tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847211149012008703.post5252958247469244135..comments2023-11-03T04:50:42.128-05:00Comments on Confessional Gadfly: Be Slow to Define Sin for your NeighborRev. Eric J Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17747919365522145094noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847211149012008703.post-65120247263141834502011-07-04T07:44:21.676-05:002011-07-04T07:44:21.676-05:00Mr. Lemke is very right.
When I was a teacher, on...Mr. Lemke is very right.<br /><br />When I was a teacher, one of my students and I trained at the same do and were kumite partners.<br /><br />Sparring with him was a wonderful thing for our friendship and for our relationship as teacher and student.<br /><br />We are close friends to this day.<br /><br />It wasn't about inflicting pain on each other. It more like a game of chess with kicks and punches and sweeps involved.<br /><br />In fact, we worked pretty hard to not hurt one another. But a little bruise never really hurt anybody.Rev. Charles Lehmannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09089242798450053313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847211149012008703.post-42484354276910082822011-07-04T05:47:07.075-05:002011-07-04T05:47:07.075-05:00For myself as an individual, knowing my own self a...For myself as an individual, knowing my own self and my own conscience, there tends to be very little grey area. That's part of the purpose of your conscience - to help you draw your own line.<br /><br />The problem comes in when I attempt to draw a line for my neighbor in what is a grey area on the basis of my thoughts and strengths and weaknesses instead of his.Rev. Eric J Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17747919365522145094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847211149012008703.post-18823924817874452462011-07-03T23:03:47.970-05:002011-07-03T23:03:47.970-05:00Tough question indeed. I agree with you Pastor Bro...Tough question indeed. I agree with you Pastor Brown, about the "how far do you push it" idea. We can make anything a "sin" if we try hard enough. And, in the opposite sense, we can find ways to justify anything, if we try hard enough. If we are not to "hurt or harm our neighbor in his body," then when ARE we aloud to do this? The fifth commandment deals as much with motive and attitude as it does with action. There's some grey area that is very tough to deal with.Rev. Paul Beiselhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04678751687495292703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847211149012008703.post-3816663751468385862011-07-03T22:54:06.331-05:002011-07-03T22:54:06.331-05:00Speaking as a Christian who happens to have a blac...Speaking as a Christian who happens to have a black belt in American Karate, I can say that for me there is no modicum of "violence" in what I, personally, do. Truth is, I have never been closer to a brother-in-Christ (in the David and Jonathan sense) than when we've just finished pummeling the snot out of one another. It's therapeutic and endearing in the realest sense.<br /><br />On the other hand, I have been in situations where one or more of my students were violent types who only wanted to learn more effective methods of kicking butts and taking names. It's a reality, and these people are to martial arts what Pastor Brown notes alcoholics are to beer. Doesn't mean they get to spoil the experience for the rest of us, or that what we do it "sin" by extension. Just means that they have a weakness that needs to be addressed and respected for what it is.Thomas Lemkehttp://www.thechifiles.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847211149012008703.post-5391402166942042152011-07-03T22:01:15.342-05:002011-07-03T22:01:15.342-05:00Dr. Cowlishaw,
Having a pregnant wife, I find I a...Dr. Cowlishaw,<br /><br />Having a pregnant wife, I find I am much more prepared to knock the living daylights out of a person, if they appear to be a threat to my wife. (I could be like Rory from Dr. Who, if you've watched the new stuff) =o)<br /><br />What I will say is that with things that involve "force" - be it martial arts, or the police, or the military, quite often people have a very kind and loving drive towards protecting others. I tend to have that drive -- just much more of a verbal defense rather than physical. I come from a long line of Marines -- it's not who I am, but I can see and understand. I know many good folks who are into the Martial arts -- and I could see where something like MMA would be a fantastic self-challenge.<br /><br />Not for me - but it is not given to me to direct and control my neighbor's life. Ah well.Rev. Eric J Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17747919365522145094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847211149012008703.post-51330488314200226772011-07-03T21:15:19.936-05:002011-07-03T21:15:19.936-05:00I like your answer. It seems the most Christ-like ...I like your answer. It seems the most Christ-like possible answer to the question. I, myself, have often run into Christians with a martial arts passion and found it hard to understand. I seems to me this constant preparedness to knock the living daylights out of another person is not a very Christian mindset. It does confuse me. I have a really difficult time imagining how one's mind can be "disciplined" in that way and still have a heart ready to turn the other cheek. But your answer is the only thing that sounds like Christ: avoid what you can feel corrodes your soul--and don't pretend you don't know what that is.Bridget Cowlishawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05712209368702693235noreply@blogger.com