DISQUS

This was an excellent interview. I admire what our sister Becky had to say. I especially enjoyed her criticism of the all too common practice of using Jesus as a tool for partisan politics. Would Jesus be a Republican or a Democrat? Would he even take an interest in such things? It seems that in America we have adopted a dangerous practice of placing patriotism and love for God on the same level. I'm not saying it's wrong to be patriotic, but faith in God should always come first.

This was an excellent interview. I admire what our sister Becky had to say. I especially enjoyed her criticism of the all too common practice of using Jesus as a tool for partisan politics. Would Jesus be a Republican or a Democrat? Would he even take an interest in such things? It seems that in America we have adopted a dangerous practice of placing patriotism and love for God on the same level. I'm not saying it's wrong to be patriotic, but faith in God should always come first.

You've touched my heart, brother. Lately, I've been more concsious of what I spend. I've been working on quitting a cigarette habit, not only because it is a harmful addiction, but because it is approximately 30 dollars per week that could be put to better use.

You've touched my heart, brother. Lately, I've been more concsious of what I spend. I've been working on quitting a cigarette habit, not only because it is a harmful addiction, but because it is approximately 30 dollars per week that could be put to better use.

This is an intriguing article and it hits home for me. I too am new to this grass roots way of Jesus. And to complicate matters further, I am in the Army. Although I am in Iraq right now, I am in a non-combat job, and I have about five months left in the Army (only two months left over here). I plan on comleting my contract and joining Veterens For Peace after I'm out.

I've been having many conversations with my roomate about the way of peace, and it has been challenging. He is of the opinion that we will always need an Army because there will always be tyrants and despots in the world who are willing to oppress and destroy the peaceful. I say that we should be working for a society in which we can throw down our weapons and trade the sword for the plow. It seems that we always encounter a paradox. How do we stand up to the tyrant without becoming a tyrant? If I punch the schoolyard bully in the face, have I not become the bully?

I've had to question myself and dig deep in my convictions. It is easy to espouse peace and nonviolence while I live in a place where the threat of violence is relatively low. I have to ask myself how far would I go? Would I take a bullet and die for what I believe? I know that Jesus and his first followers did just that, so for me, I must engage in much prayer and soul searching to know that I am willing to follow in his footsteps should it be required of me.

I enjoyed the article. May our Father bless you in your journey.

This is an intriguing article and it hits home for me. I too am new to this grass roots way of Jesus. And to complicate matters further, I am in the Army. Although I am in Iraq right now, I am in a non-combat job, and I have about five months left in the Army (only two months left over here). I plan on comleting my contract and joining Veterens For Peace after I'm out.


I've been having many conversations with my roomate about the way of peace, and it has been challenging. He is of the opinion that we will always need an Army because there will always be tyrants and despots in the world who are willing to oppress and destroy the peaceful. I say that we should be working for a society in which we can throw down our weapons and trade the sword for the plow. It seems that we always encounter a paradox. How do we stand up to the tyrant without becoming a tyrant? If I punch the schoolyard bully in the face, have I not become the bully?



I've had to question myself and dig deep in my convictions. It is easy to espouse peace and nonviolence while I live in a place where the threat of violence is relatively low. I have to ask myself how far would I go? Would I take a bullet and die for what I believe? I know that Jesus and his first followers did just that, so for me, I must engage in much prayer and soul searching to know that I am willing to follow in his footsteps should it be required of me.



I enjoyed the article. May our Father bless you in your journey.

I'm convinced. I'm definately going to see this movie. It sounds like a good laugh, and I've always enjoyed a good poke at man-made religion. I'm sure it will be almost painful to watch the foolish "Christians" spout off nonsense and give the rest of us a bad name, but in the end the truth will stand.

I hadn't heard of this film until today when I read an article in the newspaper condemning the film for lampooning the faithful. I was surprised from your article, Mark, that Bill does actually end the film on a positive note.

I'm convinced. I'm definately going to see this movie. It sounds like a good laugh, and I've always enjoyed a good poke at man-made religion. I'm sure it will be almost painful to watch the foolish "Christians" spout off nonsense and give the rest of us a bad name, but in the end the truth will stand.


I hadn't heard of this film until today when I read an article in the newspaper condemning the film for lampooning the faithful. I was surprised from your article, Mark, that Bill does actually end the film on a positive note.

This is a powerful piece, brother. God bless you in your work.

This is a powerful piece, brother. God bless you in your work.

I have a thought that might simplify things here. We do not need to love the Empire, because the empire is an institution. We are called to love people. But it is perfectly okay to hate institutions, ideas, and organizations. So, as a Christian, I am called to extend love to Barack Obama. This does not mean that I need to love the Democratic party itself or anything that it represents. I have met Iraqis who dislike America because of the occupation. At the same time they can extend friendship to an individual soldier.

I think this a very important concept in the area of Christian anarchism. It is easily possible to buck the system while showing love and mercy to those individuals who are a part of the system

I have a thought that might simplify things here. We do not need to love the Empire, because the empire is an institution. We are called to love people. But it is perfectly okay to hate institutions, ideas, and organizations. So, as a Christian, I am called to extend love to Barack Obama. This does not mean that I need to love the Democratic party itself or anything that it represents. I have met Iraqis who dislike America because of the occupation. At the same time they can extend friendship to an individual soldier.


I think this a very important concept in the area of Christian anarchism. It is easily possible to buck the system while showing love and mercy to those individuals who are a part of the system

Now that introductions have been made and I feel very welcome (thanks for the e-mails, Mark and Jonathan), I'll contribute to the discussion. . .

You have heard it said that the church is a place you go on Sunday, but I say unto you that the church is the people - of all denominations, all walks of life, from the streets to the countryside, from the suburbs to the ghetto. The Church is one. The Church is the bride of Christ. The Church is a family. What is a Methodist? What is a Baptist? What is a Catholic? We need to throw off these labels, or at least make it a name of minimal importance. We all follow the same King.

No books or films come to mind right away, but believe it or not, the Dark Carnival albums of Insane Clown Posse have had an impact on my way of thinking. The albums play out more like a comic book or a movie than a typical musical album. As the story unfolds, the artists point a finger at those who live comfortably and feel free to judge others, the type of people who will be quick to condemn the sins of others, but somehow justifying their own sins in their daily life. Some might say that the profanity and violence of ICP's music negates any message of God they might have, but, well, that is their choice. I'll simply employ the famous cliche that God works in mysterious ways.

In the Constantinian churches, the message of the Gospel is being reduced and sold in fast-food format. At worst, it is only lip service. At best, the churches reduce the gospel to a simple "try to be nice to people." But, as we should know, Christ's message and life was so much more than that.

Jesus did not take a day out of the week to do some mission work; he was always on the job! He ministered to the poor, healed the sick, and cast out demons. He also told his disciples that they would do greater miracles than he himself did. We simply need to put our faith into action.

Now that introductions have been made and I feel very welcome (thanks for the e-mails, Mark and Jonathan), I'll contribute to the discussion. . .


You have heard it said that the church is a place you go on Sunday, but I say unto you that the church is the people - of all denominations, all walks of life, from the streets to the countryside, from the suburbs to the ghetto. The Church is one. The Church is the bride of Christ. The Church is a family. What is a Methodist? What is a Baptist? What is a Catholic? We need to throw off these labels, or at least make it a name of minimal importance. We all follow the same King.



No books or films come to mind right away, but believe it or not, the Dark Carnival albums of Insane Clown Posse have had an impact on my way of thinking. The albums play out more like a comic book or a movie than a typical musical album. As the story unfolds, the artists point a finger at those who live comfortably and feel free to judge others, the type of people who will be quick to condemn the sins of others, but somehow justifying their own sins in their daily life. Some might say that the profanity and violence of ICP's music negates any message of God they might have, but, well, that is their choice. I'll simply employ the famous cliche that God works in mysterious ways.



In the Constantinian churches, the message of the Gospel is being reduced and sold in fast-food format. At worst, it is only lip service. At best, the churches reduce the gospel to a simple "try to be nice to people." But, as we should know, Christ's message and life was so much more than that.



Jesus did not take a day out of the week to do some mission work; he was always on the job! He ministered to the poor, healed the sick, and cast out demons. He also told his disciples that they would do greater miracles than he himself did. We simply need to put our faith into action.

Greetings, Mark. I'm a new reader of Jesus Manifesto, so I want to introduce myself, and I believe that doing so will relate to the questions you've posed.

I'm currently on active duty in the US Army and deployed to Iraq. I have about two months left on my tour and then I can leave the service. During this deployment I've been strugging off and on with letting God back into my life. Another issue central to the deployment is, of course, the upcoming election. Typically, when you hear about Christians in politics, all you hear about is the "Christian right." Well, I was bored one night sitting at my computer and I thought, "I wonder if there's a 'Christian left'." Sure enough, Wikipedia did not disappoint me. So I read several articles ranging from the Christian left to Christian Anarchism (which previously I would've thought was an oxymoron).

In my youth, I was a death penalty supporting, war hawking, capitalistic red-blooded American, thumping my Bible all the while. Now, I look back and ask myself, "Is this what Jesus was about?" Now, I am allowing the life and teaching of Jesus to sink into my life. I am striving, not only to believe in Him, but to follow Him.

My e-mail address is meyerjames@hotmail.com . Correspondence from yourself or any other regular of this site would be welcome and appreciated.

Your brother in Christ Jesus,
Jim

Greetings, Mark. I'm a new reader of Jesus Manifesto, so I want to introduce myself, and I believe that doing so will relate to the questions you've posed.


I'm currently on active duty in the US Army and deployed to Iraq. I have about two months left on my tour and then I can leave the service. During this deployment I've been strugging off and on with letting God back into my life. Another issue central to the deployment is, of course, the upcoming election. Typically, when you hear about Christians in politics, all you hear about is the "Christian right." Well, I was bored one night sitting at my computer and I thought, "I wonder if there's a 'Christian left'." Sure enough, Wikipedia did not disappoint me. So I read several articles ranging from the Christian left to Christian Anarchism (which previously I would've thought was an oxymoron).



In my youth, I was a death penalty supporting, war hawking, capitalistic red-blooded American, thumping my Bible all the while. Now, I look back and ask myself, "Is this what Jesus was about?" Now, I am allowing the life and teaching of Jesus to sink into my life. I am striving, not only to believe in Him, but to follow Him.



My e-mail address is meyerjames@hotmail.com . Correspondence from yourself or any other regular of this site would be welcome and appreciated.



Your brother in Christ Jesus,

Jim

This is my first comment on this site, so I hope it goes through and all can read it. Let me first say that I am loving the philosophy that Jesus Manifesto is preaching. Having said that, I'm glad you're here, Dustin, because I've been wondering if I am indeed the "odd man out." I am currently a soldier on active duty in Iraq.

I do not consider myself a pacifist because I do believe that there are times when violence is necessary and just. Peter the Apostle carried a sword. Not only was he "packin' heat," but he assaulted a police officer during the arrest of Jesus. Now, it is true that Jesus rebuked Peter for his actions during the police raid. However, I do recall a speech Jesus made later when he said that hard times were coming and he said that they should all have a sword. He even said that he who does not have a sword should sell his cloak and buy a sword. I can't recall where it is chapter and verse, but it is there.

I believe that a father is duty bound to protect his family. I certainly do not want to harm or kill anyone, but I am not ashamed to say that I would use violence if it was necessary for the safetly of my loved ones. Understand that I am speaking of using violence only in defense and only as a last resort.

As far as being a soldier is concerned, I am contractually bound to fulfill my term of service to the Army. John the Baptist preached to soldiers to be content with their wages. He did not tell them to go AWOL or throw down their weopons or anything like that.

I want to finish by saying that I am not trying to start any kind of debate. To the pacifists here, you are my brothers and sisters, and I love you. Continue to serve our King as you feel led. But I do think that it is an error to believe that pacifism is the ONLY way for Christians.

This is my first comment on this site, so I hope it goes through and all can read it. Let me first say that I am loving the philosophy that Jesus Manifesto is preaching. Having said that, I'm glad you're here, Dustin, because I've been wondering if I am indeed the "odd man out." I am currently a soldier on active duty in Iraq.


I do not consider myself a pacifist because I do believe that there are times when violence is necessary and just. Peter the Apostle carried a sword. Not only was he "packin' heat," but he assaulted a police officer during the arrest of Jesus. Now, it is true that Jesus rebuked Peter for his actions during the police raid. However, I do recall a speech Jesus made later when he said that hard times were coming and he said that they should all have a sword. He even said that he who does not have a sword should sell his cloak and buy a sword. I can't recall where it is chapter and verse, but it is there.



I believe that a father is duty bound to protect his family. I certainly do not want to harm or kill anyone, but I am not ashamed to say that I would use violence if it was necessary for the safetly of my loved ones. Understand that I am speaking of using violence only in defense and only as a last resort.



As far as being a soldier is concerned, I am contractually bound to fulfill my term of service to the Army. John the Baptist preached to soldiers to be content with their wages. He did not tell them to go AWOL or throw down their weopons or anything like that.



I want to finish by saying that I am not trying to start any kind of debate. To the pacifists here, you are my brothers and sisters, and I love you. Continue to serve our King as you feel led. But I do think that it is an error to believe that pacifism is the ONLY way for Christians.