Jesus Manifesto - Latest Comments in Who Is My Enemy?

Re: Who Is My Enemy?

Jon Cooper — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:06:59 -0000

Thanks for turning me on to "The Plow." It looks like some really great stuff. This image really conjured up some reflection in me.
http://wayoftherevolution.w...

Re: Who Is My Enemy?

lsomers — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 23:54:36 -0000

"The circle of love becomes a sphere in which the center is everywhere and the circumference is nowhere. Heck, the Gentiles even get grafted into the people of God. How’s that for sharing the love?"

Before Christians start talking about loving enemies - and that usually means people you cannot see, or will not see, or don't want to see - they need to start loving their neighbors - those they can see, those who live among them and those they would rather not see. The hateful attitude of millions of Christians - or those who lay claim to that name without meaning - towards their gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and trans- gendered neighbors is legendary.

Don't worry about the American government naming your enemies. Worry about the preachers of hatred who claim the name of Jesus speak with the tongue of Satan.

Re: Who Is My Enemy?

hewhocutsdown — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 12:50:12 -0000

What I appreciate of Chomsky's work is that, generally speaking, when he condemns an individual or a group, he does so using that very group's metric for success - if they proclaim peace, he points out their wars, if they proclaim freedom he points out their imprisonment, if they proclaim their love he points out their hate.

It is this judging by their own measure that I appreciate, for you are correct; judging by another's measure makes little or no sense. As a nation state cannot in any meaningful way be 'Christian', to confuse it's policies with Christian ethics makes the same sense as measuring length in kilograms.

Is there a Christian-approved state response to enemies? I'm not sure there even needs to be one. But I greatly appreciate your distinction between state-declared enemies and our neighbors and siblings.

God bless