:1). Romans 3:18 says, "There is no fear of God before their eyes."\n \nOne needs to but do a little historical research on Sodom and Gomorrah to realize how strongly God opposes same sex unions.  Archeological findings have confirmed that these cities, which are now ashes, were destroyed with literal fire and brimstone.  The heat was so intense that it formed swirls in the much of the rock that is still evident today. \n\nThe inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah did as they pleased.  They also reaped the consequences of opposing God and His standards.\n\n"Then the Lord rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the Lord out of the heavens." Gen 19:24.  \n\n"...turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly."  II Peter 2:6. \n\nThe link to the archeological findings of Sodom and Gomorrah is evidence of the Biblical account of the destruction of these cities.  Check it out here:\n\nhttp://www.arkdiscovery.com/sodom_&_gomorrah.htm
483515
Not turning your cheek has ZERO, to do with being a Christian.  I know several Christians will put you in hell before God even gets a chance to look over the situation.\n\n Turning the other cheek is "Discipleship".\n\n I would suggest not slapping someone, just because they are a Christian. It could feel strange, wearing your nose on your ear, for a month or so.
733336
It's weird how this issue triggers exactly the same sort of responses the second time around.  Except this time we get a funny from a guy who thinks the US Constitution is trinitarian instead of a guy ranting about albigensians being murdered in the middle ages.  It's kind of discouraging.  \n\nAs for the second invitation to leave the country: thanks, I already accepted.\n\nFor me, this question is really, how should we as Christians respond to systematic institutional evil?  What do we do when we're surrounded by extraordinary violence, worship of money, pervavise corruption?  Answering this question requires some understanding of the dynamics of evil as well as the reasons people refuse to admit its presence.  It also requires an honest assessment of the demands Jesus makes on his followers, and the kind of universe Jesus lived in, the kind of universe his words and life create for his followers.  \n\nI don't have the definitive answer to this question, because I haven't been able to come to conclusions about many of those issues.  But at a more basic level, there are some simple realities that I think can't be denied:\n\n1.  Jesus was not violent and he didn't advocate violence in his followers.  His message was above all that the greatest victory comes through the greatest nonviolence.  So: Jesus' followers should strive to live a nonviolent lifestyle.\n\n2.  Jesus was not rich and didn't advocate money-seeking in his followers.  He warned strongly about the dangers of wealth, though he never went so far as to condemn it categorically.  So: be satisfied with what you have; don't seek wealth; share generously; live simply.\n\n3.  Jesus placed his father above every idol, every principality and power, every institution.  He was not 'patriotic' with regard to either Israel or Rome; and in the end both Israel and Rome conspired to crucify him.  But even so, he was no firebrand advocating revolution either -- recall his nonviolence.  The same is true of his followers: they should withdraw their patriotic allegiance from their nations and transfer that allegiance to God.  This implies that they should also open their eyes to the realities of what the powers of this world are and do -- and resist them.\n\nI wish I could learn these lessons myself.  In 1976 during the bicentennial celebrations, Dorothy Day was asked if she had a message to give America.  \n\nHer one word reply: 'Repent.'
576148
I believe when Christians rewrote the Commandment they intended the term "kill" to refer to human beings therefore having the same meaning as the Hebrew.  There is a lot of discussion on defending oneself though.  Jesus said to turn the other cheek in the New Testament.  The early martyrs of the Church did just that.  They didn't fight back when the Romans and others feed them to the lions or tortured them.  They literaly turned the other cheek and went to their deaths, not defending themselves or killing anyone therefore obeying the Commandment"Thy shalt not kill."  Therefore for a lot of Christians, the death penalty and killing that takes place in war is just as abominable as abortion.  Pro Life and Anti abortion are two totally diffferent takes on this commandment. I won't turn this into a debate on that though, but in my opinion, killing another human is wrong no matter what the circumstance.  This is what God told us and He didn't make any footnotes when He gave us the Commandment.  This is my opinion only.
41231
Because Jesus didnt say this. \n\nNot everything that the Christians' New Testament says that Jesus said, did Jesus actually say. Some of it was put into his mouth to give authority to ideas held by the developing Christian church. \n\nThe reason they wrote  this into the mouth of Jesus was to help them separate from the Jews who were in open rebellion against Rome at the time it was written. This is why the authors of the Christian New Testament wrote that the Jews were responsible for the death of Jesus and not Rome, even thought other parts of the New Testament disagree.\n\nOf course, verses like these in the Christian's New Testament helped to legitimize Christian antisemitism throughout history.
1027595
Pentecostal- What a loaded question!  If looking at the old testament then you would have to assume that during times of war its ok to kill.  New Testament teaching however teaches that you should turn the other cheek.  If that extends to someone trying to kill you I dont know.  Jesus in Matthew says that if your brother strikes you turn to him the other cheek, if he takes you to court give him what he wants and more.  If someone is trying to take your life then give it to them, and if your born again why fear it you will go to a better place right.  So killing for me is never right, if someone wants to take your life let them have it its not really yours anyway.
683041
it's not a good idea to give money to people who want to purposefully blow up little children.  it's not logical.\n\nthe best strategy in Iraq is to give the land and resources to the Kurds.  In Israel, the arabs should be forced to convert to Christianity, and then they can learn the "Thou shalt not kill" law.  You might've heard of that one, it's in the Ten Commandments I think.
389242
I beileve in your Koran its says jesus will come back and admit he lied about being the Messiah. \nBut to answer the question...Jesus will come and raise up the living/dead christians first to be judged. He will get the rest later.
792275
Mark 10:14 Suffer the little children to come unto me and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of God.15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. 16 And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them. \n\nMt 18:6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.  \n\nMt 18:10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.  \n\nMt 18:14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish. \n\nMr 9:42 And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.  \n\nLu 17:2 It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.  \n\n"Suffer the little children..." does not mean they are to suffer. It means nothing should get in the way of them coming to Him. \n\nBlame the faulty translation on King James English. \n\n.\n\n.