Who Would Jesus Shoot?
by Justin Fung
Sojourners
In case you haven’t already seen this, it’s been discovered that gunsights on weapons used by British and American forces in Iraq and Afghanistan are inscribed with coded biblical references, including:
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
For it is the God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:6)
It’s absolutely mind-boggling to me that carved onto weapons of war are words of truth and peace — words from a man who embodied and heralded a kingdom characterized by peace, and from a man who announced an alternative to empire and spoke of faith, hope, joy, gentleness, goodness, and peace. How in the heck do these things go together?!
The website of Trijicon, the U.S.-based manufacturer, states: “We believe that America is great when its people are good. This goodness has been based on biblical standards throughout our history and we will strive to follow those morals.” Which of course is clearly congruent with SHOOTING people.
Clearly.
No wonder Christians have a bad name. You’d think we’d learned our lessons from the Crusades, the Inquisition, etc. But apparently not.
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I think Justin has a great point here. I do personally believe there is a such thing as just violence. I just don't believe it's something the US is involved in. Police Officers who shoot a criminal who is trying to kill someone-that's just violence.
But Iraq? Nope. Afghanistan? Nope. We are fooling ourselves if we think Jesus would approve of these wars. And I'm sure he loves it that we put his name and words on weapons of death and destruction.
Oh wait. Wouldn't that be taking the Lord's name in vain? Oh yeah. I forgot about that one. No biggie, it's just one of the ten commandments.
I say Jamás to Hamas!
4 months ago
1 comment:
I don't see why this has been big news. If the gov doesn't want biblical references on the guns, then put it in the contract. The gunmaker can stop it or give up the business. Then the gov can find another contractor. If no one else can provide the same quality guns, then the gov might have to live with the inscriptions.
As far as the Christian incompatibility, certainly I can't see Jesus killing anyone - but none of us are Jesus. I can't see Jesus performing an abortion either but that doesn't mean I think you can't be a pro-choice Christian.
The government didn't write the stuff. If the inscriptions make soldiers uncomfortable, ABSOLUTELY Uncle Same should provide them a gun without the religious references. But for those soldiers it makes more comfortable in battle - what's the big deal?
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