A time for violence

I get a the newsletter "The Healing Line" regularly. It comes from Christian Healing Ministries inc. run by Francis and Judith MacNutt. My husband and I have great admiration for these two people. We were fortunate to be able to spend a day of seminars with them. Blessed? We were.

This time the newsletter had an article written by Francis Macnutt called "The Greatest Gift of All Love". It, the article, of course is wonderfully written,but, gave me pause. I told my husband that MacNutt believes we are to never be violent. That we do not walk the greatest commandment, "You must love the Lord God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like the first: 'Love your neighbor as yourself'". Matthew 22:37-39.

Macutt writes that Jesus teaches non-violence. That this is a part of love. I shared this with my husband who took on a look of bewilderment. He said, "I'll have to think on that one." Last night he shared with me his thoughts on a non-violent Christ. His view is worth taking a look at.

He shared that he'd noticed in the Word that Jesus' avoided those whom he found objections to. He did not approach those who would anger Him. We see in the Tabernacle that when he did see or approach those of ill repute His reaction was one of violence. Turning over the tables with great anger.

My thoughts, while he was sharing, went to the woman who was being confronted by the men for adultery. When Jesus approached, he was her savior.

John 8

1But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. 3The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" 6They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." 8Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

9At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"

11"No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."

Maybe Christ was stooping down and writing in the sand to compose Himself. After all, these men were certainly less than honorable. He was so kind to the woman who had no hidden agenda. Was he restraining Himself from letting these guys have it with His words or from His righteous anger.

God is not always non-violent. Even in the new covenant. When Jesus returns the Bible does not describe a peaceful event. Read Revelations.

There are times when violence is needed and appropriate. Just Sunday, in Colorado, if the security guard had not shot the gunman, many more would have died. That violence was needed and appropriate.

I agree that we do not love enough. To love like God alludes us. We should always strive to put on the mind of Christ and walk in love. But, there is a time and place for everything under heaven. And if I had been that guard in Colorado and I had had her courage, I would have done the same thing. God bless her.