Philip wrote:Kurieuo: Really, you're looking to Jesus for justification to carry guns? Don't invoke Christ's name, because that is a serious misrepresentation and insult.
OK, Kurieuo, you don't have to put on your sanctimonious, mock outrage on. Of COURSE, Jesus' meaning might not be so obvious. However, He IS referring to the obvious dangers His disciples would soon face. And He does mention common utilitarian items designed for specific uses. But IF you are going to use Scripture to try to endorse passiveness and pacifist sensibilities, I think you are greatly mistaken. Why did God have Israel create an army - armed with WEAPONS???!!! Why didn't He just want them all to be PRAYER warriors?
Fearful? No! Practical, a realist? Absolutely! Did God not give us a brain to perceive dangers and to do OUR part to protect our families? I never owned a gun until about 3 years ago, and I'll be 58 this week! But I came to realize it's a practical tool for protection. Yes, my faith is NOT in my guns, but in the Lord's protection. But He expects me to do my part, not ONLY in prayer and faith, but also to the best of my ability in prudent ways. K, do you wear a seatbelt when you ride the highway? Or do you just pray and have faith in God so that you don't need the protection of a nylon strap and airbags? Of, course, I'm sure you undertake all manner of precautions due to the hazardous potential of many things. But by your logic, that shows walking in fear, a lack of faith.
The passion I have is NOT for guns, but for my rights to protect those I love in a way I see reasonable in relation to widely known potential threats. I don't like emotional arguments or political correctness. And so people that think a law-abiding person shouldn't be able to legally own a gun, that don't understand criminals will still have and easily obtain them - well, that really ticks me off! I pray I'll never have to use my gun. So, do I have faith that God will never allow me to ever be in a position where I might need to defend myself against dangerous people? But why should I believe something that newspapers daily show me Christians facing such dangers - in which they are sometimes tragically killed. Was their faith too weak to avoid such things - or have they not also lived in a sinful world filled with threatening and dangerous people. Maybe even Christian cops don't need guns - maybe police departments should make them optional for those of such spiritual sensibilities? Do you think it's a lack of faith for a Christian to own, or to desire to own, a gun?
This is an important debate. Revelant. And one that needs to be debated free of BS.
Why?
Because people are dying.
That is why there is passion.
That is why a few Aussies would bother to discuss this issue with any concern. We are sitting pretty. We don't have this issue. It is is not relevant to our neighbourhood.
But we care.
That is the motivation
What the hell is going on? And going wrong?
Because something is wrong.
Abel I admire what you said and I agree. This should not divide us.
What is "us"
A dysfunctional family under Christ?
Different ideas, differing theology.
We discuss differences everyday surrounding our faith, and nothing brings about the nervousness anger and anxiety as does this discussion.
That is telling in itself.
Which brings me to an issue that has given me the irrits for long enough
How many times have I said let's call a spade a spade.
Let's get real and leave to the wayside political jargon that conflates the issue and does not resolve.
We need a lesson in what Political correctness means and what it doesn't.
The definition;
agreeing with the idea that people should be careful to not use language or behave in a way that could offend a particular group of people.
Myself personally I have been viewed as politically incorrect and as correct. Depending on the situation.
When I have heard people refer to our Aboriginal ancestors and people as coons and abos, I have found offence. More than once I have been asked ' so you are one of those politically correct people'? And my answer is if that means I'm not an assho*le then yes!
Political correctness is the direct use of language to marginalise a group of people.
It has its merits as we have seen in this forum.
That feeling of we love you, but not okay.
Those that have had the strongest feelings of protest against political correctness, have understood that at times, inflammatory language is not not okay.
Similar to the issue with FL. language that was not viewed as okay.
That by definition is political incorrectness.
How has it gone too far?
By redefining the purpose of language to not offend, to the extreme?
Some people are fat.
Call it curvy, which I'm not arguing is beautiful, but language is what is it and shouldn't be used as a political or social tool.
Some people are short,
Vertically challenged??
In the 90's political correctness just went berserk.
But it was defined by the use of language that was deemed offensive.
Fast forward to now and it the one of the most bastardised terms of this era.
If you don't agree with gun reform "polically correct"
You believe in helping refugees "politically correct".
That is not the meaning or definition of politically correct!!
A different point of view was never the intentional application of this term.
It is going out of your way to use non offensive language as to not marginalise anyone.
Great idea when applied rationally, stupid idea when over extended.
That is not at all the case with gun reform.
There is no margin for the political correct card to be branded except for intellectual dishonesty.
No use of offensive language to offend anyone is the crux of this issue.
It's a bullcrap argument.
Let's make this clear.
Issues regarding gun reform and the Syrian refugee crisis that has been repeatedly branded on this forum as political correctness have nothing to zero to do with politically correctness but rather a differing point of view that is dishonestly placed within those restrains.
The crux of political correctness is to not offend by use of specific language.
Whilst it is not my intention to offend by way of language if my opinion offends I couldn't give a rats ar*e.
Anybody who knows me would ever claim I am politically correct.
If you don't like my opinion then I couldn't give a flying fire truck.
Stiff titties.
I'm not going to whitewash it, pretend what is isn't, or glaze over it.
What has been branded as political correctness on this forum by some is the opposite.
To pussy foot around, to not want to offend based on opinion but rather specific use of language has never been my intention.
Yes, I disagree with you, it's not political correctness but a different point of view.
I'm my opinion a better point of view.
Call it many things but political correctness it's not, because I don't care if it offends you.
And that is what the term actually means to not offend and not how it's been bastardised to mean a differing point of view different to your own.