Friday, July 21

Where do the Scriptures describe Christians violently resisting evil?

In Luke 22, Jesus warns His Apostles to prepare to fend for themselves since He is about to be taken away. He tells them to buy a sword. The disciples respond with, "We have two."

Jesus replies, "That is enough." Later that night, Christ warns Peter against living by the sword (and in that particular context, trying to prevent Him from fulfilling His mission).

A wise man made the point recently to me (noted below) that the first Christians didn't use violence against evil.

From here:
bw says:
The absurdity of your statement is seen in your ability to understand that your death would not be worth what Christ's was....It wouldn't be for the same purpose or have the same value...while His enabled the ultimate victory, yours - the "sacrificial death of an 'innocent' man while purporting to do what Christ did" only enables evil and wickedness....your death will not influence evil in any way....it's another way of saying "who do you think you are?"....
The greater injustice is a good man - who could spread goodness - allowing himself to be killed in some twisted self righteous way, enabling spreading of evil....
But YHWH says:
You have heard that it was said, "Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth." But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

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 sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?

Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Nations have authority to war. Christians have a duty to defend others. Self-defense also seems allowed, but as noted above, where in the Old or New Testaments do you find believers violently defending just themselves?
With this silly view, Christianity would've been wiped out long ago...or does evil not really exist?
This is what persecutors of Christ's body have always tried to do. The Scriptures say, "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."
Here is some good advice on Christian self-defense from someone who had to deal with the Religion of Peace in his own day:

Luther's Advice in Dealing with Islam

SIR CHRISTIAN -- THE FIRST MAN

The advice of Luther concerning the Islamic threat in Europe during the Sixteenth Century was not the crusades, for to advocate a Christian crusade against the Muslims was to mix spiritual authority with temporal authority. The consequences of such a mixture and a confusion of the two authorities would be to draw God's wrath and insure the success of Islam. Instead, the Muslims were to be fought spiritually by Christians with repentance, the amendment of one's life and with prayer.

In order to achieve this spiritual posture before God, Germany's pastors were to admonish the papists to stop blaspheming God and to admonish the ungrateful, wanton German people to improve their behavior, to honor God's Word and to call on God in prayer. Germany's pastors were to be God's prophetic voices, calling God's people back to Himself through genuine repentance, faith and prayer.

THE EMPEROR -- THE SECOND MAN

The second man whose place it was to fight against the Muslim was Emperor Charles. It was his office to war agains the Muslim because of their threats toward the Empire's subjects and the Empire itself. It was his duty, as a ruler appointed by God, to defend his own people and land (PE 5:102). If there was to be war against the Muslim, "it should be fought at the Emperor's command and under his banner, and in his name...[why?]...Because then everyone can assure his own conscience that he is obeying the ordinance of God, since we know that the emperor is our true overlord and head, and he who obeys him...obeys God also, while he who disobeys him disobeys God also" (PE 5:102-103).

Therefore, advises Luther, the emperor and the princes should be exhorted concerning their office and duty to God not to let their subjects be ruined, but rather to be reminded that Germany and its people are "given you and committed to you by God, that you may protect, rule, counsel, and help it, and you not only should, but must do this on pain of losing your soul's salvation and God's favor and grace" (PE 5:106).

Ideologies of Liberty should not, for the Christian, violate Christ's commands.