So I guess an other question would be is did it seem God was on anyone’s side or was it it those who had the best weapons and the most soldiers?
Like do you think God was blessing America and granting soldiers miracles in order to win against Germany and Japan? Or was God with the Germans who won various skirmishes? Was God helping all equally or was he blatantly absent from seemingly encouraging or preventing anything?
And also just to make sure I am not misrepresenting myself as a pacifist. I’m not. I’m actually very comfortable and ok with using violence, including murder or even breaking fingers one at a time if I think that is going to be what works out best for me. Maybe I’ve mentioned it publicly or maybe not. I’m not sure with this website. But twice in my life I’ve used a bit of nasty violence to protect myself. Once was as a teen when the state of Alabama was trying to take some of my families land along a river. I strongly opposed it. They were going to take it regardless to widen the rider by 40 feet and deeper it by 10 for boats to park in. Was not even for them to fish in or anything. It was so boats could come in from the Gulf of Mexico and go up park there ships. A surveyor was out in the land they were cutting paths in the trees. They did not have to leave. Cops was there escorting them. So I went about 400 feet up ahead the path they were going and hid a bear trap. Something like the Belisle #330 I believe. The guy did step in it and it did break his leg. I got in trouble. Went to court and so on. Other people along the river and farms did similar things. Including multiple tractors same vehicles being burned down, shots fired. Houses were broken into and families attacked. There are still random articles online from it. I was a teen. But ultimately it lead to them leaving. Once about 6 years ago a man with the navy came by each house to bring this up again and was basically told by every including me we would fight it. They received death threats. Lots of people with guns stood in the road. They left and never came back. Imagine that will always be the response.
As a young adult with my now ex wife when I was 20 and in the army I went on vacation to Miami. A car stopped in front of me suddenly and another came up from behind really close. Two guys hoped out and was coming up to our windows with guns and I got out and shot one guy in the stomach and fired over the car at the other guy shooting at him as he fled and then I shot into the car in front of my and they sped off. I dragged the guy I shot off the road and drove off. About 30 minutes later I called the cops and told them what happened and that I left because I felt it was gang violence and I did not want to remain in that area. I ended up testifying on the phone against the guy and not really sure what happened. I know he went to jail but not sure for how long or anything.
So I am perfectly fine with using lethal force to protect myself. I would use lethal force to protect my pets if someone broke into my home. I would use lethal force against a man, woman or minor if it was necessary. If I could keep them alive I would. If they died I would know I did something I’m ok doing.
But what I would not do is pretend I only had those choices. That I was not forced to make any particular decision but that I choose to. I think the issue many have is they try to frame stuff as if they are not accountable. Like they had no choice and I disagree.
Now even though I’m comfortable with knowing there are situations where I will choose violence I prefer not too. I can get punched, I can get robbed and so on and I’ll most likely not choose lethal force. I probably won’t even try to fight. I’ve put in more and more work to make nonviolence my natural reaction because the reality is if left unchecked that is my first response. I have broken many arms and legs in life from a teenager into adulthood. Just three years ago someone tried to punch me and I grabbed their arm and placed them into a wrist lock and slid it into an elbow lock and with one movement broke both. I regretted it afterwards even though I was legally justified.
So overtime what I’ve tried to do instead of think about how Jesus was willing to die. I know I will try to kill someone before I let them kill me most likely. But I also know in most cases there are many other choices.
A 70 year old woman just recently attacked a 17yo and 20yo at their place of work. The 20 yo fought back and the old lady died. A few years ago I would have said it’s justifiable. You attack someone and you risk being attacked back with equal or greater force.
Nowdays I think we should be willing to take some pain and mistreatment for the sake of choosing or choosing non violence. I think that if everyone tried we could truly remake this world. That when we have a negative interaction, when we think back to it we should fantasize about choosing non violence.