The lawmakers in Ankara turned lawbreakers, using violence against their opponents inside the Parliament.
The Turkish parliament descended into chaos when a furious brawl erupted as the country’s ruling party sought to push through a controversial bill boosting the powers of police in protests.
Some lawmakers chased their counterparts from other parties with gavels in their hands while others hurled glasses at them, eyewitness Melda Onur, a female MP from the opposition CHP party, told the Hurriyet newspaper.
An unofficial image posted on the Internet showed another lawmaker surrounded by plants having fallen into an ornamental flowerbed during the fracas overnight Tuesday to Wednesday. Five opposition lawmakers were injured in the scuffles, with two suffering head injuries inflicted by the ceremonial gavel normally used by the speaker, the Dogan news agency said.
Four of the five required hospital treatment for their injuries and the session, which had gone on until after midnight, was finally adjourned until Wednesday afternoon.
Source: AFP and The Jamaica Observer
My comment:
We are all aware of the global campaign to brand Islam as “the religion of peace”. But not even the Muslims inside the Parliament in Ankara seems to get it right.
The great irony is that this NATO country is called to defend the freedom of expession. But these lawmakers have conventiently turned them selves into lawbreakers. And not over any trivial issue. But in a bid to find a better way to curb violence.
To achieve peace in Turkey, the Muslim politicians should throw in their papers. Please grant them a free membership in the local boxing federation.
What can Muslims learn from the Christian faith and value system?
Jesus the Messiah never told his followers to use violence. But rather to love and bless those who harm us. Many false Christians have misused His name. Be aware of them. Do not take a stand against Jesus because of the mischief of the mockers of his teachings. They will face a horrific eternity inside the flames of Hell.
Matthew 5: 43-45
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.
Also be aware that there will be terrible times globally, just before the return of the Messiah. What we see in the Muslim part of the world seems to be the best examples there are.
Written by Ivar
News that matters 
Looks like they eat pretty well. It’s mostly the fat ones that are angry.
On the floor of the US Senate, in 1856, Preston Brooks beat Charles Sumner nearly to death with his walking stick. This was the beginning of the end of civil discourse over the issue of slavery that led to the US Civil War.
Over issues of passion, things can get violently heated. Since then our civilization has grown up a little …. we are, after all, nearly 240 years old as a nation so …… OOPS! Turkey has 1000s of years old, so that’s no excuse.
Never mind. ;-~
Dear splashhhh
Shalom, and love in Jesus.
People who put their trust in humanism and politics, needs to splashhhh some water in their own face. To be able to take a fresh and honest look at the World.
Please study the last re-published article of mine. A global club of wicked politicians were exposed by the Wikileaks. Today hardly anyone remember the exosure of the secret diplomatic cables. Life goes on….
If any one wonder why there is a civil war in Ukraine, just look at the love the politcians in Kiew had for each other back in May 2010.
The government system has it’s purpose. For instance Paul having kicked a most vile of sinners out of the protection of the Christian church, hands the man over to Satan “the justice system” who would then kill him according to the laws. Paul described it as “turn this man over to Satan for destruction of his body so that his spirit may be saved on the judgement day” Seperation of Church and state seemed to be an intergral part of things.
1 Cor. 5:5 “hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.”
Dear Ed
Shalom, and love in Jesus.
1 Cor. 5:5 “hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.”.
Yes, but in Romans 13 we are told to obey the authorities. If we take this instrcution out of context, we should behead people inside the Churches. If the authorities oders us to do so. If we did not resist the Nazis, we would all have become Nazis, or faced martyrdom.
Paul is right. Let those who serve Satan from inside the Church, be shown the exit and face Satan. Paul has both grace and compassion for such persons. Since they know the truth, there are good changes that they will repent, and be saved on the day of the Lord.
I guess you’d have to consider martyrdom before chopping off your bretherens heads. “no greater love than to lay down ones life for a friend”
Priceless!!!
Behold the religion of peace.
This article is actually pretty funny, considering the subject that they were debating. But then, the true Islam (based on their founding document, the Koran) is a religion that promotes violence. Jesus decried violence as a way of settling issues. When His disciples wanted to “call down fire” on those who were antagonistic to the gospel message, Jesus soundly rebuked them. Islam would be a true “religion of peace” if the Koran were as discouraging of violence. On the contrary, Mohammed urged his followers to violence as a way of coercing and subjugating those who opposed them.
Christians arent beyond a little violence. The Apostle Paul didn’t try to stop the Christians when they beat Sosthenes the synagogue leader, after Sosthenes tried unsuccessfully to turn the law onto Paul.
Acts 18:17 Then the crowd there turned on Sosthenes the synagogue leader and beat him in front of the proconsul; and Gallio showed no concern whatever
It’s more a guide than a hardfast rule not to use a little violence. After all Jesus said, if this was his kingdom his people would fight. Fear of the crowd gave the Christians the ability to protect people from merciless authorities and persecutors.
Dear Ed and Job 3627.
Shalom, and love in Jesus.
There is a need to set the records of Acts 18. This is not an account on Christians, using violence, with Pauls aproval. To the radical opposite, it is a record of two believers in Yeshua, who are leaders of synagaogues. And the Jewish non-believers, using violence against one of them.
Please do not add to scriptures, and presume that Paul was agreeing to use of violence. Read Romans 13 all over again, to put Acts 18 into the correct context.
Acts 18:12 While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews of Corinth made a united attack on Paul
Acts 18:8. Crispus, the synagogue leader,
Acts 18:17. Then the crowd there turned on Sosthenes the synagogue leader and beat him in front of the proconsul; and Gallio showed no concern whatever.
1 Corinthians 1:1
Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes
First of all, Ed, you don’t even know that Paul was there when the Jews were beating Sosthenes. This account was written by Luke. Paul may well have left by that time. Second, these were Jews who were doing the beating and it was a Christian who was being beaten (Crispus and Sosthenes were likely the same person as Sosthenes accompanies Paul to Ephesus soon after. Paul, writing to the Corinthian church (from Ephesus) states that Sosthenes is with him. (see 1 Corinthians 1:1) The likely reason for the beating of Crispus/Sosthenes is that the Jews, were frustrated because their benefactor Crispus/Sosthenes had turned to feeding the impoverished Christians.
Christians have always maintained the right of self-defense based on the Holy Spirit’s teaching in 1 Cor. 13 that a believer “always protects” and the example of our Lord in defending the weak and the innocent. But an unprovoked attack is never sanctioned on any New Testament grounds. In fact, if a believer from the earliest churches joined the Roman army, it was grounds for excommunication, because the Roman army was rightly seen as an army of conquest. .
I don’t think you’ve got it right. The earliest Christians were Jewish Christians, like Messianic Jews. Paul was traveling around first to the Jews in the synagogues, then to the gentiles were sort of secondary. In the incident of the beating Sosthenes, the leader of the synagogue Sosthenes was trying to get the Roman authorities to punish Paul for going against the Law of Moses, but the Roman didn’t care about the law of Moses and left. That’s when the mob of Christians, Messianic jews and maybe some gentiles, those who believed Pauls message, beat Sosthenes. Paul was right there at the time, he was about to speak as this took place, and the crowd beat Sosthenes as soon as the Roman guard left.
Jesus liked soldiers, to the soldier He said “be happy with your pay”, Jesus didnt like corrupt soldiers.
Dear Job 3627
Shalom, and love in Jesus.
The idea of self-defense is a hot topic among Christians. And it should be. Because most of the people who use violence, claim they do it in self-defense. Like Nazi-Germany. We are told the enemy fired first. There is always an act of provocation, before the first bullet is fired. Polish soldiers were supposed to have violate the borders of Germany, just before 1st of September 1939. Before violence is used, people have always spoken som sensless things, defamed and insulted each other.
Just take a deep look at the Parlamentarians in Ukraine in 2010. Obvioulsy, it was only a matter of time before these gangsters roled out their tanks from their garages. Those who use the sword, shall fall by the sword. Jesus said it. It is correct and true.
The Islamic state has not started to behead people, just out of a sudden. Like if they have a desire to behead people, unprovoced. After 15 years of injust attacks by US marines, bombing and looting of their villages and towns, the Sunni Muslims have been radicalized. The last colonial war in Iraq was based on lies, a bid to control the oil. The US has spent one trillion USD on this colonial war. The people who recived millions of USD to betray ther own nation, is being rounded up and executed in the most horrible ways. All who colaborted with the Pentagon, and still do, are targets.
The soldiers of the Islamic state see any white man in Iraq and Syria as a representative of the oppressors. And in some way, we have to say they are right. Their pockets are full of Petro-dollars. In the city of Mosul the Islamic State got their hands on several billion USD and the most modern assult weapons of the USA.
I am not writing this in a defence of the Islamic state. But as a confrmation that the West always let war criminals like Geroge W. Bush and Tony Blair walk free. Not only are they walking free. They are honored with dinners, medals and prices, etc.
Now, if a Muslim comes to arrest me for the crimes of W.Bush and Blair, I am likely to put up my defence. Because I desire these two men to be brought to justice. Not to be beheaded, but to face imprisonment. I will not accept my daughters to be tarninshed and raped by some sons of Muhammad, “punished” for the evils of wicked men who wine and dine in Washington D.C and London. If the sons of Muhammad do not want to listen to what I have to say, I will have to use force to protect my family. But if accessive force is used up on me, I would rather die as a martyr, than to call the jets of Bush and Blair to defend me. I do not want the blood of these men to come on my hands.
Yes, I’m well aware that the earliest believers were Messianic Jews. I think you need to go back and read the text again, Ed. Crispus is named as the leader of the synagogue in verse 8 and then Sosthenes is named as the leader of the synagogue in verse 17. The logical conclusion is that they were the same person but even if they were not, it is almost a certainty that the Sosthenes mentioned in Acts 18 is the same Sosthenes who is mentioned as having accompanied Paul from Corinth to Ephesus along with Aquilla and Priscilla. It does NOT say that Sosthenes is the one who is bringing the accusation. It also says that Gallio drove the crowd of Jews out of the courtroom right after he finished speaking. They must have grabbed Sosthenes and were beating him as they got shoved out of the courtroom.
Early Christians definitely did NOT engage in violence–they were the ones who were on the receiving end of such. Consider the early martyrs in the Church. Jesus loved everyone–even the Pharisees and the other hypocrites. He rebuked them strongly but He undoubtedly loved them at the same time. He begged the Father to forgive them.
As to His liking of soldiers, He seemed fascinated by the level of faith in many of the Roman soldiers who heard Him. They were some of the first Gentile converts. Bears out the truth of Jesus’ observation that only those who are sick need a physician. He had compassion on those who were suffering under a load of guilt–prostitutes, tax collectors and yes, soldiers.
It is a very serious matter when a Christian takes up arms. He needs to carefully weigh the benefit to God’s kingdom, who or what he will be defending and how the battle(s) will be waged–whether a sincere attempt will be made to spare the innocent. One day, the armies of Heaven will put all evildoers to route in the ultimate just war. A Christian who goes to war must be certain that he is on the side of Heaven.
oops, your right, it was the Jews beating on a Messianic Jew.
Dear Ed.
Shalom, and love in Jesus.
Yes. Non-believing, but very religious Jews, are still presecuting Messianic Jews inside Israel. 2.000 years down the line, nothing has changed. Religious, not born again, “Christians”, like Roman Catholics, have been, and are the worst persecuters of believing Christians. All Catholics who comes to faith in Jesus of the Bible, are quickly excommunicated if they do not return into the darkness of the mass, and take the Eucharist.
Hi Ivar,
Here is an explanation of why Crispus and Sosthenes is likely the same person. It is from a theological article by Richard G. Fellows on the likely reason for the habit of adopting different names by many in the early churches (recall the case of Barnabus which means “Son of Encouragement” but Joseph was his real name):
“The meaning of the name ‘Sosthenes’ (saving strength) fits his role as benefactor of the Christian community [in Corinth] during this time of food shortage. It was common for leading Christians to be given new names that described their role in protecting the faith community. Examples include ‘Oblias’ (Bulwark of the people), Peter (Rock), and Stephanas, who was another benefactor in Corinth and was named accordingly. Another probable parallel is “Magdalene” (Tower/fortress/stronghold), who was also a benefactor…Augustus was also named for his benefaction.
Why does Acts not explicitly identify Sosthenes as the aforementioned Crispus? We have seen that Gallio was indifferent to the mobbing of Sosthenes, a Christian benefactor, and actually prompted the beating with the words ‘see to it yourselves’. Therefore the early Christian readers of Acts who knew that Sosthenes was Crispus would have been given a rather unfavorable view of Gallio. However, those on the outside, including enemies of the church, would not have identified Sosthenes as a Christian and would have just found the episode baffling (as modern commentators do). If Roman opponents of the church got hold of a copy of Acts, or heard it read, they would have detected no criticism of Gallio in it. Also, if Jewish opponents of the church read Acts, they would not have realized that the
Gallio incident provided them with a legal precedent that would allow them to beat up Christian benefactors with impunity. I think this may explain why Luke does not openly state that Sosthenes was Crispus: he wanted to explain the Gallio incident to his intended readers while withholding sensitive information from opponents. This could be one of several examples of protective silences in Acts.”
Dear job3627
Shalom, and love in Jesus.
What you write is interesting, and I admire your willingness to go deep into all matters. But I will consided this to be an opinion. The scriptures tell me that there was at least one Messianic Jew, who lead a whole synagogue-congregation of believers. And that this synagogue leader was persecuted and beaten. Just like Jesus has explained, all true believers in Him will be.
John 9:22
His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who already had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue.
We see a Messianic congreation in the book of Acts 18. For the first 200 years of Christanity, it was Messianic Judaism they believed in. They gathered in synagogues, till the day they were thrown out. Just as Jesus had explained would happen.
John 16:2
They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God.
In 320 A.D, the Pope of Rome came and replaced the truth, with his blaspemy and not-Biblical dogmas. Synagogues, wherever there were believing Jews to be found inside the Roman Empire, were converted into Roman Catholic shrines.
John 18:20
“I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret.
I believe in Messianic judaism. I identify my self with this movement. There have always existed a remnanant of failtful Jews, and gentiles who have been grafted into the Jewish faith, believing every word of the Jewish Bible. This Messianic movement has returned back to their home. Being badly persecuted, they floruish inside the state of Israel.
Since, I am a gentile, I am not called back home to Israel. But I am called to defend her among the heaten. And to lift up the name of Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah, my Lord and God.
Amen, Ivar. I too believe in Messianic Judaism and identify with it. We owe a great debt of gratitude to those earliest of believers who were persecuted on every side, but persevered til the end. I pray for our brothers and sisters in Israel and I pray for the nation, Israel–the Kinsman of Our Lord, Yeshua Ha Maschiach. One day, perhaps soon, they will meet their Kinsman Redeemer and there will undoubtedly be great rejoicing in Heaven and in the hearts of all true believers everywhere. 🙂