Thank you . Few Spurgeon fans will ever see his quotes om Christian and war. Few ever share them. This page of his quotes used to at least have some (even if only two or three) visitors every day. Now, there are days every week when no one sees it. Even most of the few who affirm the quotes do nothing to share it and help it gain circulation. The topic could not be more timely. https://spurgeonwarquotes.wordpress.com/ Charles Spurgeon: On War and Christians
Charles Spurgeon had some good things to say. Even Jesus told us to lay down our weapons and stop fighting, in Matthew 26. I am Catholic, and believe in peace as well.
Date
April 20, 2024
Verse
Ephesians 4:31-32 (ESV): "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."
Matthew 26:52 (ESV): "Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword."
Explanation
Ephesians 4:31-32 is a call for Christians to put away negative emotions and behaviors such as bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, slander, and malice, and instead be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving towards one another. This passage emphasizes the importance of love, kindness, and forgiveness in the Christian community.
Matthew 26:52, on the other hand, is a command from Jesus to one of His disciples, Peter, to put away his sword after attempting to defend Jesus with violence. Jesus' message here was that violence and the use of force are not the solutions to conflicts or threats, but rather, love, peace, and forgiveness should be pursued.
Both passages emphasize the importance of non-violence and forgiveness in the context of religious beliefs and communities. Cults or individuals who use tainted religious views as an excuse to commit heinous acts, such as violence, are in direct opposition to these teachings.