Disqus - Latest Comments for Jim

Re: Onward, Christian Soldiers

Jim — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 15:40:12 -0000

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.

Re: Onward, Christian Soldiers

Jim — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 15:40:12 -0000

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

Jim — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 21:40:16 -0000

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

Re: Imagination and the Way of Christ

Jim — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 21:40:16 -0000

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

Jim — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 16:29:51 -0000

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.

Re: Imagination and the Way of Christ

Jim — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 16:29:51 -0000

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

Jim — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 00:08:56 -0000

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

Re: Church and State pt 6: initial explorations of practical implications

Jim — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 00:08:56 -0000

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

Jim — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 22:34:02 -0000

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

Re: on justice

Jim — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 22:34:02 -0000

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

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

Jim — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:08:01 -0000

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.

Re: Movie Review: Religulous

Jim — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:08:01 -0000

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

Jim — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 14:40:03 -0000

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.

Re: choke hold

Jim — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 14:40:03 -0000

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

Jim — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 18:38:31 -0000

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.

Re: Africa is not a hospice

Jim — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 18:38:31 -0000

Re: Interview: Becky Garrison, Satirist

Jim — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 13:58:50 -0000

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.

Re: Interview: Becky Garrison, Satirist

Jim — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 13:58:50 -0000

Re: Breaking Down Dichotomies: Being “Yourself” in a Gendered Reality

Jim — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 23:20:12 -0000

I think the Bible is very clear in stating that acts of homosexuality are, in fact, sin. Also, Paul in his letters condemned an "effeminate lifestyle." In other words, a guy acting like a girl. I have a very good friend who is gay, and, as a Christian, I love him as a person. The topic of his lifestyle has never come up in conversation, but my love for him would not extend to telling him that his lifestyle is okay, because it is not.

Re: Homosexuality and Scripture

Jim — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 23:28:25 -0000

"Is homosexuality sin?" is not a troubling question, nor is it a difficult one. From the Old to the New Testament, homosexual acts are condemned and not once are they condoned. Sex is for marriage and not once in the Bible do we see a same sex couple united in holy matrimony.
Keep in mind that I say, the act of homosexuality is sin. I do not say that homosexuals themselves are to be condemned as people. It falls into the same category of sexual sin as adultery, masturbating to pornography, lust, etc. It is no more or less a sin than any other.
I think we should stop trying to compromise scripture in the name of making a more politically correct Christianity.

Re: Onward, Christian Soldiers

Jim — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 13:16:40 -0000

I was active Army for eight years and I am now serving in the Pennsylvania National Guard. I've found this site to be very intriguing and thought provoking, not to mention uplifting to my Christian faith. I struggled with the issue of pacifism for awhile.

I've come to believe that there is no conflict between being a soldier and being a Christian. Several Roman soldiers were converted by Jesus himself. Not once did he tell them to stop being soldiers.

Re: Happy Bomb Day

Jim — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 13:28:40 -0000

I can't help but feel alienated here. Apparently, to most of you, the duties of a soldier is no different than thoughtless murder. John the Baptist urged soldiers to be content with their wages. He didn't tell them to stop being soldiers. Nor did Jesus tell the soldiers he converted to stop being soldiers. I thank God I belong to a church that loves me and prays for me and thanks me for what I do. I love you all, and I pray that the Christian family will one day stand united, but I'm not sure I can agree with the politics of this website.

Re: Homosexuality and Scripture

Jim — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 13:52:17 -0000

Ok, but Scripture clearly states that the act of sex is reserved for married couples. Sex outside of marriage is adultery, and it is also clear that God's plan for marriage is one man, one woman.