Wolfe Heretic?

John Smith · 17 Jul 2008, 12:13 · from 2008-July.txt.gz

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From: jsmith2627 at att.net (John Smith)
Date: Thu, 17 Jul 2008 05:13:15 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: (urth) Wolfe Heretic?
In-Reply-To: <487EE33F.4020802 at io.com>
Message-ID: <82289.55254.qm at web83717.mail.sp1.yahoo.com>

Maybe I'm trying to split a hair.    I agree that the
hymn approves the bravery and other admirable conduct
of soldiers.   But it asks us to use martial virtues
in a good cause.    I just don't see this as an
endorsement of "militarism."    

Perhaps my disagreement is with the word "militarism",
which I take to mean a reliance on aggressive military
force.    You're right to say most Christians in most
eras have supported just wars.

Jack

--- Jeff Wilson <jwilson at io.com> wrote:

> John Smith wrote:
> > I won't try to defend the Crusades but you're
> giving
> > the hymn  "Onward, Christian Soldiers" a bad rap. 
> 
> > The hymn does not promote militarism.     The
> > "Christian soldiers" are not military men who are
> > waging war on heathens.   They are Christians who
> are
> > urged to advance Christian ideals LIKE soldiers
> going
> > into battle.   Listen to the words and I think
> you'll
> > agree.
> 
> II Timothy 2:3 (KJV): "Thou shalt endure hardness,
> as a good soldier of 
> Jesus Christ."
> 
> It doesn't have to be literal military action, using
> martial similies 
> and metaphors for correct behavior is still an
> approval of militarism. 
> You don't see hyms that say, "onward Christian
> harlots" or "onward 
> Christian usurers" do you?
> 
> -- 
> Jeff Wilson - jwilson at io.com
> < http://www.io.com/~jwilson >
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> 

Best wishes,

Jack

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