In a comment on connexions: Killing Zarqawi and the ‘war on terror’ Beth writes
I honestly do believe that to refuse to kill another person even in order to save your own life or the life of a friend is the strongest possible witness to Christ’s gospel. I also believe that I would be incapable of making that witness myself. As Kim has said, violence in self-defence or in the defence of others can only be carried out by Christians in full knowledge that it is sinful and in the hope that it will be forgiven by our God whose nature is mercy.
Amen to that.
I suspect I can hold to pacifism and refuse to kill to protect myself more "easily" than I could refuse to kill to protect a child. All the more reason not to have guns available to tempt me to do the "wrong" thing for the "right" reasons.
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