Proposed Topic #1: retaliation?

" Topic: At one point I heard that some of the Ukrainian girl orphans were being transported on a particular ferry to Turkey to sold as sex slaves. My first thought was, why doesn't anyone blow up that boat? At what point is violence justified?"

This indeed is an interesting question. It depends on each persons individual morals: no two people see EXACTLY the same thing because no two people are EXACTLY the same. Therefore, what I will write in response will be purely MY opinion, and you may disagree. I do not mind. This will be a discussion post, so if you want to put your ideas out there, go ahead.

Now before we start, I will mention this: I love reading. You know, those heroic tales of amazing feats, possible only if you trained your whole life and the exact opportunity came up. I love imagining myself as some hero, winning the admiration of others and the love of my Jessica. I like video games, the ones where you have to go battle to save something or prevent something. I also like other games and books, but these tend to be my favorites. So from this, you might be able to see that I like to prove myself through actions.

Now, my response: No, I would not.

Some might think: "why bring up the first part then?" others: "you are wrong" while others still may agree.

If you want to skip to the simpler, less overly analysed answer, find and read between the separated part near the middle

Now, I am a strong believer in love. God shows us love all the time, and Jesus loved everyone he met it appeared. He healed many, raising even some from the dead. The story of Christ raising Lazarus from the dead in John 11. The story of Jairus' daughter from the dead in Mark 5:35-43.  He also healed lepers and sick, truly anyone, it would appear. He even, in Luke's account, heals the ear of a soldier arresting him (Luke 22:47-54). See also Matthew 9:18-26, John 9, Mark 2:1-12, Mark 1:40-45, Luke 17:11-19, Mark 5 John 21:25... As well as many other verses if you are not yet convinced. I for one, am convinced he loved people and helped them.

Now, since God loved them, he was not hurting them, or allowing them to stay in pain when they asked. However, in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, Paul states that God has "given me a thorn in my flesh". In the passage, that I will allow you to read in your various translations and versions, Paul lets us know he is suffering , but not without reason. Paul states that God allows us to suffer as a reminder, and to prevent him from becoming conceited.

Now, the only argument I can find in the Bible that shows God being, say, violent, is when he upturns the market in the temple courts. this happens in Matthew 21:12 if you want to verify that what I am saying is true. He intentionally, brutally (from how I understand it), simply gets rid of anything marketable, setting them all free, upturning the cashier tables, sending people into a raging frenzy, some collecting the money, some running from frightened animals, some trying to catch the animals, people fighting. I can imagine the commotion going on... and it isn't very pretty either. Jesus knew what would happen, yet he did it anyways. Can you imagine? It would be like walking up to a concert, walking up to all the goods stands and trowing them around, with hundreds of dollars flying everywhere, and merchandise being scattered. A crazy thought is it not?

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SO. God does things knowing the consequences, but he seems to do loving acts, with repercussions we would never understand, way more often.

Can blowing up a boat fix the problem? No, probably not. Why? because they have money: they can buy more boats. What if they are in the boats when they blow up? Well, the WHOLE team will never be in the boat at once. Also, Jesus NEVER hurt a person physically. Think also: they will learn to be more cautious, buy a better boat, or several, pay more people off, perhaps kill some.

As much as I'd love to go in and blow the boat to bits myself, tear it apart by hand, ruin it, run it down, sabotage it, some days even kill the personnel, it is not right. I want to do this as much out of self valour as to help others.

"What if I could do it without a sense of self valour?" one may ask. Does it matter? Shall the outcome not be very similar? Shall they not learn?

Can we say with certainty that destroying the boat would make things better? We can say it might. Why not try? what else could happen? But what else CAN happen? things could get worse. MUCH worse. Did you think of this? Perhaps, but think on it hard.

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Love on the other hand, might make a difference. Loving the children, helping them off the streets, giving them a new life. Loving and teaching the parents, showing them that they need not repeat the lives of their parents. Loving and helping the police, showing them better ways from our own police and perhaps helping in investigations. Loving and helping victims, showing them that they can stand up and speak against. But here many might call me cray: Loving and caring for, nurturing and teaching, leading and forgiving the people COMMITTING the acts. Why do you think they are there? Because they care more about money than the lives of other people. Why? Well, I don't know! So why do you not ask? Because they are the bad guys!!! ARE THEY? or are WE, for not showing them the love of God in their times of trial and pain as children, for not teaching them better when they were orphaned, or left to fend for them selves. Were we not called to love those around us? you may answer that we do love those around us. DO we though. I don't mean do we TOLERATE the people around us, because toleration is not love. Caring for, talking to, complimenting and supporting, encouraging, spending time with, having their best interests at heart. That is love. Also, see these passages to compare a bit: Matthew 5:1-16 and 1 Corinthians 13.


How then shall we act in violence since it is partly due to us? "I don't live over there!" Yes, but a simple act of kindness could have changed someones life, and you never know where that could have led. Love is not always easy, but it is our way of life, and if it is not, reconsider a bit. think upon what what you really live for and how you show it.




I could go on, but this post has taken nearly two hours of my time and it is almost midnight. I hope this answer was satisfactory. You have a right to an opinion. So please, if you agree or disagree, please, let me know, post a comment, sent an email, I don't mind. But please do not feel as though I am thrusting this down your throat, I am simply trying to support the side I am on.


--Scott