A Christian Response To North Korea

[Holy-Fool-P-Zombie]

Plus, I am NOT green.

What are uguys talking about?

I think they are talking about the immigrant Martian refugees, coming to the Planet Vulcan

And speaking of Spock. I thought about online and distance learning programs. In 1858, the University of London…pioneered distance learning programs, all the way to the PhD. You would think that, by the time Mr. Spock and Mr. Data were around,…that Star Fleet Academy, would have distance and online learning programs. And we would be saying Dr. Spock and Dr. Data.

And this interesting article, came from the Protestant site Pathaos today:

How to Disprove Any Christian in 10 Easy Steps

Notice a rule of marketing here. If you have an “eye catching headline”, it will prompt folks to read farther.

[Hermano]

-Are Kim Jong-un and Donald Trump morally equivalent?
-And what about a Christian’s authority in spiritual warfare?

From a Fox News story today, North Korea: How Christians survive in the world’s most anti-Christian nation:

“For 16 years, North Korea has been ranked the “most oppressive place in the world for Christians,” and this week the U.S. State Department re-asserted it as one of the world’s worst religious persecutors – torturing and executing those even suspected of worshipping God. But that still hasn’t stopped an estimated 36 percent of the population – around 9 million – from practicing Christianity.

“…Defectors have spoken of Christians being crushed by steamrollers and used to test biological weapons, or hung on a cross over a fire.

Blessings.

[Hermano]

Regarding pastor Robert Jeffress, "Trump’s evangelical adviser: God’s OK with U.S. bombing North Korea,” Tim Swarens, the opinion editor of The Indianapolis Star, writes,

**Admittedly, I’m old-fashioned, but I believe that someone blessed to be a spiritual adviser to the most powerful person on the planet ought to lean more toward Matthew 8 (Jesus calms the storm) than Genesis 19 (the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah). ** From Why are Christian pastors endorsing Trump’s North Korea war threat?

[Hermano]

Today North Korea fired an unidentified missile into the Sea of Japan, South Korean media said.

South Korea’s military said the missile was fired from Pyongyang and that it passed over Japan.

“The Pentagon is investigating.”

From Fox News today.

[Hermano]

From [size=110]Putin[/size]: U.S. and North Korea Are ‘Balanced on the Verge of a Large-Scale Conflict’:

North Korean media also continues to imply that this week’s provocative missile launch over Japanese territory was but the “first military operation in the Pacific,” with more to come.

This prompted Japan to begin conducting regular air-raid and emergency evacuation drills in several cities. For that matter, President Putin has ordered Russians living near the North Korean border to move away.

[Hermano]

From today at CNN, Trump says appeasement ‘will not work’ after NK nuclear test:

“South Korea is finding, as I have told them, that their talk of appeasement with North Korea will not work, they only understand one thing!” the President wrote.

Later Sunday morning, Trump again teased the possibility that the US would attack North Korea.

As he left church, Trump was asked, “Will you attack North Korea?”
Trump answered, “We’ll see.”

From today at Fox, Trump hints at ending US trade with all North Korea partners, after Mnuchin vows more sanctions:

“The United States is considering, in addition to other options, stopping all trade with any country doing business with North Korea,” tweeted Trump, in response to the regime of Kim Jong Un claiming to have detonated a hydrogen bomb underground.

From 2010 at CBN, North Korea Spiritual Warfare: Insights from Carl Moeller:

While military strategists plot possible options for waging war on the Korean Peninsula, Korean and Chinese Christians are moving forward with their spiritual warfare plans for North Korea.

They’ve been doing it for many years and look forward to the time when they can share the gospel openly on the streets of Pyongyang and elsewhere in the North.

[Hermano]

Regarding possible war with North Korea, could it be justified morally? Who judges what is moral?

Is morality even the right focal point for Christians? Or should it be knowing Jesus more intimately?

I would suggest that one of the two trees in the Garden—the forbidden Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil—could have been called “The Morality Tree.” And the other—The Tree of Life—could have been called “The Jesus Tree.”

I would further suggest that The Morality Tree would include a fruit called the “Just War Theory,” and The Jesus Tree would include a fruit known as “Spiritual Warfare.”

Just war theory (Latin: jus bellum iustum) is a doctrine, also referred to as a tradition, of military ethics studied by theologians, ethicists, policy makers, and military leaders. The purpose of the doctrine is to ensure war is morally justifiable through a series of criteria, all of which must be met for a war to be considered just.

vs.

Spiritual warfare is the Christian concept of taking a stand against preternatural evil forces. It is based on the belief in evil spirits which are able to intervene in human affairs. Various Christian groups have adopted practices to repel such forces, as based on their doctrine of Christian demonology….Christian practices of spiritual warfare vary throughout Christianity.

Foundational to a correct understanding and practice of spiritual warfare, I offer you a refutation of the primacy of morality (from Richard Murray’s book, God vs. Evil):

QUESTION 2: IS THE “LESS EVIL” OPTION STILL EVIL?

We have been duped!

We have downloaded into our hearts a HUGE Satanic lie, a wrong way of thinking, a numbing mindset which dumbs us down to a place of NOT believing for God’s absolute best. This menacing mindset is akin to rearranging furniture on the deck of the Titanic. While the rearranged deck may temporally look improved, the ship is sinking.

So, what is this wrong mindset straight from the devil’s arsenal of deception? Merely this: rather than believing for God’s absolute goodness to overcome the evil in the world, we wrongly use evil’s fire to stop evil’s fire. Instead of believing for God’s flawless good to TOTALLY overcome evil circumstances, we start engaging in “lesser evil” thinking.

What is “lesser evil” thinking? It is a mindset which uses evil to stop evil. It uses violence to try to stop violence. It uses coercion to stop coercion. It uses lesser evil to stop or diminish greater evils. But what it doesn’t do, and in fact can never do, is eradicate evil altogether. And that is why Satan wants to keep us bound by thinking this way.

Let me give a few examples. WARS may be “less evil” than allowing tyranny or chaos to rule unresisted in their place. SPANKING our children with rods, belts, or our hands may be “less evil” than letting them run amok unrestrained and hurting themselves and others. EXECUTING murderers may be “less evil” than allowing them to live out their full life spans and possibly endangering other future potential victims. LYING may be “less evil” in the short run than telling a harsh truth. LUSTING in our heart may be “less evil” than committing physical fornication. PORNOGRAPHY may be “less evil” them committing physical adultery. HATING secretly may be “less evil” than committing physical hate-crimes.

But then again, all the above options may NOT be “less evil” than the alternatives. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus made no distinctions between lesser and greater evils. All sin to Jesus was unbelief. John 16:9; Romans 14:23. And THAT is the problem. When we process reality through the lens of lesser and greater evil, we end up trapped “living off” the cursed and poisoned fruit of The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. **We end up never “living off” the blessed fruit of The Tree of Life because we are scurrying about frantically leaping at the “less evil” options. Unfortunately, governments, families, society and other institutions tend to all operate on the “lesser evil” principle rather than the dynamic of “God’s greater good.” **

All of us can come up with reasons to justify retaliation, revenge, punishment, lust, violence and cruelty. We call these reasons “needful,” “good” or “necessary,” but in reality we are just using evil to combat evil. We pick an evil which we deem less immediately destructive in our view, a lesser evil which in truth only slows down or replaces a greater evil. And while, on some pathetic level, destroying ourselves with a lesser evil in a “slower burn” is preferable since it gives us more opportunity to ultimately repent, this is not God’s best by anybody’s reckoning.

This is NOT God’s goodness. This is not God’s solution. This is not God’s way.

God never ordains a “lesser evil” to combat a “greater evil.” He is our loving Heavenly Father who never gives us a scorpion when ask for an egg, a serpent when we ask for a fish, or a stone when we ask for bread. Rather, God opens up the vaults of Heaven to give to every man that asks. Luke 11:9-13. In Him is light and NO darkness at ALL, no variableness or shadow of turning, the Father of lights from whom comes only good and perfect gifts from above. 1 John 1:5; James 1:17.

So, what are the reasons that God’s good and perfect “evil-free” gifts from above are NOT being released unto open and full manifestation? Why are so many STUCK in “lesser-evil” mode?

First, many men hope for God’s good WITHOUT ever actually “asking” for it from God. We have not because we ask not. James 4:2. Our actual ASKING yields OUR sphere of influence over TO Him. This enables God to then manifest His Spirit to overcome all our evil situations with His perfect goodness. God has given us freedom, and He will never force or coerce us into yielding to Him. Our asking is a way of allowing Him access to fully take dominion over the circumstances.

Second, many ask WITHOUT faith, but rather ask with doubt and double-mindedness. He that wavers in unbelief should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. James 1:6-7.

Third, many ask WITHOUT “importunity.” Luke 11:1-10 teaches us to pray with “importunity,” which in the original Greek literally means “over-boldness” or “shamelessness.” My own definition of importunity is “passionate patience.” Like the man in the parable of this passage, we knock louder and louder and louder, without regard to how we look to others, all the while knowing that our loving Father will open Heaven’s door at the optimum moment. We are patient, but with ever-increasing intensity and confidence. In our patience we possess our souls, and through faith and patience we inherit ALL the promises of God. Luke 21:19; Hebrews 6:12.

Fourth, many ask WITHOUT first “putting on” the mind of Christ. Romans 13:14. 1 Corinthians 2:16. As John Wesley said, “We have the mind of Christ, and ALL the mind of Christ.” Galatians 2:20 says that the life we NOW live we are to live by the faith OF, OF, OF, OF the Son of God. Jesus’ faith, His mind, His thoughts, His passion, His confidence, His love from and for the Father. It is all ours to “live by” right here and right now. Our faith will always fail, but Jesus’ faith will ALWAYS overcome all evil with the power of God’s perfect goodness. Or put another way, the Holy Spirit IS the gift of Jesus’ faith sent to indwell us to “live by” in all our ways. The sons of God are those led by the Spirit of God. Romans 8:14.

The bottom line is that we must not let the snare of LESS EVIL trap us, or we will never experience GOD’S GREATER GOODNESS! Don’t accept less than God’s perfect will and power toward any situation. Keep knocking louder and louder with importunity and faith. Don’t slum around with ANY evil. **Less evil is STILL evil. Hold out for the good and perfect gifts from above. “All Evil” can only be totally overcome with “All Goodness.” **

We need a daily OVERHAUL of God’s goodness, not just half-measures of “lesser evil” adjustments.

From the foregoing, allow me to offer another, possibly more accurate, name for the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil:

[size=120]The Tree of Greater and Lesser Evil.[/size]

After all, it was a forbidden tree. So how could it offer anything genuinely “good”?

[anon12438761]

I"ll pass over the serious understatement of the effects of that EMP (below) - it would be much worse - and say that this Christian’s response (mine) to North Korea’s ability is - scared.

“the regime appears to be closer than ever to presenting a credible nuclear threat to the United States mainland. It still has one problem to solve in order to successfully launch direct nuclear strikes on U.S. cities - missile re-entry into the atmosphere. However, without even bothering about re-entry, North Korea may already have the capability today to detonate a nuclear bomb in the upper atmosphere, generating an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) that could virtually destroy the US.'s electrical grid and communications systems. An EMP attack would affect transportation as well as critical food, water and medical supplies. Millions of people could die as a result. North Korea has in fact threatened just such an attack.”

I’m aware of the arguments re: responses to North Korea. I"m aware of the teaching of Providence. Still, there is a visceral response that I cannot ignore - to take care of family and friends, preserve the local community, preserve the culture at any cost. I’m not saying that our visceral responses should dictate national policy ; but to act in a self-preservation mode against an aggressor is a natural response and I feel it acutely.
I’m not making an argument - just a statement.

[steve7150]

but to act in a self-preservation mode against an aggressor is a natural response and I feel it acutely.
I’m not making an argument - just a statement.

I agree since it appears NK is headed toward becoming an imminent threat to the USA and Kim appears to be truly insane. NK seems to be daring us to attack it, truly strange and tragic situation. A secular leader of this country has an obligation to protect it’s residents.China could bring NK to it’s knees by cutting off oil shipments but so far they won’t do it.

[Paidion]

After all, it was a forbidden tree. So how could it offer anything genuinely “good”?

Are good things never forbiddenl? Is it not a good thing for a young person to learn to drive a car? But a good father may forbid his 9-year old son from doing so. It is necessary for the child to mature first.

I see the same thing with the tree of knowledge of good and evil. It is a good thing to be able to distinguish good from evil.

Hebrews 5:14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

Why did God place the tree of knowledge of good and evil in the garden? Did he want to tempt Adam and Eve with evil? I don’t think so. They were newly created. I think He wanted them first to mature—perhaps to eat first from the tree of life (He never forbade them from eating from that tree.)
After maturity, they would be ready to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. But Satan tempted them to do things in reverse. Satan often give a twist to God’s commands in a way that they will not be properly carried out.

[Holy-Fool-P-Zombie]

Well, if:

You don’t want war with North Korea
And you don’t want a diplomatic solution, by having Dennis Rodman - as US ambassador to North Korea

Why not pay someone, to take him out? And “take him out”, doesn’t mean - to invite him for lunch Or perhaps the CIA, is already trying - to implement that plan

Here’s what the CIA had to say, when asked about this.

[anon12438761]

My contacts in the Deep State are being mum also…

[Hermano]

From “Putin warns of planetary catastrophe”:

Vladimir Putin, has warned that the escalating North Korean crisis could cause a “planetary catastrophe” and huge loss of life, and described US proposals for further sanctions on Pyongyang as “useless”… he told reporters in China. …”There is no other way to solve the North Korean nuclear issue, save that of peaceful dialogue.”

Peaceful dialogue? No further sanctions?

China accounted for 92% of North Korea’s trade in 2016, according to South Korea’s government. …**But China is likely to block any measure **that could cause instability and topple the regime of Kim Jong-un, sparking a refugee crisis and potentially allowing tens of thousands of South Korean and US troops to move north as far as the Chinese border.

**What, then? Sanctions against China? Try to force China into submission about their vital role in bringing North Korea into submission? **

Well, perhaps sanctions on China next…might be better than war with NK next; yet many insist that the longer Trump delays taking a military solution, the more dangerous North Korea is allowed to become. For example, an argument for urgent military action goes: “perhaps NK is not capable of an EMP strike against the USA today, but next month, or next year, they will be.”

As to assassinating the primary leader of NK: would that avert war? Is it even “surgically” feasible?

This crisis is a conundrum for “armchair generals” everywhere.

But, questions:

-Does God know what needs to happen in order to avert war, and even to peacefully reunite the two Koreas?

-Is God willing and able to communicate clearly with people about such information?

-If so, do we have the willingness and spiritual ability to hear Him?

Again, I would argue the real battle is against demonic powers in heavenly places; that God is nonviolent; and that the solution is spiritual: that is, the divine keys must be received, and exercised, through prayer.

Shalom!

[Origen]

Hermano asked: “So, what can we Christians do to improve the situation?”

1 exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

[Origen]

Are all called to be intercessors?

1 Cor.12:29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? 30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

4Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. 7But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 8For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 11But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

[Hermano]

From Fox News today, “North Korea says strike on US is ‘inevitable’ as Pentagon flies bombers off coast”:

North Korea’s foreign minister called U.S. President Donald Trump “a mentally deranged person full of megalomania” and promised a strike on the American mainland was “inevitable” in a blistering speech to the United Nations General Assembly Saturday.

…North Korea has said it intends to build a missile capable of striking all parts of the United States with a nuclear bomb. Trump has said he won’t allow it, although the U.S. so far has not used military force to impede the North’s progress.

[anon12438761]

We made a big mistake with Iran imo; Obama had no clue how to deal with strong Iranian leadership, and Hilary was too busy selling a large percentage of our Uranium rights to Russia. Gosh, wonder where that money went?

As we ‘negotiated’ with the Iranians, they continued building up their arsenal. Of course they did: they recognized the stupidity of American ‘leadership’ and simply took advantage of it.

The NK’s learned from that - so did everyone else - and, I suppose, would be happy to negotiate till the end of time or until they had built enough H-bombs to do some real damage. But Trump is not Obama or Hilary; he is tougher and just as smart, and I for one am not afraid that he is trigger-happy, though the Aussie newspapers relish calling him that.

I’m very happy not to have Trump’s job. If we wait for NK to do something really damaging before we take action, then we will be accused of waiting too long. If we make a first, surgical strike to eliminate their launch abilities, we will be accused of starting a war.

If Trump can continue to press China toward blockades and embargos, maybe the world does have a chance of avoiding an NK disaster; then we can deal with Iran?

Looks a little bleak to me.

[steve7150]

We made a big mistake with Iran imo; Obama had no clue how to deal with strong Iranian leadership,

Or maybe Obama did know what he was doing?

[Holy-Fool-P-Zombie]

We made a big mistake with Iran imo; Obama had no clue how to deal with strong Iranian leadership,

Or maybe Obama did know what he was doing?

Well, at least with the Nuclear deal - he didn’t act alone. You have others to blame, if you don’t like the deal:(From Wiki)

The Iran nuclear deal framework was a preliminary framework agreement reached in 2015 between the Islamic Republic of Iran and a group of world powers: the P5+1 (the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council—the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, France, and China—plus Germany) and the European .

I’m sure all this “right wing” blaming the '“left wing” - and vice versa…Will be what triggers the zombie apocalypse (see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zombie_apocalypse)

Perhaps this can all be avoided, by this story I’ve shared on Twitter today.

Three Simple Questions This GE Exec Asks To Solve Big, Complex Problems

Here are the questions the article asks:

1. WHAT PROBLEM ARE WE TRYING TO SOLVE?
2. DO WE REALLY NEED TO WORRY ABOUT THIS?
3. WHY NOW?

And the zombie apocalypse would be much worse than anything North Korea, ISIS or Iran - could throw our way. Just watch programs like Fear the Walking Dead (on tonight on AMC), The Walking Dead or Z Nation - for previews of our world to come. Or even the current Stephen King movie It.

“Behind every great man is a woman rolling her eyes.”-- Jim Carrey

[LLC]

From “Putin warns of planetary catastrophe”:

Vladimir Putin, has warned that the escalating North Korean crisis could cause a “planetary catastrophe” and huge loss of life, and described US proposals for further sanctions on Pyongyang as “useless”… he told reporters in China. …”There is no other way to solve the North Korean nuclear issue, save that of peaceful dialogue.”

Hermano , the Bible says this:
Jer. 23:17 “They keep saying to those that despise Me, ‘The Lord has said you will have peace’; and as for everyone who walks in the stubbornness of his own heart, they say ‘Calamity will not come upon you’.”
Jer.14:13 “The(false) prophets are telling them, ‘You will not see the sword nor will you have famine but I will give you lasting peace in this place’.”
Jer. 8:11 “They heal the brokenness of the daughter of My people superficially, saying peace, peace, but there is no peace.”
Hosea 9:7 “The days of punishment have come, the days of retribution have come; let Israel know this. The inspired man is demented, because of the grossness of your iniquity and because your hostility is so great.”
Ez. 7:25 “When anguish comes, they will seek peace, but there will be none.”
1 Thess. 5:3 “While people are saying peace and security, destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.”

No one wants war, but sometimes it is unavoidable. I don’t think we can talk peace with a man who is on a power trip and bent on destruction.