Lions and Eagles

“...They would want a Mercenary Military vs a Standing Military. Also no military bases anywhere across the globe. Supporting their “live and let live” philosophy so that our enemy’s would never want to attack us, because we no longer are an imposing threat to them….” War and the Military Ah, foreign affairs and national security. This is going to be deep water. Our approach to this should be in line with our morality, otherwise we have no high ground. I'm game. Let's warm up with a few relevant quotes: [Jesus] said to them, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one.” -Luke 22:36 Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword….” -Matthew 26:52 “War. Huh. Good God, why'all. What is it good for?” -Edwin Starr What do Christians believe about war? There's no one answer. At one end of the spectrum, some are...

“....Abortion on demand, no limitations of course....” Abortion Is that really what Libertarians believe on abortion? The truth is, not really. “Don't hurt people and don't take their stuff.” That's libertarianism in a nutshell as expressed by Matt Kibbe and many other libertarians. As a Christian, I think that “love thy neighbor as thyself” can be a stronger rule for life, but the libertarian rule is a decent starting point. Many Libertarians, including atheist Austin Peterson , recognize that the child in the womb is a person. If you're going to say “don't hurt people”, that has to apply to abortion as well. Yes, there are pro-life Libertarians. And, yes, it can get contentious. Libertarians may be hesitant to outlaw abortion outright. There are the concerns about women in medical difficulty, and victims of rape who have already suffered a loss of their freedom. Still, it is quite possible to argue in these cases against late term abortion on the ground...

“[Libertarians] have no issue with prostitution, including child prostitution(as long as its mutual). Abortion on demand, no limitations of course. They would want a Mercenary Military vs a Standing Military. Also no military bases anywhere across the globe. Supporting their “live and let live” philosophy so that our enemy’s would never want to attack us, because we no longer are an imposing threat to them. Of course having “recreational drugs” be legal is a great selling point I’m sure for some folks. And our roads would be private toll roads as government would not build roads across private lands, so that nice interstate system we have today,” wouldn’t have existed under Libertarian rule.” My last post got some attention from my friends. One friend challenged me to get into areas Libertarian ideas and Christian ethics might seem to conflict, and explain how I resolve them. Another made the claim above, which I think will be a good starting place to explore. There's a lot of...

I am a Christian. I am a Libertarian. This is not a contradiction. In fact, I believe that Libertarianism is the most Christian political worldview. I understand that there are many Libertarians who are not Christian, and many Christians who are not Libertarian. But I believe that these two worldviews fit together. Please let me explain. As a Christian, to use the words of Ravi Zacharias, I believe that the supreme ethic that God has given to us is Love. Love for God, love for each other. That is why He gives us free will, and why freedom and liberty are so precious. Without freedom, you can have obedience, but you can't have love. With freedom, you can love, and you can choose to give obedience and love to one who is worthy. The political Left says, we need to care for our fellow humans. And indeed we have that obligation. When we care for each other, we are following God's commandment to love one another. But the political Left's solution is to create a syste...

In reply to my last post , I've been asked: So where do these inalienable rights you mention come from? And at what point die they emerge? And do animals have them? Are there any circumstances when these rights could be denied? We are getting into deep philosophical waters here. You asked, and I'll answer. I don't necessarily expect you to agree with me, but we can disagree respectfully. As I said, the idea of a "right" is as I understand it is tied up with the idea of what it means to be human, to be capable of ethical and moral judgement, with a sense of right and wrong. It has to do with living in right relationships with each other as human beings. Who can have the authority to impose such hefty definitions on humanity? That is, I think, a truly God-like power. I happen to believe in the existence of a Creator who exists ouside of time and the universe. As the Declaration of Independence says, I believe that all humans are "endowed by their Creator...

This post is in response to a Facebook discussion . A poster asked me a question, and the answer got to be... well, a little long. So I decided to blog my reply. First, the question posed: I will ask one question: did you pick who you would be attracted to or is the gender choice of your partner part of who you are? Your answer responds to your assertion that who you love is different from who you are. And I do not understand how a god who preaches love and acceptance of all can conclude that people who love one another are damned to be eternally different. Chris: I don't remember asserting that specifically, but I will try to answer your question. Your question is phrased in a way which makes me think that what you think I believe is not quite what I believe. In order to be clear in my answer, I am going to have to share something of what God has done in my life. This does not mean I want to impose my religion on you. I am simply telling my story from my perspective. Take fro...

Something caught my attention last night while watching Cold Case . In one of the flashbacks, a young teacher/would-be minister was counselling a club of teens. He told one girl, "God doesn't judge you." What? Where is this in the bible? I understand, there are a lot of bad representations of Christianity out there. Not all of them are the fault of "the media". Sometimes we as Christians take what we hope and believe personally, and hold it out for the world to see as "what Christians believe", when said beliefs may have no real theological basis. In this story, the character turned out to be not the kind of person you'd want as either a teacher or a minister to begin with. My name means "God is my judge". What kind of universe would we live in if He didn't? Many "atheists" and anti-Christians accuse God of being unjust, unfair, cruel, and heartless. But, if God is not just, then where did we humans get this idea of just...

I've been reading a lot of headlines lately. These fools in Florida and elsewhere that want to burn Korans. Riot crowds in Islamic countries burning Bibles and crosses in retaliation. Everyone's a victim, everyone's lashing out. A few thoughts in return: "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also." (Matt. 5:38-39) In other words, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth eventually leaves everyone blind and eating oatmeal. Also, a quote from M. Scott Peck that was in a recent sermon I heard: "There are dozens of ways to deal with evil and several ways to conquer it. All of them are facets of the truth that the only ultimate way to conquer evil is to let it be smothered within a willing, living human being. When it is absorbed there like blood in a sponge or a spear into one’s heart, it lo...

I encountered two very sad things this week. First, there was a woman at the church pot luck (I've seen her there many times) who said that she doesn't believe God has a plan for her life. She has nothing in this life but a litany of sorrows. I didn't know what to say!How do you answer that? How sad, to believe that God's love for you is less than perfect! How sad, to believe that God doesn't want you to have life and joy, or to think that somehow His power isn't enough to care for you! The other sad thing was just a few minutes ago. A trio of Jehovah's Witnesses came to the door, with an invitation to their Easter day service (though JWs aren't allowed to celebrate Easter). I politely told them that we would be quite busy at our own church. But one thing struck me after I had closed the door... They said that they wanted to invite me to a "celebration of the death of Jesus". Now, I will be celebrating Jesus's death... on Good Friday. Easte...