Careful when dealing with monster lest ye become one yourself. Take the high road. Even when we loose we will win. Christ said our reward is not in this life.
Rational counterpoint.
The high road is suicide.
In war, the enemy gets a vote.
I will happily sin and condemn myself if it means the salvation of my children.
The high road is suicide.
Ye of little faith.
I've seen the fruits of modern Christendom. I have very little faith.
Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.
That's out of context. What Jesus was talking about there is your soul life and the ultimate end of keeping it. The soul life is your mind, will, and emotions. If you keep it, it will be destroyed in gehenna (all the things you want, the thoughts you think related to these evil desires, and all the emotions associated with them will come to an end.). If you give up such a thing, you will find the real soul life that you're supposed to have. This is a life where God is included and immorality is not something you desire to do. God will not be putting an end to such a life.
I understand what the phrase means (Luke 17.33) but I disagree with the interpretation of it meaning of this reality and of this life. When speaking of things that aren't necessarily so ethereal (not calling into question anyone's faith in God and Jesus Christ as I have faith myself). But also remember;
Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Ephesians 6.11-12
&
Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.
Luke 22.36
We are told to take up armor and arms to fight specifically against not the devil himself (the ethereal as we can't fight the devil in this plane) but "rulers", "authorities" and "powers" and any sensible, any faithful, any honest interpretation of that means specifically not only those who literally govern in the government but those who are the useful idiots, the damned souls - may the Lord have mercy - those who have turned their back on righteousness, the adulterers, the idolaters, the blasphemers, the cruel, the wicked etc. Just as we are not to judge we do know through Faith how things are.
NOTE;
I am quoting The Holy Bible, I am NOT giving advice, I am NOT soliciting actions, I am NOT advocating actions of violence in any manner. Violence is bad and illegal. I do NOT condone violence.
This is a good example of "Christian" fatalism, jesus told his disciples to buy swords to fight off those who would persecute them, There is a historical context to weapons that you might miss there, a sword isn't a simple or cheap weapon, most would use staff, a spear, a dagger, a club, a sling or a bow, all significantly cheaper weapons than a sword, sword also establishes your intent to self defense much better than those weapons.
Christianity and individualism met and slowly social responsibility was abandoned by them and as the church and society declined they judged the sinners from their shrinking churches forsaking future generations and thinking there could be no other way as end times prophecy declares the faith will be forgotten in the end. Like stupid deer caught in headlights, a self fulfilling prophecy of lip service Christians.
Jesus and his followers lived in Israel/Judah where there was sane and reasonable laws and teachings in place for the most part. Jews have always taught that if someone comes to kill you, you should kill him first. The turn the other cheek thing is taking a disrespectful smack to the face not someone trying to kill you.
The question was about sinking to their level and 'fighting dirty'. Im not saying dont oppose injustice or just give up. Im saying do your best and be ok with not doing what they do to you, back to them, even if it means loosing.
For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
What mortal sin is there by which they fight dirty that might benefit us in our turn?
Even conquest is no mortal sin lest you disgrace Constantine and the end of Christian persecution, war and disdain, rebuke and chastisement, these are not sins, lusts and hatred our outside our purview, not guile, random violence is out but not mockery and misgendering.
To overcome your enemy through guile is no sin, perhaps a policy of abortion stands out among the mortal sins to tamp down our foe's number, perverting them with lusts wouldn't benefit us in a meaningful way, I maintain coarse language is not necessarily a sin.
What dirty tactic? lying? Say what you mean or don't say it publicly.
My conundrum is defining the high road itself, toeing the line between not accepting that which is wicked and doing something about said wicked without becoming so ourselves. What is our equivalent of table-flipping?
Careful when dealing with monster lest ye become one yourself.
Friedrich Nietzsche for anyone who wants to read more.
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