Isaiah 2:4

[TerriP]

Isaiah 2:4 "And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more."

I just started s study of Isaiah and after reading this Scripture above, it came to me, just think of all the money spent on weapons of all kinds for wars between nations and/or sects, all of it, if all that money was used instead to feed people all over the earth. So I am doing some research online for estimates...

Interesting article dated 08/24/2015 "Killer facts: The scale of the global arms trade" - at Amnesty International online :
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2015/08/killer-facts-the-scale-of-the-global-arms-trade/

(A note here, Of course I have heard of Amnesty International, but I am not familiar with the organization at all, their reliability, their accuracy, etc. It does not appear to be a Christian-based missionary organization, according to their own statement. "...We are independent of any political ideology, economic interest or religion." Please understand that I am only interested in getting information regarding international armament expense, as part of my study of Isaiah and Isaiah 2:4 in particular.)

12/12/2016 article "$1,570,000,000,000: how much the world spent on arms this year":
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2016/12/12/1570000000000-much-world-spent-arms-year/

05/02/2018 “Global military spending remains high at $1.7 trillion”:
https://www.sipri.org/media/press-release/2018/global-military-spending-remains-high-17-trillion

No date on this one, but a chart by nation, spent in 2010-2011:
https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2012/apr/17/military-spending-countries-list

Stockholm International Peace Research Institute graph “World military expenditure, 1988-2017”
https://www.sipri.org/research/armament-and-disarmament/arms-transfers-and-military-spending/military-expenditure

Now I am all for the Second Amendment to our beloved Constitution, so don’t have cows. This posting is in no way a reflection on our right as individuals to bear arms – that would be another conversation.

By the way, I use Norton Safe Search which screens websites, so all links in anything I post to SS have been graded “OK” and “Secure”:
http://nortonsafe.search.ask.com/web?qsrc=2417&o=101881&l=dis&q=Norton+Safe+Search&ld=16000

Anyway, this came about, as I said, from Isaiah 2:4 lighting up off the page to my brain, but it also brings to my mind how I am sick to my stomach of seeing all those ads on TV about starving children, and what makes me even sicker - are those organizations legitimate? Believe it or not, not all 501C organizations are. Is there a way of finding out?

Not to mention NASA's $19.1 billion budget for 2018 – I’d be interested to know just how much of that is purposefully dedicated to searching for “life” on other planets. I wonder what He thinks about that...?
http://www.planetary.org/blogs/jason-davis/2017/20170523-nasa-full-2018-budget-request.html

Maranatha, Lord Jesus.

 

[Truckerboy]

I shall watch this one with interest, TerriP!

There is enough food and money for every one to be well fed and financially comfortable. Until all these resources are put in the hands of human beings!

 

[TerriP]

I shall watch this one with interest, TerriP!

Truckerboy! Oh my, I haven't seen you for like ever! I hope all is well with you. God Bless you real good!

Anyway in regards to this post and my original comments, I am certainly not suggesting anything like socialism or any other political ideology. I believe with all my heart what Jesus said "He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep." - John 21:16.

Now while I know very well this has a spiritual connotation, the Greek word Jesus used here "ποιμαίνω poimaino" means also for the shepherd to "...make provision against their wants and dangers" (see Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible*).

Jesus is talking to Peter but also He is talking to us. It's up to Christians to take care of the needs of the poor. He said, “...If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.” - Matthew 19:21. And He said, “For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.” - Matthew 26:11.

But also read John Calvin’s Verse Commentary* on John 21:16, very interesting about who His sheep are. So as followers of Christ, loving Him, and being His friend, I believe, we are to teach the Gospel to all - feed their souls - and then to feed or help to provide for their physical needs as well. It should be US who are doing this.

Of course with due diligence, wisdom, and God help us, spiritual discernment, as to whom we should give our offerings and even our tithing.

*(p.s. Thank God again and thank you, Brandon, for SwordSearcher!)

 

[Johnny NL]

Yes ..... indeeeeeed!
Thank you Lord Almighty..... and Praise the Lord for Mr. Stagg !
Amen.

 

[Hmlss]

The Bible has a whole lot to say on taking care of the poor, how to take care of the poor, when to take care of the poor, the evil association of NOT taking care of the poor... and so on and more. In fact the spiritual goats who refuse to help the poor are worse off or equal to unbelievers and cursed like the Devil. Matthew 25:41-46

Yet today right now if you were to be cast onto the streets because of some calamity, and called a "sister church" that didn't know you, and then you called more churches in other towns in your "denomination" or not your denomination... You will most likely find shut doors over and over. Just carrying the stigma of being "homeless" will prevent any compassion and only brand you as a vagrant, no judge jury or hearing needed. "Churches get called with all kinds of strange requests" … "go to the mission or salvation army". click

 

[Hmlss]

This thread and topic seem to be "burrowing in to me". I saw this story on MSN news that pops up automatically when I start my browser. I'm not recommending them or the news group this story comes from. The story itself has me thinking. It draws my attention because I live in the area. It's about a church group who is taking in asylum seekers, and while the story is spun to favor the general hospitality, it reminded me of the Corrie Ten Boom story a little bit. And that reminded me of this verse and post that @TerryP started :thumbsup

[link to story below is not filtered by extra protection software] (search term you could paste into your search engine is... "surge at us border pushes some evangelicals to help"
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/surge-at-us-border-pushes-some-evangelicals-to-help-asylum-seekers/ar-BBRin9K?ocid=spartandhp#image=BBRin9K_1|8

I have already been impressed by the movement of certain "Evangelicals" in promoting Christian Hospitality and have been passing their Airbnb alternative around --- because I have been a victim of "persecution" on Airbnb sure; but the whole Idea should make more sense to believers anyway!
https://www.faithstay.com/ "Experience Christian Hospitality"