This is a topic I've wanted to write about for years, so I finally recently added it to my list, and now here it is. Recently, I've been writing about how churchianity blurs distinctions in the Word of God. It's not just modern churchianity that is guilty of this. There is a teaching of certain denominations that has been around for a long time, and is still lingering in certain denominations today, and that's Christian Pacifism.
Is Christian Pacifism Scriptural? Yes and no. It really depends on what you mean by that term. It is scriptural, under the context of Christians not to be exacting revenge on their enemies, or returning evil for evil. However, if a Christian pacifist claims that Christians are not allowed to defend themselves or others - well, THAT is unscriptural.
Let's begin by turning to the controversial Scripture that Christian pacifists live off of:
"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." -Matthew 5:39
Pacifists run to this verse, and claim that the man who shot the bad guy at that Texas church disobeyed the above passage, and it would have been better to let the bad guy kill everyone in that church. What?! Brethren, that's not what the above passage is talking about, at all.
In this portion of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is citing a Torah law, and then teaching the people the spirit of that law. For under the New Covenant, Christians are under the spirit of the law (see 2 Corinthians 3). Jesus also cited, for example, where the Torah says not to commit adultery, and then gives us the spirit of that law to follow, which includes not only not committing adultery physically, but that we are also not to commit it in our hearts, by lusting after someone who is not our spouse.
Jesus cites the law about swearing and oaths, and gives the spirit of that law for the New Covenant, which is to not swear or make oaths at all, but let your word stand on your word. Your "yes" shouldn't have to be anything further than that, etc.
What law was Jesus citing for the above Matthew 5:39 passage? Let's take a look at verses 38 and 39 together:
"Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 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." -Matthew 5:38-39
In the Torah, if someone smacked you on the cheek and hurt your eye, their punishment was a hurt eye. If they smacked you and knocked out your tooth, as punishment they got their tooth knocked out. Under the New Covenant, Jesus was establishing that if someone smacks you, don't hurt or smack them back. This is one of the many passages in the Bible that teaches that Christians are not to take revenge or vengeance.
Revenge occurs after the evil was done. Defense stops the evil from occurring. Keep these two distinctions in mind, or you will not be rightly dividing the Word of Truth. Now we shall continue...
The above doesn't say we aren't allowed to defend ourselves from evil. It says that if evil happens to us, don't take revenge. Under that same vein, the Bible goes on to teach, later in the New Testament, that a Christian is not to return evil for evil. In fact, we are to return good for evil, such as the examples given a few verses later in our Matthew passage:
"And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you" -Matthew 5:40-44
As mentioned above, the Bible carries this message further, as we delve more into the New Testament:
"Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good." -Romans 12:17-21
Notice in both the Matthew 5 passage and the above Romans passage that both are talking about after the fact; After someone has done wrong to you - not before. Thus why the above Romans passage says "avenge not yourselves," and "Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."
Scriptures are clear we are not to return evil for evil. Here's another one:
"Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men." -1 Thessalonians 5:14-15
I included verse 14 above, lest some ENFJ reading this determines that it would be evil to warn the unruly. If one is being unruly, it is not returning evil for evil to warn them. Sincerely warning someone is never evil.
Notice again, the above is talking about after the fact - after the offense was commited - "that none render evil for evil unto any man."
Let's look at one more passage, before we move on:
"Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing." -1 Peter 3:9
Notice how well our Peter, Thessalonians, and Romans passages mesh with our Matthew 5 passage. They are all talking about the same thing - Don't take revenge, don't avenge, don't take vengeance, don't return evil for evil. Revenge or returning evil for evil indicates that all of these passages are referring to our reaction to an evil already done to us. One cannot react, if the action to react to has not yet occurred. Revenge can only occur after the fact, not before. All of the above passages, and the related ones in Scripture always refer to after the fact, not before. They refer to our reactions, not defense - which is before the fact.
What about defense? Are Christians allowed to defend themselves, and others? Yes. Take a look...
Paul got to verbally defend himself against false accusations aimed at him:
"I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews" -Acts 26:2
One of the jobs of the judges of Israel was to defend the people of God:
"And after Abimelech there arose to defend Israel Tola the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar; and he dwelt in Shamir in mount Ephraim." -Judges 10:1
The apostles carried weapons of defense:
"And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing. 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." -Luke 22:35-36
A few different times, we see in the Gospels that the people wanted to fight to usher in the Kingdom of God, and the reign of King Jesus. However, it was not the time. In the future, Christians will fight, when it is the time, and Jesus alludes to this:
"Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence." -John 18:36
His servants fight after the kingdom comes to this world, which begins in Revelation 11:15, and the fight occurs in the end of the battle of Armageddon part one:
"And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean." -Revelation 19:14
The people of God are allowed to defend themselves, their homes and possessions, and others.
"If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for him." -Exodus 22:2
No death penalty would be exacted to the person who killed the thief, because he just hit the thief in defense of his home.
Jesus used an example of an armed man protecting his possessions:
"When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace." - Luke 11:21
As per Exodus 22:2, that strong man is within his rights to defend himself and smite the thief, should one enter.
The Lord is behind righteous defense:
"Blessed be the Lord my strength which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight" -Psalm 144:1
The below insinuates that the strong man will defend himself, house, and family, unless he is bound, so that he cannot.
"Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house." -Matthew 12:29
When the Israelites were building the wall, there were people from neighboring areas giving them trouble, so they armed themselves, and were ready to defend themselves and the others, if necessary:
"And it came to pass from that time forth, that the half of my servants wrought in the work, and the other half of them held both the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the habergeons; and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah. They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon. For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me." Nehemiah 4:16-18
Not only is the child of God clear to defend, but is also commanded to defend spiritually, as well:
"Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." -Ephesians 6:11
"And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" -Ephesians 6:17
It's never a sin to save people from a bad guy. However, it may very well be a sin to not save those people, if it was in your power to do so.
"Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren." -1 John 3:16
