What strikes me is what is found in the list of vocations Hippolytus gives that Christians should not be involved with.
16 They will inquire concerning the works and occupations of those are who are brought forward for instruction.2If someone is a pimp who supports prostitutes, he shall cease or shall be rejected.3If someone is a sculptor or a painter, let them be taught not to make idols. Either let them cease or let them be rejected. 4If someone is an actor or does shows in the theater, either he shall cease or he shall be rejected. 5If someone teaches children (worldly knowledge), it is good that he cease. But if he has no (other) trade, let him be permitted. 6A charioteer, likewise, or one who takes part in the games, or one who goes to the games, he shall cease or he shall be rejected. 7If someone is a gladiator, or one who teaches those among the gladiators how to fight, or a hunter who is in the wild beast shows in the arena, or a public official who is concerned with gladiator shows, either he shall cease, or he shall be rejected. 8If someone is a priest of idols, or an attendant of idols, he shall cease or he shall be rejected. 9A military man in authority must not execute men. If he is ordered, he must not carry it out. Nor must he take military oath. If he refuses, he shall be rejected. 10If someone is a military governor or the ruler of a city who wears the purple, he shall cease or he shall be rejected. 11The catechumen or faithful who wants to become a soldier is to be rejected, for he has despised God. 12The prostitute, the wanton man, the one who castrates himself, or one who does that which may not be mentioned, are to be rejected, for they are impure. 13A magus shall not even be brought forward for consideration.14An enchanter, or astrologer, or diviner, or interpreter of dreamsb, or a charlatanc, or one who makes amulets, either they shall cease or they shall be rejected. 15If someone's concubine is a slave, as long as she has raised her children and has clung only to him, let her hear. Otherwise, she shall be rejected. 16The man who has a concubine must cease and take a wife according to the law. If he will not, he shall be rejected.
A soldier is not a position worthy of a Christ follower. "...He shall be rejected, for he despised God." I have heard persons in the military say "for God and country." Hippolytus would, of course, have a major disagreement with that.
Is Hippolytus off in left field? If he's not, what does that mean for American Christianity that sees American patriotism as part and parcel of the Christian faith?
Also, he says that if a Christian military man in authority is not to execute people, what does that say about capital punishment?
8 comments:
Mike, I think you are certainly stirring the pot, especially in TX.
Christ shows us the way and in relation to military he submitted and in submitting he conquered using God's "force" and "weapons," i.e. love, forgiveness, grace, compassion, mercy, long-suffering, patience, etc.
We often forget that in OT stories like Gideon and Jericho God did the battling and we just watched. Could it be that God was always more interested in an obedient heart(s) than spoils, territory (promised or not), or a "last one standing" victory?
I like the post.
Has Michael been reading Jesus for President, the Politics of Jesus, or something similar??
Anyway, it is getting harder and harder for me to personally support the war effort. Obviously, Jesus chose the path of nonviolence in the face of the oppressive Roman government.
The places in the Old Testament that really raise questions are those in which there is a kind of just war. David cutting off Goliath's head for example because he dared to come against the army of the living God...
Personally, I could never take a life, and I think that when we lay down our lives, we demonstrate a love that is not of this world.
But I think we need to be careful that we do not just discredit the just war theory and make villans out of its proponents. There are enough scriptures to cause us to wrestle with the idea, which is what this post is really all about I presume...
n8
It has been a long while since I've read Politics of Jesus and I haven't had a chance to get Jesus for President yet. For the last few years or so I have been growing more uncomfortable with the stance that so many American Christians have that has nearly essentially changed what being a Christ follower means/is.
I guess we all need to stop pimping too according to Hippolytus...
I think Shane or Chris quotes Hippolytus in "Jesus for President", that is the only reason I said that...
I would expect nothing less from Claiborne.
What about teachers being excluded? That could be bad for me! After all, math is "worldly knowledge."
you are doomed, man! :p
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