I actually believe their is a Christian duty to protect your family, and other vulnerable people living in your neighborhood. You can see that idea throughout the Old Testament, but especially in the lives of notable figures like Abraham, King David etc. Even in the New Testament saint Paul speaks in terms of government of the time:
Romans 13:4
4For he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not carry the sword in vain. He is God’s servant, an agent of retribution to the wrongdoer.
In our times, this verse has some interesting implications because Government is supposed to be setup to protect the rights of its citizens, but government is also to be accountable to its citizens etc.
Now Christianity is a religion of peace and there are plenty of reasons to be that. But I do not believe Christ's words on things like "living by the sword" etc. were a universal mandate against never using weapons for defense etc. Jesus or the apostles never called the Roman centurions that sometimes converted over to Judaism or Christianity to renounce their profession etc. And such a thing does not make sense when you consider the Old Testament. The same God that inspired the New Testament gave us the Old Testament. If you believe that bearing weapons is a sin, then God would have been urging people to do evil during various times of the Old Testament, and that raises some serious heretical problems because only groups like the Gnostics, Marcionites, etc. believed those commands can from an evil "god" who was different than the God of the New Testament.
I believe words like "not living by the sword" etc. is about God's general will for human kind as far as the Gospel goes. Naturally God wants mercy, and if we can find ways to go the extra mile and show mercy that is great and the ideal thing. But we cannot always do that. There are evil people out there. God is not only disciple maker; Satan also makes disciples who go out and do his bidding. And it is irresponsible for Christians to allow the disciples of Satan to hurt the innocent. That does not fulfill your duty as a father, or a Man, or even a responsible adult of either gender.
So I do not think a few verses in the New Testament means that Jesus is a full-fledged hippy pacifist. Indeed, Jesus will be returning back to Earth with a sword in his mouth to strike down the nations! Revelation 19:15
Romans 13:4
4For he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not carry the sword in vain. He is God’s servant, an agent of retribution to the wrongdoer.
In our times, this verse has some interesting implications because Government is supposed to be setup to protect the rights of its citizens, but government is also to be accountable to its citizens etc.
Now Christianity is a religion of peace and there are plenty of reasons to be that. But I do not believe Christ's words on things like "living by the sword" etc. were a universal mandate against never using weapons for defense etc. Jesus or the apostles never called the Roman centurions that sometimes converted over to Judaism or Christianity to renounce their profession etc. And such a thing does not make sense when you consider the Old Testament. The same God that inspired the New Testament gave us the Old Testament. If you believe that bearing weapons is a sin, then God would have been urging people to do evil during various times of the Old Testament, and that raises some serious heretical problems because only groups like the Gnostics, Marcionites, etc. believed those commands can from an evil "god" who was different than the God of the New Testament.
I believe words like "not living by the sword" etc. is about God's general will for human kind as far as the Gospel goes. Naturally God wants mercy, and if we can find ways to go the extra mile and show mercy that is great and the ideal thing. But we cannot always do that. There are evil people out there. God is not only disciple maker; Satan also makes disciples who go out and do his bidding. And it is irresponsible for Christians to allow the disciples of Satan to hurt the innocent. That does not fulfill your duty as a father, or a Man, or even a responsible adult of either gender.
So I do not think a few verses in the New Testament means that Jesus is a full-fledged hippy pacifist. Indeed, Jesus will be returning back to Earth with a sword in his mouth to strike down the nations! Revelation 19:15
