troubled.

I guess I'd call myself a troubled-pacifist.

I'm currently reading a collection of essays on the Christian response to War. There are four different views presented and each view is critiqued by the others. The book has rekindled the thoughts in my mind about war and conflict.

This crazy Jewish man named Jesus tells me to love not just my neighbour, but my enemy. He speaks about renouncing our lives and possesions and following him - showing me the way to the Kingdom of God, the Kingdom of Heaven or Eternal life. If i'm honest I'd say it's crystal clear, He is asking that we live a different way that brings about a new Kingdom not with violence, lies and domination, but through love, through service and through reconciliation.

I understand we have plenty of good conventional reasons for war - to protect our own country, our own people. But Jesus goes and spoils it all by saying stupid like "love your enemy". [And clearly he showed special favour for the people his society deemed as lesser people.] But it seems Jesus isn't about protecting one state or one people, but he's about bringing everybody into a reconciled relationship with the Father and with one another. That's quite revolutionary.

Martin Luther King Jnr philosphy for non-violence was expressed in 5 points.

1. Non-violent resistance is not a method for cowards. It takes more strength to stand for love than to strike back.
2. Such resistance does not seek to defeat or humiliate the opponent, but to win friendship and understanding.
3. The attack is directed against forces of evil, rather than against the people doing the evil.
4. Non-violent reisistance is a willingness to accept suffering without retaliation, to accept blows from the opponent without striking back.
5. This resistance avoids not only external physical force, but also internal violence of spirit.

I quite like this. This is just as much a challenge to a pacifist who thinks their shit don't stink, as it is to anyone else. It's about reconciliation, it's about defeating 'forces of evil' not people and it's not just about physical violence, but the same violence we commit in our hearts.

So yes I agree with this view. That we're about reconciliation not war.

But don't get me wrong.

Last night I watched the movie 'Australia'. And there was a scene where a white Aussie man 'Fletcher' was chasing a beating a young indigenous boy 'Nullah' and his mother - And in my heart I had anything by loving thoughts toward this man within this injustice. This is a kind of rage that I never ordinarily feel.

So I'm troubled.

But still believe in Jesus redemptive way.

help.