Pipe smoke and nonviolence

I went to a bachelor party recently for a good friend of mine in which I got to share good food, good conversations, and very good cigars as well. I watched as so many people that I respect partook of nice fine, cigars and fine pipe tobacco that was exquisite if I do say so myself, I discussed the saving power of Christ and the thankfulness that I posses in all that he has done for me personally. We discussed God working in our lives over pipes, and I have to say, every discussion is better over pipes. I was intrigued to find that at least 3 of the older men attending this party were Pastors. I talked with some and heard them tell me of how cigar smoking and complimented with fine wine is something that brings great joy to their souls. I would have to agree, at least about the cigar and pipe tobacco part.

It was on the way home when I was able to have an interesting discussion with my friends Brent and Jeremy about an array of topics but partially on pacifism. I have for some time now thought a lot about pacifism and nonviolence, especially in light of the war in Iraq and also other places. I had heard a couple of interesting quotes lately from a song by Derek Webb called "My enemies are men like me." The lyrics go like this:

I have come to give you life
and to show you how to live it
I have come to make things right
to heal their ears and show you how to forgive them

because I would rather die
I would rather die
I would rather die
than to take your life

(chorus)
how can I kill the ones IÂ’m supposed to love
my enemies are men like me
Ii will protest the sword if itÂ’s not wielded well
my enemies are men like me

peace by way of war is like purity by way of fornication
itÂ’s like telling someone murder is wrong
and then showing them by way of execution

when justice is bought and sold just like weapons of war
the ones who always pay are the poorest of the poor

This song has really spoken to me lately about the necessity in the call of Christ to non-violence.

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In typical Chrislike fashiIn i have taken about a month to finish this post, and also start another so to warn you this post has been written in two parts, with a month of time passing between them.

I am challenged by the words of the song mentioned above and also by this message of non-violence that seems to be increasingly necessary. There are very few cases in which I feel war is justified and even in those I still have several doubts. I have becriticizedzed by some for not supporting the war, but more for not "supporting our troops," which seems to be the motto of our country as of late. I see these bumper stickers everywhere and I wonder why these people are supporting these efforts to kill more and more people? Why the American people would want to support a war founded on lies? I don't support them. I can't. Many evangelicals it seems have found a way to use their faith as a basis for their support of this war, I find this to be ridiculous. I find it incredible, that the same people who would damn the Catholics for their fault in actions carried our during the crusades are the same people who would turn around and use the Bible to support the killing of people in Iraq. I can't tell the difference between these two, though I am told that it is great by some, to me it is an example of Christians feeling justified in the killing of Muslims all over again.

I know that I just went on a rant there, and you may not agree with much of it at all. My point and closing statement to this is only that I feel as Christians that we need to skeptical of any action that involves the killing of any people in this world. That we need to respect all life as we claim to do when many protest things like abortion, but neglect life after it is born, or when it is in a foreign country and our government claims that they are oenemiesies. We need, as Christians, to follow the message of peace that Jesus taught, that we must set the example for the world in love. All I ask is that before you support this war, or any other that you take the time to think about why you do support it. We need to respect all life whether it be friend or foe, because as Derek Webb put it "My enemies are men like me."