Self-Defense

[Giblien]

Let's say that I am walking down the street and someone just started to attack me for no reason. Is it scripturally sound to defend myself by subduing my attacker with physical force? If you have some scriptureal references for this please post them.

Thanks all!

Neil

 

[Coconut]

Mat 5:39 " But I [Jesus] say to you, Do not make use of force against an evil man; but to him who gives you a blow on the right side of your face let the left be turned... Have love for those who are against you, and make prayer for those who are cruel to you; So that you may be the sons of your Father in heaven; "

 

[Faith4Bride]

AMEN! I am with that! We are told to pick up our cross and follow Him. that means we are to die and die daily. trying to save ourselves especially from physical people is not what crucifies our flesh. We are also to love all people and the word says about love that it does not seek its own. So if we fight another person to defend ourselves(seeking our own) that is not love for them.

Also jesus said when he was taken and repeated to pilate that His kingdom is not of this world, IF it were THEN would my people fight.

We are also told that we fight NOT against flesh and blood.

Not only do we not fight to save ourselves, we do not fight for others because we do not fight ( against flesh and blood) ever. If we need help or desire to help others, we help by walking in faith in Our God who delivers and hears our prayers. We walk in faith and call out to our God who goes before us and gives His angels charge over us amen!

There is not one example, that is allowed to stand in the NT, where believers in the Lord Jesus ever fight to defend, protect, deliver anyone. The only one that can be sited is when peter cuts off the ear of the man but Jesus rebukes him and heals the evil man!

It is also often mentioned that Jesus told His disciples to carry a sword. However there are two reasons for this 1) spiritually it is an example of us carrying the sword, the word of God with us everywhere, it is part of our armour. and 2) we are told the reason is that prophesy about Jesus said that He must be numbered with the transgressors and Jesus gives this reason for them having a sword. So them carrying an actual sword made them transgressors!

Luk 22:36 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. For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end.

Mat 26:51 And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out [his] hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear. Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?


we reap what we sow and Jesus told us in more places than this one that if we kill with the sword we must be killed with the sword. This is a curse that those who fight in the flesh bring upon themselves and reap. Also the spiritual meaning of this is that if we use the word of God, to slay others(just as the Lord rebuked the pharsees telling them that they search the world for a convert and when they find one they turn him into twice a son of hell then themselves) so if they use the word of God for that purpose, they will also reap hell as teachers have a worse condemnation.

 

[Pedronewt]

I think the previous answers fall short in light of men such as Chairman Mao (who killed 70 million Chinese), Stalin (who killed 43 million Russians), or Hitler (who killed 6 million Jews). Should we just keep turning the proverbial cheek while millions brutally suffer at the hands of evil men?

All it takes for evil to triumph in the world is for good men to do nothing. - Edmond Burke

We are not to go down silently but to stand up against those who come up against us and defend our lives against them.

In the days of Noah Yahweh destroyed the world with a flood because of the wickedness and violence that had covered the whole land, and He knew that men were still wicked after the flood, so He commanded, "Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man" ( Gen. 9:6 ). The Lord had decreed capital punishment for murderers. Our Founding Fathers drew upon millennia of Biblical teaching when giving us the right to keep and bear arms for self defense.

Our forefathers based their thought on the Sixth Commandment, "Thou shalt not kill" ( Ex. 20:13 ). A common interpretation was that the sixth commandment required every lawful means should be taken to preserve our own life and the life of others.

In other words, if murder was wrong, actions allowing murder, like not defending oneself or others, were also wrong. This was the "right of self-defense."

Our founders considered this one of the most basic of human rights. They accepted this as a right of all levels of society: the nation, the states, the counties, the family, and the individual. If right and wrong existed, and if murder was wrong, then citizens had the moral obligation to defend the good and innocent at whatever level.

Most refer to the Sixth Commandment that tells us "Thou shall not kill." This was incorrectly translated in English and should read, "Thou shalt not murder." In the chapters following, God gave to Moses many of the situations which require a death penalty. God clearly has not told us never to kill. He has told us not to murder, which means we are not to take an innocent life. If someone is trying to harm you or kill you, they are not innocent.

The Bible is full of stories promoting self-defense. One of the earliest tells of some men who kidnapped Lot, the patriarch Abraham's nephew. Abraham organized a militia and by force of arms rescued Lot from his kidnappers (Gen. 14:12 ).

Many people, Christians included, assume that Christ taught pacifism. They cite Matthew 5:38-39. (see above post)

The Sermon on the Mount from which this passage is taken deals with righteous personal conduct and not seeking personal revenge against someone who has harmed you. In this passage, Yahushua is clearing up a confusion that had led people to think that conduct proper for the government to do, that is, taking vengeance on someone, was also proper for an individual to do.

Even the words used by Christ indicates that He was addressing a confusion, or a distortion, that was commonplace. Several times in the rest of the Sermon on the Mount Christ used this same "you have heard it said" figure of speech to straighten out misunderstandings or falsehoods being taught by the religious leaders of the times.

He was condemning taking vengeance on someone who insulted or hit you. It is this very passage that has been confused by Christian pacifists who would misinterpret the context of the passage in the Sermon on the Mount about turning the other cheek (which prohibits private vengeance) into a command to falter before the wicked.

The Bible distinguishes clearly between the duties of the government and the duties of an individual and that is what the "turn the other cheek" passage was about. He was telling the people through a parable to not seek personal revenge for a wrong done to you but to let the civil magistrate or what we call local police handle it and let them (courts) administer justice in the matter. Personal revenge and even "lynches" are forbidden.


Self Defense

Exodus 22:2-3 tells us "If the thief is found breaking in, and he is struck so that he dies, there shall be no guilt for his bloodshed. If the sun has risen on him, there shall be guilt for his bloodshed. He should make full restitution; if he has nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft." The context of this verse is dealing with theft and restitution and gives us a basis for God's law of Self-Defense.

The phrase found breaking up refers to breaking up the roof, window, or door to gain entry during the night hours. The owner of the house responds by killing the would-be thief. The declaration of Yahweh's law is that in these circumstances the owner is innocent of any wrongdoing, and is fully justified in using lethal force to defend himself and his family.

Does Jesus advocate violence? No. Does He advocate self defense? Yes.

The Christian pacifist will likely object even still because Christ rebuked Peter who used a sword to cut off the ear of Malchus, a servant of the high priest in the company of a detachment of troops. But look at it in the context of what happened. Jesus told Peter in Matthew 26:52-54:
Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the Scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?

It was not the first time that Christ had to explain to the disciples why He had come to earth. To fulfill the Scriptures the Son of God had to redeem mankind from sin and the penalty of death (also see John 18:10-11). Even yet many use the phrase "those who live by the sword die by the sword" as a battlecry to not defend themselves. This phrase isn't even found in John's account of the same passage and it has nothing to do with a proclamation against self-defense or it would be contradicting all the other numerous passages in the Bible where Yahweh says to arm and protect yourselves.

While Christ told Peter to "put your sword in its place" He clearly did not say get rid of it or throw it out. That would have contradicted what he told the disciples only hours earlier. Peter's sword was to protect his own life from danger. His sword was not needed to protect the King of kings. Jesus was going to lay down His life for mankind and the disciples never understood it until after He arose from the grave.


There is much more on the subject. John Locke wrote about this and more in his "2nd Treatise On Government." He was the second most quoted source, next to the Bible, in the founding of the United States. His writings helped ensure one of the most cherished and sacred rights, the right to bear arms.


note: most of the text above was quoted from A Call To Arms by Sherry Shriner.

 

[Faith4Bride]

those are nice quote but they arent bible-

and we should remember a few things about the people you mentioned and their evil. Firstly- God never calls christians to take care of such things or to fight in the world or in governments in the NT church, and we are told that this is why God puts governments in place to take care of these things. It is the governments responsiblity to take care of such men and punish the wicked, and it is never said to be a christians place to interupt or step into such things.- It is nice also to talk about the " founding fathers" but they are not our founding fathers, they are americas and they were not overly spiritual men even if they did mention God, they did not walk in obediece to God over all things and we should. Our kingdom is Gods kingdom, not whatever earthly kingdom we live in here on earth and our allegiance is to God and our brethern, not to earthly countries.

as far as Jesus not telling peter to throw away the sword i covered that above, jesus had to be numbered with the transgressors and that is why they had a sword, and also why they werent told to throw it out. NEVER once in NT scripture to we see saints involved in government, or punishing people or fighting against anyone or involving themselves with the matters of the world.

Also it is most important to note that as evil as stalin and mao etc were it was GOD who put them in power and even if they be evil, if we fight agains them we fight against God and His will. For this same reason David would not hurt evil saul. For this same reason we do not see joseph in pharohs house hurting him for his evil or daniel in the kings order hurting any of the rulers of persia that he was in contact with and who surely were evil.
we also do not see paul fighting caesar etc..... these our fleshly affairs and not ours, God has a purpose even for the wicked and He the word says turns the heart of kings- even when they are wicked. the word says God uses vessels of dishonor to show His wrath.

Dan 4:17 This matter [is] by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.

Dan 4:25 That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.

you can say oh no! God did not put stalin or hitler or mao in place but the word of God says otherwise.

 

[Pedronewt]

:shock: I am at a loss for words....

Firstly- God never calls christians to take care of such things or to fight... It is the governments responsiblity to take care of such men and punish the wicked, and it is never said to be a christians place to interupt or step into such things.

Are you saying that if I come across you being raped, beaten or robbed that I should just go on my merry way and hope that the government shows up?

“Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.” (James 4:17)

You shall love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:39)

it is most important to note that as evil as stalin and mao etc were it was GOD who put them in power and even if they be evil, if we fight agains them we fight against God and His will.

Are you implying that God willfully chooses to have peopled tortured? And that to fight against it is to fight against God?

Dan 4:17 This matter [is] by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.

Dan 4:25 That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.

you can say oh no! God did not put stalin or hitler or mao in place but the word of God says otherwise.

King Neb's problem was that he thought he was mightier than God. It is not saying that God placed him there, but that He had the power to take him out if He wanted to.
Dan 4:30"The king reflected and said, 'Is this not Babylon the (BE)great, which I myself have built as a royal residence by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?'


Finally, While i am member of Christ's Kingdom, I am also an American. I am proud of my nations history. And while you are quick to point to their flaws, I know from study that our national forefathers were way more "spiritual" than you would like to give them credit for. What the world called "The Great Experiment" has turned out to be the envy of the nations. We enjoy more liberties than any other nation in history. This did not come from the genius of men, but rather from understanding the principles of God. Our (American) forefathers themselves wrote many times that this is a nation that was founded upon Christian Principles and it was to Jesus Christ alone who deserved the credit.

 

[Faith4Bride]

:shock: I am at a loss for words....



Are you saying that if I come across you being raped, beaten or robbed that I should just go on my merry way and hope that the government shows up?

“Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.” (James 4:17)

You shall love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:39)




Are you implying that God willfully chooses to have peopled tortured? And that to fight against it is to fight against God?



King Neb's problem was that he thought he was mightier than God. It is not saying that God placed him there, but that He had the power to take him out if He wanted to.
Dan 4:30"The king reflected and said, 'Is this not Babylon the (BE)great, which I myself have built as a royal residence by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?'


Finally, While i am member of Christ's Kingdom, I am also an American. I am proud of my nations history. And while you are quick to point to their flaws, I know from study that our national forefathers were way more "spiritual" than you would like to give them credit for. What the world called "The Great Experiment" has turned out to be the envy of the nations. We enjoy more liberties than any other nation in history. This did not come from the genius of men, but rather from understanding the principles of God. Our (American) forefathers themselves wrote many times that this is a nation that was founded upon Christian Principles and it was to Jesus Christ alone who deserved the credit.

{Are you saying that if I come across you being raped, beaten or robbed that I should just go on my merry way and hope that the government shows up?}

if you are a christian and know better and i am in such a situation i would not ask you to walk by hoping the government would come- that is not loving- i would ask you to call out to our Father for help and believe He delivers! and pray for me that i be able to forgive those hurting me, knowing that no one has any power over us unless God gives it and that it is Our God who delivers!

{Are you implying that God willfully chooses to have peopled tortured? And that to fight against it is to fight against God?}

Deu 32:39 See now that I, [even] I, [am] he, and [there is] no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither [is there any] that can deliver out of my hand.

God does all these things. Have you not read how many times GOD sent wicked nations against the israelites because of their sin and had them toture, kill, plunder, imprison them? and each time it was GOD who took the credit for these things. GOD has all power over His people and none can torture us or kill us or anything without HIM giving us over to it for our good. and it is GOD who uses the wicked to punish other wicked people with such things also. To fight any earthly battle at all is to fight against God because HE is in control of the nations and HE has purposes for wars etc.. that christians have no part in. we DO NOT FIGHT against FLESH AND BLOOD. that is not told with condition of " unless your earthly country is at war" we are not of this world- that means we are not americans russians etc.. we are israelites in the Kingdom of GOD.WE do not kill for anyone with flesh and blood guns and swords and such

{Finally, While i am member of Christ's Kingdom, I am also an American. I am proud of my nations history. And while you are quick to point to their flaws, I know from study that our national forefathers were way more "spiritual" than you would like to give them credit for}

i am not saying that none of the forefathers had any faith- however they were not very spiritual in truth, they used worldly unscriptural means to accomplish what they did and i believe God used them , in their unbelief and ignorances to do that, that does not mean that we are to remain ignorant and set ourselves to act as those who founded an earthly country but we are to be like JESUS who did not ever do any such thing in his day nor did His aposltes, nor did He teach his people to do such. Nor did he ever say to set up a " christian nation" but to go to all nations preaching the truth. The idea is to deliver people OUT of all earthly kingdoms of darkness, into the kingdom of His love in light. WE are a nation set apart, seperated we dwell all over this planet and we are yet ONE nation.

can you imagine any rightousness is killing unsaved men with your flesh who have not yet tasted salvation to protect anything earthly? THIS is not love for neighbor. can you imagine killing a brother in christ from another nation who may be fighting for his worldly country or origen? THIS is not love for our brother and i cannot even imagine the Lords horror of us killing each other for the world!

show me jesus or paul or peter rising up to fight for rome or against rome or killing or harming a person to protect anyone? there is no biblical showing for this, only fleshly reasoning.

these are works of flesh seeking to deliver oneself or another instead of faith in the power and faithfulness of God to do what He promised.

Dan 4:17 This matter [is] by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.

in scriptures God punished at least 3 pagan rulers for taking credit for their postion and what they have when it was GOD who gave it to them.

this scripture says that the MOST HIGH rules the kingdoms of men( america included, germany included) and gives it to whomever HE WILL and sets up over them the basest of men.

there is nothing God is not in control of. He uses vessels of honor and dishonor. He makes history repeat, He uses the wicked to punish other wicked people and His saints when they need it, there is not one lone soul out there defying His plan and will.

Rom 9:19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? Rom 9:20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed [it], Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?[What] if God, willing to shew [his] wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:
Rom 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

 

[SpiritLedEd]

Let's say that I am walking down the street and someone just started to attack me for no reason. Is it scripturally sound to defend myself by subduing my attacker with physical force? If you have some scriptureal references for this please post them.

Thanks all!

Neil

I don't know of any scriptural barrier to defending oneself against physical attack. The Sixth Commandment (Ex 20:13) says, "You shall not commit murder." This applies only to a deliberate and premeditated act on my part. It says nothing about self-defense.

SLE

 

[Faith4Bride]

I don't know of any scriptural barrier to defending oneself against physical attack. The Sixth Commandment (Ex 20:13) says, "You shall not commit murder." This applies only to a deliberate and premeditated act on my part. It says nothing about self-defense.

SLE

Mat 10:38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.


Mat 10:39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
Mat 16:24 ¶ Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any [man] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Mat 16:25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
Mar 8:34 ¶ And when he had called the people [unto him] with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Mar 8:35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.
Luk 9:23 And he said to [them] all, If any [man] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

Mat 5:39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Luk 6:29 And unto him that smiteth thee on the [one] cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not [to take thy] coat also.

these r NT spiritual loving laws we follow by faith and they are completly against self defence. if a man seeks to kill you, you take up your cross- not try to save your life.
if a man hits you , you turn for him to hit you again
if a man steals your cloke forbid him not AND give him your coat also!

that just said if a man takes away from you do not forbid him but give him more!!!!!

Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places].

our only fighting back or " self defence" is against spiritual powers- and these we fight with spiritual armour and weapon on physical fleshly ones.

the whole term "self defence" should itself testify against itself! we in Christ are to be dying to " self" and living to Christ. we are told to take up our cross DAILY. to die to self, to die to flesh, to count ourselves dead! to believe that we are dead and it is Christ who now lives in us.

If we are believing we are dead who is this " self" there is to defend?

If we believe we are dead and we keep walking by faith in that, dieing daily and taking up our cross how can we do that and defend that which is already " dead" and defend that which we are supose to be putting off ( the old man)

who are you defending and with what are you defending it?
Rom 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with [him], that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

IF your old man is crucified, you have to WAKE HIM UP and RESSURECT him to use him to defend himself! Christ who now lives in us does not need defending!

Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

and what is there to defend when- Jhn 11:26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?


There is nothing in this world that GOD is not in total control of. If a situation arises where our flesh feels it would like to defend itself, this is not some " chance" that has come upon you. you were not " in the wrong place at the wrong time" GOD is in control and has placed you there, HE has allowed or purposely does this to you because it is Gods purpose to use all things for OUR good if we love him. He uses these things, wicked men, " bad situations" to crucify us, to help us die daily and put the old man under so that Christ can live in us by faith and our fleshly carnal old man will die.

how can we bless those who curse us and fight them too? How can we pray for them and kill them to save our SELVES?

these are hard matters for the flesh, but they are peacable and lovely and gentle in the Spirit as we are to be.

 

[SpiritLedEd]

NEVER once in NT scripture to we see saints involved in government, or punishing people or fighting against anyone or involving themselves with the matters of the world.

What about Cornelius, the Roman military man in Acts 10? He was a believer. There's no evidence that he resigned from the military when he was baptized.

How about Luke's patron Theophilus? It appears that he was a man of some influence and position in Roman secular life and Luke sent his gospel to him so that its message would be spread amongst his friends and associates.

What of the Ethiopian eunuch, the treasurer of the government of the queen of Ethiopia, whom Philip baptised in Acts 8? There's no evidence that he left that position when he became a believer.

God wants Christians involved in the military, involved in government.

SLE

 

[Faith4Bride]

What about Cornelius, the Roman military man in Acts 10? He was a believer. There's no evidence that he resigned from the military when he was baptized.

How about Luke's patron Theophilus? It appears that he was a man of some influence and position in Roman secular life and Luke sent his gospel to him so that its message would be spread amongst his friends and associates.

What of the Ethiopian eunuch, the treasurer of the government of the queen of Ethiopia, whom Philip baptised in Acts 8? There's no evidence that he left that position when he became a believer.

God wants Christians involved in the military, involved in government.

SLE

i want to clarify what i said here because it seems to have gotten taken wrongly. when i said that christians arent involved in government, i was referring to government militarily to fight, i was not referring to postions of authority where physical fighting is not part of it. many times God uses his people in governments ( not to fight) for their wisdom like joseph daniel etc....we are never told anything to suggest anything about cornelius either way but the lack of something being said is not a biblical example of a christian fighting fleshly after being saved.

 

[trucker]

self defense

Folks, lets get real here. As Christians we are to defend our homes, families and nation from ungodly people. Like one brother said, if you could stop a rape you better have the backbone to stop the crime.

God gave us this great nation and there are people who are following Satan and trying to destroy it. Ecc 3:3 tells us there is a time to kill, a time to heal. Folks, take Hitler for example, the bible tells us blessed are the peace makers. Thank God America fought to stop him. Look at Russia, no one opposed Stalin, Trotsky or Lenin and over 60 million people were killed by these demonic men. If the people could have taken up arms, they could have stopped it.

America has led in this role as peace maker throughout its history. If peace has to come by force, then praise God use it. I go armed every day and I would not hesitate to use my gun to stop a crime in commission or to protect my family. Why do you think our Godly forefathers put the 2nd Amendment in our constitution??

Turning the other cheek is talking for the sake of the gospel. Men today have gotten so sissified that they are afraid to fight or stand up to right a wrong. Why do you think crime is so rampant today? Criminals are not afraid of any consequence. We have taken thou shall not kill into the ditch. God tells us in Romans chapter 13 the Roman soldier does not wear the sword for nothing. He is Gods administrator of justice. If God allows those in authority to kill, then turns around and tells you you can’t, he is double minded. Sorry, that’s not God.

Folks, look at the bible in balance. The bible shows you when it is correct to fight and when its not. Killing is horrible, but if some mad man is running rampant, then kill him if he is going to harm you or your household!

 

[SpiritLedEd]

Re: Self Defense

According to my study Bible, Jesus' statement about turning the other cheek (Mt 5:39, Lk 6:29), does not refer to physical violence, but to the Middle Eastern custom of delivering an insult or rebuke by slapping the person with the back of one's hand; the message being that it is better to suffer insult than to take the other person to court,

SLE

 

[ByJesus45]

JOE THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME KNOW ABOUT THIS ARTICLE. IT IS LONG BUT VERY USEFUL.

Are Christians Callled to Pacifism?

By Brian Knowles

Do Christians have the right to defend their persons, their families, and their nation – or did God call us to pacifism? As our nation commits to what may well be a long and ugly war against global terrorism and the fanatical Islam that spawns it, every believer needs to resolve this question for himself. As ambassadors for Christ, we must rightly and honorably represent our Lord while we are in this body. As evil mounts, we are called to be light in a world that is rapidly darkening. As Christians, we are enjoined to obey all the Scriptural commandments that apply to us. We don’t obey to be justified or saved by so doing; we do it to live lives that reflect our desire please God and to bless mankind.
The question is, does it glorify God for Christians to defend themselves, or to go to war to defend their nation?
In some Christian circles, the idea of pacifism has been read into Jesus’ teachings. In our opinion, this represents a serious misunderstanding. The reason it has happened is that parts of the Church have jettisoned any connection with their Hebraic roots. Consequently, they have viewed the teachings of Jesus on this subject in isolation, and apart from their natural Judaic context. To understand what Jesus said about Christians "turning the other cheek," we must view his words in light of the Old Testament (TaNaKh), and in conjunction with prevailing Judaic teaching in Jesus’ day.
Times to Kill
The Book of Ecclesiastes tells us that there is "a time to kill, and a time to heal" (Ecclesiastes 3:3). From the same section, we also learn that there is an appropriate time to hate, and to declare war . Both cursing and attacking one’s parents could also bring the death penalty in ancient times (Exodus 21:15,17). Consequently, the official administration of the death penalty for those crimes for which God says it is due cannot be viewed as homicide.
Members of the victim’s family (Numbers 35, Deuteronomy 13:6-11), or the witnesses themselves (Deuteronomy 17:6-7)), were often required to carry out the death penalty. This was commanded killing, not murder. Of course these laws were seldom implemented in ancient Israel.
Personal Self-Defense
Biblical law also allows for killing in personal self-defense. Notice Exodus 22:2: "If a thief is found breaking in, and he is struck so that he dies, there shall be no guilt for his bloodshed."
Jewish law also understood the right to self-defense to include the prevention of one’s own murder: "If someone comes to murder you, anticipate him and kill him first" (Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin 72a).
Jesus seems to have had Exodus 22:2 in mind when he said in a parable about his return, "But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into" (Luke 12:39). It was taken as a given in Jesus’ day that a man had a right to defend his home and family against those who would break in and steal, or otherwise do harm.
National Self-Defense
Throughout Israel’s history, there were numerous occasions on which God not only allowed but also commanded Israel to defend herself against foreign enemies. Failure to do so would have been irresponsible and possibly fatal to the national existence.
There were times when Israel needed do nothing in the face of an enemy. God took care of it himself.
On other occasions, God had promised Israel victory in battle: "The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways" (Deuteronomy 28:7).
Israel was often commanded to engage a certain enemy in battle: "Rise, take your journey, and cross over the River Arnon. Look, I have given into your hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land. Begin to possess it, and engage him in battle" (Deuteronomy 2:24).
On occasion, Israel’s soldiers were commanded by God to do things that would be highly offensive to modern sensibilities. In Deuteronomy 7:16 we read, "You must destroy all the peoples the Lord your God gives over to you. Do not look upon them with pity and do not serve their gods, for that will be a snare to you."
In Deuteronomy 20, God lays out for Israel their "rules of engagement" for warfare. At one point they are commanded to "Completely destroy them – the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites – as the Lord your God has commanded you" (verse 17).
In cases where Israel is defending itself against foreign enemies, or conquering them under God’s direct orders, no homicide is involved. This is another "time to kill."
So we see that for certain crimes, the death penalty was considered appropriate. Those authorized to carry it out were not guilty of homicide. In cases of personal self-defense and home protection, those who killed an intruder or attacker were innocent. In war and national defense, killing was not murder. These were appropriate "times to kill."
What then of Jesus’ teaching about turning the other cheek?
Understanding Jesus’ Teaching
Did Jesus change Torah, and replace all of the aforementioned laws with a new pacifistic teaching? Not at all. He did not come to destroy Torah through misinterpretation, but to fulfill it by correctly teaching it. Let us now consider our Lord’s teachings in light of the foregoing.
Perhaps the most commonly cited passage from the New Covenant writings that is used to justify Christian pacifism is Matthew 5:39: "But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also." Let us understand this teaching of Jesus Hebraically.
The term translated as "do not resist" in the New International Version (above) is translated differently in The Good News Bible: "do not take revenge…" Synoptic scholars agree that this is translation is closer to the intent of Jesus’ teaching. Jesus is saying here the same thing we read throughout both the old and new testaments – that God’s people should not be vindictive or vengeful. It appears that Jesus is quoting a well-known proverb that in our translations reads, "Do not fret because of evildoers" or "Do not be vexed by evildoers" (Psalms 37:1).See also Proverbs 24:19. While the Hebrew verb here seems to be correctly translated when it is rendered "vexed" or "fret," elsewhere in the Bible this verb often carries the meaning of "anger." For example, in verse 8, the NIV reads, "Refrain from anger and turn from wrath -- do not fret -- it leads only to evil" Synoptic scholar David Bivin says that the "two parallels to this verb in Psalms 37:8, both synonyms for anger, suggest that the verb in Matthew 5 must also have that meaning" (Jerusalem Perspective, July/August, 1994, p. 4).
The verb in question is the Hebrew h-r-h – "to burn." It is from this root that the word for anger is derived as in "burn with anger." Jesus is apparently talking about the hot anger that leads one to respond in kind to one’s attacker. Explains Bivin, "In idiomatic English, Matthew 5:39a might read simply, ‘Don’t try to get even with evildoers.’ Not competing with evildoers is very different than not resisting evildoers. Jesus was not teaching that one should submit to evil, but that one should not seek revenge. As Proverbs 24:29 says, ‘Do not say, "I will do to him as he has done to me. I will pay the man back for what he has done." Jesus’ statement has nothing to do with confronting a murderer or facing an enemy on the field of battle" (ibid.).
Jesus is not teaching against self-defense, but against taking vengeance. This is consistent with the teachings of the rest of the Bible in both Testaments. Compare I Thessalonians 5:15, I Peter 3:9 and Romans 12:14,17-19. A core passage in the TaNaKh (Old Testament) is Leviticus 19:18: "Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the lord." So we can see that the Old Testament taught that there are appropriate times to kill, and that not all killing is murder or homicide. There are even times to hate and go to war, but there is never a time to take revenge. That is within God’s domain. Jesus is not teaching contrary to the Old Testament, he is agreeing with it and amplifying it.
David Bivin explains, "It should be noted that loving and praying for one’s enemies in no way precludes defending oneself when one’s life is in danger. One is morally obligated to preserve life, including one’s own. Jesus never taught that it was wrong to defend oneself against a life-threatening attack. However, he consistently taught his disciples to forgive and not to seek revenge against those who had attacked them. As Proverbs 22:22 counsels, "Do not say, ‘I will repay the evil deed in kind.’"
Pacifism was never a part of Jewish belief in Jesus’ day, or at any other time. Jesus did not teach or advocate it.
To summarize, every Christian is entitled to defend his life, his family and his property against evildoers. There is no Biblical reason why a Christian cannot serve in the military and defend his country against those who attack it. David Bivin, quoted earlier, is a Christian who has served in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). The IDF includes a substantial number of Christians who willingly defend Israel, which is now their chosen homeland. This is in no way contrary to our Messiah’s teaching.