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NASB | Isaiah 9:6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Isaiah 9:6 For to us a Child shall be born, to us a Son shall be given; And the government shall be upon His shoulder, And His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. [Is 25:1; 40:9-11; Matt 28:18; Luke 2:11] |
Bible Question:
In Isaiah's prophecy, Jesus is called the Prince of Peace. Christians refer to his as the Gospel of Peace, and indeed, Christ's sermon on the mount promotes meekness and patient suffering in the face of threats to one's own personal security. As followers of Jesus, I would think that we would find Christians more often than liberal ideologues protesting war in the streets. Why does it seem that Christians are the most supportive of the United States' preemptive war? |
Bible Answer: Pacifism and Just War. Hello proffitt79. Many Christians are pacifists. Look into how Mennonites deal with international relations, for instance. Check this out to see more: http://www.ploughshares.ca/ While their view is quite extreme (preferring to be killed than to kill) I always find them challenging and edifying when I here them speak. The larger stream in Christian thought is the "Just War" discourse. This includes a leaning to pacifism as well --- "we will not engage in warfare unless these conditions are met..." Pacifism is the default position. Warfare is an option that is taken with grate deliberation. Many Christians do not feel that the conditions for "Just War" were met in the case of Iraq. As for me, I am glad to see Saddam overthrown, but find the stated reasons for the war problematic (ie. supposed connection to 9/11, and weapons of mass destruction). The real problem is that debate is thwarted by blind patriotism (ie. "united we stand"). |