Christian prayer for violence against our enemy in US war with Iran

Hegseth, US Defense Secretary, frequently invokes his evangelical faith as head of the armed forces, depicting a Christian nation trying to vanquish its foes with military might. He read a prayer given by a military chaplain to the troops:

“Let every round find its mark against the enemies of righteousness and our great nation,” Hegseth prayed during the livestreamed service. “Give them wisdom in every decision, endurance for the trial ahead, unbreakable unity, and overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy.”

The ethos of the Hebrew Old Testament or teaching of Jesus Christ?

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Diotrephes · 70-79, M

@sree251 =

The ethos of the Hebrew Old Testament or teaching of Jesus Christ?

Jesus = the warmonger!!

Matthew 10:34 (TLB) =
“Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! No, rather, a sword."

FreddieUK · 70-79, M

@Diotrephes When you take the text out of context you’re left with a con. Look at the context and think again.

Diotrephes · 70-79, M

@FreddieUK

When you take the text out of context you’re left with a con. Look at the context and think again.

No peace but stabbing, cutting, and gushing blood from people who were attacked with swords. That's the context!!

FreddieUK · 70-79, M

@Diotrephes You've just made that up. Jesus is talking about how following him will divide people. None of those emotive and violent words come from his mouth. You seem to specialise in misquoting and failing to look at the Bible as is.

sree251 · 41-45, M

@FreddieUK

You've just made that up. Jesus is talking about how following him will divide people. None of those emotive and violent words come from his mouth. You seem to specialise in misquoting and failing to look at the Bible as is.

@Diotrephes is just yanking your chain. He isn't contributing to this discussion with seriousness.

Matthew 10:34 (NIV) states:
“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword."

This passage highlights that Jesus’ message could create division, forcing a choice between following him or adhering to worldly or traditional loyalties, which can lead to familial conflict. This could also imply inner conflict, a battle within our minds: a troubled conscience.

FreddieUK · 70-79, M

@sree251 Spot on. I have no idea what his TLB is that he supposedly quotes from.

sree251 · 41-45, M

@FreddieUK

I have no idea what his TLB is that he supposedly quotes from.

TLB stands for The Living Bible.

The Living Bible has been criticized by Reformed writer Michael Marlowe who said that it was a "dumbing-down of the Biblical text to a grade-school level" .

FreddieUK · 70-79, M

@sree251 Thanks. I wonder if that's the one I know as the NLT - New Living Translation? Those from the Reformed tradition have objected to every translation since the KJV. No translation is perfect and I when doing serious study, I use at least two. My NT Greek is so rusty as to be useless these days.

sree251 · 41-45, M

@FreddieUK What is troubling is the American evangelical Christian attitude in support of the US war on Iran. What is your take?

FreddieUK · 70-79, M

@sree251 I’m appalled and so are all my Christian friends. It’s embarrassing, so much so that I no longer use the word ‘evangelical’ since it’s been tainted so much.