I was just reading this interview with Aaron and there were some really good questions asked and for the most part I liked Aaron’s responses. Here are two of the questions and Aaron’s answers.
What do you think is the biggest issue facing Christianity and what does it mean to truly be a Christian?
I mentioned the issue of wealth and greed with me, Christians in particular, is important because we say we follow Jesus, who said, “blessed to the poor, woe to you if you are rich, but we are rich in culture”. Even the poorest of the poor in our country are still rich compared to wealth standards if we all have access to running water and electricity and heat. We have a lot and I think it’s hard to feel our need for God in those circumstances. Also, what you mentioned with Iraq and the fact that all Christians are waging war even against countries, when we are told not even to defend ourselves, “ Do not resist an evil person but turn to the other cheek, love your enemies.” So far from doing that, we’re waging war against our enemies in case they ever strike us, we’re killing them before they can even strike us. And it’s received as a blessing and a sanction, the approval of most of the churches or many Christians that I meet, think that we need to support our President, support what our government decides to do. And it me it seems wicked. That’s an issue facing Christianity; how do we react to war and the possibility of taking a pacifist position is not even considerate. But for groups like the Amish, and the Mennonites, and the Quakers, that is what I’ve come to identify more with, called the Anabaptists groups. They just say “We don’t pick up arms, no matter what.” I just wish more of Christianity would take seriously, the teachings to not resist evil.
What is the most important thing in life that you feel many of us are forgetting about?
I mean, we are always forgetting about God. My mom taught me that we should be praying for forgiveness with every breathe. My dad said to think of God all the time, all day, all the time. And most of the day, I’m thinking about many other things, so I’m trying to quiet my mind and think about God and realize that no matter what goes wrong, God’s will, will be done. If something seems to be going right, not to put our hope in that, “Oh this is great, it will always be like this.” No, I’m going to die one day, everything I see is going to pass. But to think of God as the only one that will never pass, never change, the beginning and the end, the eternal One. That’s the reality that I want to be in tuned with, but I’m not, you know? I’m caught up in the waves of the illusion of this world and emotions and circumstances that come and go. Yeah, I need help.
To read the rest of this interview click here.
To read an interview on how Aaron became Christian and some background history on how he grew up click here.
*Sources from www.drivenfaroff.com*
| 03/19/2010 11:20 am | Reviews
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Sanctus Real 
The Advocate 
Day of Fire 
Starfield 
War of Ages 
Demon Hunter 
Above The Golden State 
FFH 
Newworldson 
Wrench in the Works 
The Great Escape 
Memphis May Fire 
Face Your Giants 
Day Of My Escape 
Red Morning Voyage 
Meet Brett Callaway (Guitars & Vocals) of Close Your Eyes
Meet Sovereign Strength
Meet Moshe Dayan
We Came As Romans
Sean Patrick Rhorer, Director of A & R at Blood & Ink Records
This Armistice
Leroy Hamp of War of Ages
Creations
Mattie Montgomery of For Today
Vasely Sapunov of Saving Grace
The Fold
Aaron Sprinkle of Fair
Floodgates
Ryan Clark of Demon Hunter
Carlos Salazar of Before There Was Rosalyn
Laz from ALLORNOTHING
Chadwick Johnson of Hundredth
Ben Crist of The Glorious Unseen
Sons of God
I am still in awe that people are boycotting this band and their new album because of Aaron’s use of Arabic… mwY is probably the most solid Christian band playing music right now, both in validity of their beliefs and in challenging other Christians to lead better, more God-glorifying lives.
Yeah, I totally agree. I am in contact with mwY’s A&R guy right now seeing if I can get Aaron’s testimony.
So Does Aaron expect everyone in America to be pacifist because (he thinks) Jesus wanted the church to practice pacifism? Not every American is a Christian. Does he want a theocracy? What does he think of Augustine’s or Niebuhr’s “just war” theory? Is there ever a time when war is justified? If Jesus was so anti-violent, how does he reconcile this with God’s repeated commands for war in the Old Testament?
He needs to think this through a little bit more, if he hasn’t. But I’m sure he has.
Jay, I recognize your avatar from Buzzgrinder. What brought you here?
This was from a long time ago, Jay.
I too see holes in Aaron’s thinking as it pertains to war………naivety is a killer.
Yeah these interviews are 2006 and 2007. Lots has happened since then I am sure. It would be interesting if he would answer each of these questions now.
Sean Posted: “I am still in awe that people are boycotting this band and their new album because of Aaron’s use of Arabic… ”
Sean, I have to point out that that’s pretty misinformed, I think for most people it runs deeper than some Arabic. You can check out some of the old mwY threads here for some interesting discussion on the topic. There’s a lot of great things about mwY, but it’s worth looking deeper than the surface if you’re a true believer, and we shouldn’t slam Christians for at least trying to have some discretion or give Christian groups accountability as brothers. That being said, there’s nothing inherently wrong with using Arabic.
PS. Jay, I’m with you here for the most part, I think. That’s something that’s always been very hard for me to get past with groups like the Psalters and people like Aaron. Though I respect that they have an opinion, people who hold those opinions can often be very offensive. I’ve never been able to get past the time when I saw the Psalters arguing with a young military man over the Psalter’s anti-American merch. They came across as very condescending and unkind to him, and he was visibly affected by it. I felt awful. You would think pacifists would seem much less confrontational, and in general I think Aaron is better this way, though you can tell he feels very strongly about his convictions.
So many people take that “turn the other cheek” verse out of context. It is NOT speaking to how a government or nation should be run but to an individual level. Society won’t work this way if we apply this to the nation. Romans 13 sets it up so that the government carries the sword to reward the good and punish the evil because society won’t work if the government doesn’t carry swords. War is a terrible thing but evil must be punished. Is it not an even worse thing to stand by and do nothing while others are oppressed?
There will be a day when we turn our swords into ploughshares and learn war no more…
Until then I will continue to slay dragons with my 4 year old niece Princess Brianvas and push them into the sharm sea.
Hmmm, I dunno Tommy. “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN”
Isaac, I pop in here from time to time.
I’d like to echo Daniel’s comment about the verse, and Levi’s. I can completely understand a Christian becoming a pacifist as an individual choice (America allows for some conscientious objections to war to avoid service), and even making a case for pacifism for the church at large. But we don’t allow these people to make foreign policy decisions, if any true pacifists are in government, based on their personal beliefs.
Things just get really sticky when you want to turn Jesus’ commands to the apostles/church into government policy. And it’s not just with pacifism this happens, either.
Levi, I think it’s interesting that in your first post you talk about a couple of things that seem to contradict each other. It seems as if you are wanting to say that people, as brothers in Christ should hold each other accountable with how they view the gospel. Let me know if that seems like i’m twisting your words.
But, In the second post you talk about how offensive people with certain views can be. Do you see how what your saying can be hurtful too. It may be that the reason that those people seem so intense about their views is that they feel that the gospel transcends more than just how to view Christ, but also, how to view ones neighbors. So maybe when people who have “those opinions” are wanting to hold their brothers accountable to how they see the gospel, you should show them the same grace that you think the Arabic haters deserve. Just my two cents.
We pray for earth to be as heaven, but that comes in God’s timing, not ours. Building a kingdom of man, for man, no matter how ‘good’, is warring against God’s will. Tower of Babel and most great civilizations crumble because they are based on man’s might.
I agree Isaac. Not by might nor by power but by My Spirit says the Lord
I don’t disagree Ty, which is why I’m open to the discussion of their opinions. You don’t really twist my words, you were just assuming things about my character based on what I didn’t say, I guess. I suppose that’s clarified, and it’s fine now. As for my problem in my example (which I assume you considered) was the way it was addressed and executed, not that people interpreted the Bible differently. There is, however, absolute truth, and if an argument simply doesn’t hold water with Biblical examples, I see no problem in recognizing it as a non-issue. If the Psalters have a new argument for pacifism which addresses the major problems I saw with their original position, I’d be open to listening again.
Ty wrote: “So maybe when people who have “those opinions” are wanting to hold their brothers accountable to how they see the gospel, you should show them the same grace that you think the Arabic haters deserve. Just my two cents.”
I agree completely, except for this “Arabic haters” nonsense. Again, I truly ask that you go back to the old threads to read the real reasons people were upset instead of setting up these unhelpful straw men. It’s not a kind or truthful way to deal with the issue, as I know you would like people to deal with you. But like all of us who followed the discussion, I look forward to the interview to see how Aaron deals with the questions of universalism and Biblical truth that were raised.
I agree with Jay’s last post. Shouldn’t we as Christian’s, constantly seeking forgiveness for our sins show the same love and mercy to our brothers? Somehow I don’t think anyone truly preaching and living the life of Christ crucified would make it in politics. They would be ousted and black balled. The life of Christ does not funtion as a king of this world, but another. After all, we are to be a peculiar people. Not that I know exactly what that looks like, but we can look at Christ’s example.
That was a really good response. You seem like a sweet dude. The arabic haters was rally just me trying to describe who i was talking about. Probably a poor choice of words. I think we see things quite a bit differently on this topic., but I’m pretty alright with that.
Thanks Ty, I appreciate the discussion, and I think I understand. I’m also ok with the fact that we see this differently :-)