The Amish and the <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Middle East<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> 
If the Middle East could only capture a small amount of the Amish way of forgiveness, the whole world would benefit. What a contrast! In the radical Islamic community, people are nurtured to hate and retaliate. Among the Amish, they are taught to love and forgive. Most people admire but don't understand the Amish reaction to the schoolhouse massacre. Yet their forgiveness and mercy is based on a long history of following the teaching of Jesus. Jesus said, "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you (Luke 6:27-28). What many also fail to realize is that the same Christian principles have profoundly influenced American history and just war theory. Those who endlessly push for new versions of separation of Church and State, overlook how much influence Christian teaching has had on our judicial system. There are reasons why we don't approach war the way the Islamic radicals do. There are longstanding influences behind just war theory that have been shaped by Christian teaching. Our government, generally (though not completely), approaches warfare based on the influence of Christian principles of justice and mercy. This is where Christian pacifists (including the Amish) misapply Jesus' teaching. His words were never intended to trump the God-ordained role of Government as an agent to punish evil. If Roberts had lived, capital punishment would have been as much the Christian thing to do for the government as forgiveness and mercy was among the Amish. Maintaining this balance is not easy. As a Christian, I must allow and endorse the right actions of the government without holding revenge in my heart. Difficult? Yes. By God's grace, and based on his forgiveness of my sins, it is possible. The peace and security of the world depends on this balance.  
Steve CornellSenior pastorMillersville Bible Church1940 New Danville PikeLancaster, Pennsylvania