| > | | | | conventional weapons because He had not come to |
| When should I take up a sword? | | | | fight a conventional war against Rome. He was sent |
| Terry Dashner
..Faith Fellowship | | | | to fight and defeat Satan by His death, burial, and |
| Church PO Box 1586 Broken Arrow, OK 74013 | | | | resurrection from the dead. And this He did without |
| As a Christian is it ever right to bear arms against | | | | conventional weapons but by the power of the Holy |
| another human being? If called to war, should I object | | | | Spirit. |
| by the authority of the scripture that says, But I say | | | | Now with that said, let me share what I’ve |
| unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall | | | | come to believe about taking up arms against my |
| smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other | | | | enemies. |
| also (Matthew 5:39). If I follow the example of | | | | I may exercise one of three responses to my |
| Jesus, should I ever raise a sword against another to | | | | enemy’s actions. One, I may legally defend |
| subdue him? Before I answer either yea or nay, let me | | | | myself against bodily injury by the use of force |
| look again at the scriptures. | | | | necessary to neutralize the enemy’s threat or |
| Through the years, I’ve wrestled with the | | | | his aggressive actions. Or secondly, I may ignore him |
| teachings of Jesus regarding restraint against an | | | | and hope he goes away. Or third, I may place my life |
| enemy I’m supposed to love. What I’m | | | | in his hands and accept my fate. |
| going to share with you is what I’ve come to | | | | The third is the highest response I can display toward |
| believe about Jesus’ teaching regarding my | | | | my enemy, but it is not the easiest. Why? To place my |
| enemies. | | | | fate in the hands of evil will either enslave me or kill |
| Jesus was a pacifist, but He was not a push over. For | | | | me. Granted the action may stun my enemy and |
| example when he stood against the merchandisers in | | | | affect his heart in a positive way. But it is costly on my |
| the temple, the Bible says that He drove them | | | | part. Pacifism is very powerful. Jesus did not resist His |
| out. He was fearless. He was aggressive, assertive, | | | | accusers by violence, and His death changed the |
| and angry when He over turned the money tables and | | | | course of human history. Martin Luther King Jr. |
| sent the merchants packing. John 2:14-16 says, And | | | | detested violence and changed American history. |
| found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep | | | | Many great men and women of history took a |
| and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And | | | | non-violent stand against evil and the good eventually |
| when he had made a scourge of small cords, he | | | | won out. Pacifism is powerful, but it is costly. And not |
| drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and | | | | everyone can pay the cost it demands. |
| the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and | | | | The second response is ignoring your enemy. The |
| overthrew the tables; And said unto them that sold | | | | Apostle Paul told the early church to live in peace with |
| doves, Take these things hence; make not my | | | | all menIF POSSIBLE. Sometimes it’s possible |
| Father's house an house of merchandise. | | | | and desirable to pursue peace with the enemy. I may |
| Jesus didn’t use swords, but some of His | | | | sacrifice a little for the sake of peace and reap |
| disciples carried them. In Luke 22:49-50 it says, | | | | positive consequences. In this regard a treaty or |
| When they which were about him saw what would | | | | contract is valued. This is sensible, but it is not always |
| follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the | | | | practical. Sometimes my enemy won’t leave |
| sword? | | | | me alone and forces my hand to war. This leads me |
| And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, | | | | to the first response I mentioned. |
| and cut off his right ear. And then again in John | | | | As a Christian I should never condone violence. I should |
| 18:10-11 it says, Then Simon Peter having a sword | | | | never pick a fight. And even when pushed, I should |
| drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off | | | | seek the high road and pursue reconciliation, even if |
| his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. Then | | | | I’m in the right. The Christian thing to do |
| said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the | | | | regarding an enemy’s reproach is to reach out |
| sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I | | | | to him. Bless him. Pray over him. Do good to him; |
| not drink it? | | | | however, if he should resist my efforts to love him |
| Obviously Jesus was not comfortable with zealots | | | | then what? |
| who wanted a fight, namely Peter and the sons of | | | | I should let my conscience guide me and wisdom |
| thunder; however, he did not prohibit them from | | | | control me. But my enemies will never enslave me nor |
| carrying swords. Keep in mind that the Jews resisted | | | | will they murder me because fear of them or |
| Jesus’ claim that He was the Messiah because | | | | intimidation by them paralyzed me. I will act some way |
| He did not fit their view of what the Messiah should | | | | to my enemy’s saber rattling. Either I will turn the |
| look like or act like. They thought the Messiah would | | | | other cheek, offer terms of peace, or give him the |
| come and lead them against their enemies by military | | | | fight of his life. Whatever course I choose, it’s |
| conquests. Jesus tried to instill into his disciple that He | | | | my choice by the grace of God. And if God is with |
| was not come to lead them into conventional warfare | | | | me, I will not be defeated. |
| but to lead them into spiritual victory over their sins. (He | | | | Keep the faith. Stay the course. Jesus is coming again. |
| didn’t get through to them because they | | | | This time He’s coming like a lion. |
| packed swords anyway.) He didn’t pick up | | | | |