No Justification For Man To Harm Another

James 4:1-7 What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: “He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us”? 6 But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Submit therefore to God.



Jesus said he that has ears to hear then hear. I like the same principle said as such: He that has a brain use it. Use it to think critically and reason.


Scripture must be understood in context. Context is EVERYTHING. It is so true that with any publication, article, book, spoken word; things can be written or said to mean something and those words can be used very easily very often out of context to mean something entirely different and at times completely opposite of the original intent or meaning.


Non Resistance is love absorbing the wrongdoings of others.

God never instructed Hs people to day to do nothing. He instructed us to be about doing good. This also applies, and maybe even more so, to not resisting evil. Non Resistance is in no way characterized as doing nothing when evil is occurring.




Colossians 2:6-10 Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and over flowing with gratitude. See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head [j]over all rule and authority;


Luke 9:23 And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it.

What does the cross mean? What does taking up our cross daily mean? What does Follow Jesus mean?

These are things we must contemplate, understand, answer, and do.


Romans 12:1-2 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Philippians 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;

Colosians 1:13 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,

1 John 2:3-6 By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.

Hebrews 1:1-2 God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.

God speaks to us today through Jesus


Matthew 17:1-8 Six days later Jesus *took with Him Peter and James and John his brother, and *led them up on a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, I will make three tabernacles here, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!” When the disciples heard this, they fell face down to the ground and were terrified. And Jesus came to them and touched them and said, “Get up, and do not be afraid.” And lifting up their eyes, they saw no one except Jesus Himself alone.

Mark 9:2-8 Six days later, Jesus *took with Him Peter and James and John, and *brought them up on a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them; and His garments became radiant and exceedingly white, as no launderer on earth can whiten them. Elijah appeared to them along with Moses; and they were talking with Jesus. Peter *said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three tabernacles, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” For he did not know what to answer; for they became terrified. Then a cloud formed, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!” All at once they looked around and saw no one with them anymore, except Jesus alone.

Luke 9:28-36 Some eight days after these sayings, He took along Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while He was praying, the appearance of His face became different, and His clothing became white and gleaming. And behold, two men were talking with Him; and they were Moses and Elijah, who, appearing in glory, were speaking of His departure which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and his companions had been overcome with sleep; but when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men standing with Him. And as these were leaving Him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three tabernacles: one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—not realizing what he was saying. While he was saying this, a cloud formed and began to overshadow them; and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. Then a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!” And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone.

We follow Jesus’ teachings



Mark 12:30-31 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this; you shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.

1 Corinthians 13:1-8 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing. Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails;

WHAT IS LOVE

Is patient

Is kind

Is not jealous

Does not brag

Is not arrogant

Is not unbecomingly (fitting)

Does not seek its own

Is not provoked

Does not take account of wrongs suffered

Does not rejoice in unrighteousness

Rejoices with truth

Bears all things

Believes all things

Hopes all things

Endures all things

Never fails


There is nothing in Jesus’s words that restricts the meaning of “enemy” to certain types of people.


Romans 13:8-10 Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. For this, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

Philippians 2:1-8 Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

1 Corinthians 6:7 Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded? "Actually, then, it is already a defeat for you, that you have lawsuits with one another. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded?"

Paul was admonishing this group of Christians because of their actions and Paul went so far as to point out the principle in the form of questions: allow yourselves to be wronged, allow yourselves to be defrauded

Acts 5:40-41 They took his advice; and after calling the apostles in, they flogged them and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them. So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name.

The apostles weren’t bitter or mad or looking for revenge because they had been imprisoned and beaten for speak about Jesus; THEY WENT AWAY FROM THEIR BEATING REJOICING.


1 john 4: 7-11 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. By this the love of God was manifested in us that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Philippians 3:17-21 Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.

Jesus clearly spoke many times about a different kingdom, government, state, citizenship. He explained that His followers had a Spiritual home, a home somewhere else than here an now. He said His followers where part of a Spiritual body, government, kingdom.


John 18:36 Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”

Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Mark 9:50 …be at peace with one another.

1 Corinthians 16:13-14 Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.

1 Corinthians 1:20-28 Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen…

1 Corinthians 3:18-21 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. For it is written, “He is the one who catches the wise in their craftiness”; and again, “The Lord knows the reasonings of the wise, that they are useless.” So then let no one boast in men…



Luke 6:35 But love your enemies, and do good, lend expecting nothing in return

Ephesians 6:10-20 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Our fighting is not against people (flesh & blood), it is against spiritual forces

The foundation for Christianity is service. We are servants to be used and even abused.

God does not prohibit us from verbally stating mistreatment and verbally defending ourselves, Jesus and His disciples did this. God even tells us that in our Spiritual warfare that our sword is the Word.

Any mistreatment to you is to be expected as a Christian however; not only do you not have to be silent, you should voice any wrong and speak the truth.


1 Thessalonians 5:12-22 But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another. We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone. See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people. Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit; do not despise prophetic utterances. But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil.

Do not treat others with evil even if they treat you evil


Romans 12 & 13 Don’t be conformed to this world; Bless those who persecute you; Never pay back evil for evil to anyone; Never take your own revenge, wrath belongs to God; If enemy is hungry feed him, thirsty, give drink; Overcome evil with good

Romans 12:14-21 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Bless people that persecute you

Don’t be evil to someone that is evil to you

Be at peace with ALL men. The peace depends on both parties. Even if you do all you can to be peaceable and the other person is not, the scripture does not indicate that you change your attitude toward, approach to, or how you treat the other person. You may not be at peace with all men, make sure the reason is not because of you.

NEVER administer revenge, that action and responsibility belongs to God

Feed your enemy, help quench your enemies thirst

If we are evil then we have allowed the bad from someone get to us; which is not right. We overcome/conquer evil with good


Romans 12:19-21 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Revenge belongs to God, not man

Feed your enemy

We overcome evil with good


!!Romans 12:18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone

The condition “as far as it depends on you” is not giving permission for you to no longer have the attitude of not exhibiting peace. You may not be at peace with someone because of your fault or the other persons’ fault. If you are not at peace with someone it must not be because of you


Matthew 5:38-48 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.

Love your enemies

Don't resist an evil person. Turn the other cheek. Allow yourself to be sued and your property taken. Allow yourself to be forced to do something. Give to those who ask of you.

Love your enemies

We are not to return evil for evil. We are to sacrifice our life by turning the other cheek, allowing others to sue us to take our possessions and voluntary give them more than they request without retaliation, allow people to force us to do something and we not only oblige them yet do even more than what they request. This is loving our enemy.


Luke 6:27-36 “But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either. Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back. Treat others the same way you want them to treat you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Love your enemies
Do good to those that hate you
Bless those that curse you
Pray for those that mistreat you


Luke 6:27-31 But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either. Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back. Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.

Luke 6:27 But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,

Luke 6:28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

Luke 6:30 Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back.

Luke 6:31 Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.

Immediately after Jesus talks about loving enemies He says do not judge. This implies it is not up to us to decide who deserves love and who doesn’t


*Luke 6:35-36 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Luke 6:37-38 Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned. Give, and it will be given to you.

Luke 22:49-51 When those who were around Him saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” And one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus answered and said, “Stop! No more of this.” And He touched his ear and healed him.

Hebrews 10:30-31 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God

1 Peter 4:12-19 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name. For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, what will become of the godless man and the sinner? Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.

Don’t suffer as a murderer, thief, or evildoer. Expect to suffer, no mention of fighting or defending self


John 16:1-4 These things I have spoken to you so that you may be kept from stumbling. They will make you outcasts from the synagogue, but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God. These things they will do because they have not known the Father or Me. But these things I have spoken to you, so that when their hour comes, you may remember that I told you of them. These things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you.

Romans 5:6-10 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were ENEMIES we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

How can we call ourselves Christians; yet don’t give the same love and grace that God showed us?



***2 Corinthians 10:1-6 By the humility and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul,who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” toward you when away! I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world. For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.

Paul is explicit about how Christians wage war!


*2 Timothy 2:24-26 The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.

God explains His purpose for being kind, gentle, and loving; that they may come to their senses of the truth of God’s will.



1 Corinthians 5:14-15 For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.

1 Peter 2:13-25 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right. For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men. Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bond slaves of God. Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king. Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable. For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly. For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God. For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.

1 Peter 2:21-25 For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.

Our purpose is to follow Jesus' example.
He suffered for us
He did not revile (verbally abuse) even though He was reviled (verbally abused)
He did not give threats
His trust was in God
"Blessed are the peacemakers,"

Is it correct that just as the Lord Jesus suffered in the flesh, so the Christian ought to "arm himself" with the same readiness to suffer meekly?

Was Peter right in twice asserting that Christians are called to a ministry of nonresistant suffering?


1 Peter 2:18-24 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable. For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly. For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God. For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.

Christ gave us an example. He sacrificed Himself and suffered for His enemies, for all of man. So what does that mean that Jesus gave us an example? How are we to apply that in our life? How are we to follow that example; because as Christians we are followers of Christ?


1 Peter 3:14-18 But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong. For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit

Hebrews 12:14 Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.

Matthew 10:11-23 And whatever city or village you enter, inquire who is worthy in it, and stay at his house until you leave that city. As you enter the house, give it your greeting. If the house is worthy, give it your blessing of peace. But if it is not worthy, take back your blessing of peace. Whoever does not receive you, nor heed your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet. Truly I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city. “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves. But beware of men, for they will hand you over to the courts and scourge you in their synagogues; and you will even be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say. For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved. “But whenever they persecute you in one city, flee to the next; for truly I say to you, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes.

Matthew 10:21-23 Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved. But whenever they persecute you in one city, flee to the next; for truly I say to you, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes.

Luke 21:12-19 Jesus said: “But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for My name’s sake. It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony. So make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves; for I will give you utterance and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute. But you will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death, and you will be hated by all because of My name. Yet not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives.

1 Corinthians 6:1-7 Does any one of you, when he has a case against his neighbor, dare to go to law before the unrighteous and not before the saints? Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? If the world is judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest law courts? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life? So if you have law courts dealing with matters of this life, do you appoint them as judges who are of no account in the church? I say this to your shame Is it so, that there is not among you one wise man who will be able to decide between his brethren, but brother goes to law with brother, and that before unbelievers? Actually, then, it is already a defeat for you, that you have lawsuits with one another. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded?

Isiah 53:7-12 He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth. By oppression and judgment He was taken away; And as for His generation, who considered That He was cut off out of the land of the living For the transgression of my people, to whom the stroke was due? His grave was assigned with wicked men, Yet He was with a rich man in His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was there any deceit in His mouth. But the Lord was pleased To crush Him, putting Him to grief; If He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, And the good pleasure of the Lord will prosper in His hand. As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied; By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many,As He will bear their iniquities. Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, And He will divide the booty with the strong; Because He poured out Himself to death, And was numbered with the transgressors; Yet He Himself bore the sin of many, And interceded for the transgressors.

Luke 10:25-37 And a lawyer stood up and put Him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” And He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?” And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” And He said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.” But wishing to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied and said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among robbers, and they stripped him and beat him, and went away leaving him half dead. And by chance a priest was going down on that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite also, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion, and came to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn and took care of him. On the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper and said, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I return I will repay you.’ Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers’ hands?” And he said, “The one who showed mercy toward him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do the same.”

2 men who knew the Law did not put that into action. The Samaritan which was regarded lowly at the time did put into action love. The Lawyer was taught the action of this despised man was better than the Lawyer’s knowledge.


Isaiah 2:4, Micah 4:1-3 He will judge between the nations, and will decide for many peoples; and they will beat their swords into plows and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

John 21:25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books that would be written.

Jesus did many things that would fill up more books than the earth could contain


Luke 10:1-12 Now after this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them in pairs ahead of Him to every city and place where He Himself was going to come. And He was saying to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. Go; behold, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. Carry no money belt, no bag, no shoes; and greet no one on the way. Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house.’ If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. Stay in that house, eating and drinking what they give you; for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not keep moving from house to house. Whatever city you enter and they receive you, eat what is set before you; and heal those in it who are sick, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ But whatever city you enter and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your city which clings to our feet we wipe off in protest against you; yet be sure of this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’ I say to you, it will be more tolerable in that day for Sodom than for that city.

1 Peter 4:1-3 Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.

“Arm” yourself with what…the same purpose which is to suffer. Not arm with material weapon.


Matthew 7:12 “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

James 4
War is a result of sin. The purpose of the military is “to kill people and break things.” The armed forces are not educational institutions, international relief agencies, or social engineering models. Armies are just large manifestations of the evil that lurks in human hearts, and of the great force that is necessary to keep that evil in check.

Christ stated that wars would continue until His return. Christians will not outlaw conflicts or cause wars to cease. It is the height of naiveté to think that Christians, by political action, will change the evil hearts of human beings so that they will not war.


John 18:36 The Christian is not of this world, but is a citizen of Heaven. We should be cautious about involving ourselves in politics, and by extension, involving ourselves in human conflicts. The world’s methods are not our methods (2 Corinthians 10:3-4).

Ephesians 6:10-18 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Clearly we don’t fight against each other and our armor that we do fight with is unconventional and completely different from what the world expects.

We use the principles of Jesus to reason, rebuke, defend.

The foundation for Christianity is service. We are servants to be used and even abused.

God does not prohibit us from verbally stating mistreatment; God even tells us that in our Spiritual warfare that our sword is the Word.

Any mistreatment to you is to be expected as a Christian however; not only do you not have to be silent, you should voice any wrong and speak the truth.


1Peter 2:11-17 Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation. Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right. For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men. Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God. Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.

We recognize the proper role of government. The government is in place to make and enforce just laws for the harmony of unregenerate society. Christians ought to be the best subjects a ruler should have, and every Christian should be in prayer for our rulers.

He was a terrorist of Jesus’ church. According to most Christian’s belief regarding our enemies today, Saul should have been killed. The church didn’t do that. Contemplate the writings we would not have had that happened not to mention the possibility of a lost soul eternally.

God used a terrorist to actively and boldly spread the message of Jesus, think about that.



Nowhere does God guarantee our safety or life. He in fact He lets us know that following Jesus will put our life in danger. It is a man-made natural idea for self-preservation and even helping the helpless through harm or violence to an attacker. Our life nor the life of anyone else takes precedence over God’s instruction for us to be servants, sacrifice our life in many ways, love others, teach others the truth, and love God.

The belief that protecting someone with violence towards another; is based upon a non New Testament principle that one life is worth more than another. Putting oneself in place of God to judge who should die by your cause is not a principle of Jesus.

“Self-Defense” is not a Jesus principle

World government, Spiritual government. Christians live in and serve Spiritual government, it has precedence over world government. VERY IMPORTANT FOUNDATION FOR CHRISTIAN LIFE AND NONVIOLENCE.

Christian nonviolence is energized by a belief in the power of the Holy Spirit. Saul of Tarsus was an enemy of the Gospel who had participated in the murders of Christians, but the Holy Spirit was able to save him and make him a missionary. What would have happened to the cause of the Gospel if the early Christians had felt it acceptable to defend themselves against his persecution with the sword, and someone had killed Saul of Tarsus before his conversion? How would that have been a victory for the Kingdom of God?

Israel was a kingdom of this world, Jesus' kingdom is not of this world

The law (old law) came about because of the sin of the people. It was not meant to be in place. The new "law" or covenant is based upon grace, not man's justice.

Israel was a kingdom of this world, Jesus' kingdom is not of this world

The law (old law) came about because of the sin of the people. It was not meant to be in place. The new "law" or covenant is based upon grace, not man's justice.

God communicated with His people through different means, i.e., Moses, Jerimiah, Ezekiel, Elijah, Jesus etc. As Christians we are not "under" or bound by the Old Covenant teachings. If we were then we should follow all of them; thereby being Jews. It is fallacious to use God's teaching to His people of the Old Testament for us to follow. God has made clear that He communicates with His people today through Jesus. Hebrews 1:1-2; Matthew 17:1-8 (Moses & Elijah appeared to Peter, James & John)

We must be careful of a logical fallacy. Inferring something from what is not said by Jesus, the disciples or anyone cannot be reasonable. We do not know what someone is thinking based upon what they don’t say. This fallacy can easily come into play in many instances in the New Testament.


Mark 13:7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be frightened; those things must take place; but that is not yet the end.

Matt. 24:6 You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end.

Lk. 21:9 When you hear of wars and disturbances, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end does not follow immediately.”

Actually Jesus didn't say there would always be wars. He said, "When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come". He certainly doesn't suggest that war either should exist or that it is sanctioned by him. He makes a descriptive statement, not a prescriptive one. Working for peace and refusing to fight in wars in no way contradicts what Jesus says in this passage. Rather, to do so is to follow in his nonviolent steps.


The Old Covenant was based upon God holding up His part of the deal and the people Obeying the Old Law.

James 2:8-13 If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not commit murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.

Galatians 3:6-14 Even so Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness. Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham. The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “All the nations will be blessed in you.” So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer. For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, to perform them.” Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, “The righteous man shall live by faith.” However, the Law is not of faith; on the contrary, “He who practices them shall live by them.” Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”— in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Galatians 3:16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as referring to many, but rather to one, “And to your seed,” that is, Christ.

The New Covenant was made with Abraham in the Old Testament

****Galatians 3:15-29 Brethren, I speak in terms of human relations: even though it is only a man’s covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds conditions to it. Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as referring to many, but rather to one, “And to your seed,” that is, Christ. What I am saying is this: the Law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise. For if the inheritance is based on law, it is no longer based on a promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise. Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made. Now a mediator is not for one party only; whereas God is only one. Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law. But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.

Ephesians 2:11-22 Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands— remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near; for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.

Matthew 5:17-19 “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

fulfill: consummate (complete, make perfect, bring to completion), accomplish, come to an end, influence fully

abolish: to nullify, abrogate (repeal, do away with, evade), dissolve, destroy, demolish, overthrow law


Hebrews 9:15 For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant…

Hebrews 8:13 When He said, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear.

Old Covenant is replaced



2 Corinthians 3:1-18 Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some, letters of commendation to you or from you? You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men; being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

Such confidence we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. But if the ministry of death, in letters engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the sons of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face, fading as it was, how will the ministry of the Spirit fail to be even more with glory? For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness abound in glory. For indeed what had glory, in this case has no glory because of the glory that surpasses it. For if that which fades away was with glory, much more that which remains is in glory. Therefore having such a hope, we use great boldness in our speech, and are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the sons of Israel would not look intently at the end of what was fading away. But their minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ. But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart; but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.

Old Law faded away, was surpassed


Romans 8:1-8 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Romans 6:14-15 For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace. What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be!

Romans 13:8-10 Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. For this, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

Matthew 17:1-8 Six days later Jesus *took with Him Peter and James and John his brother, and *led them up on a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, I will make three tabernacles here, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!” When the disciples heard this, they fell face down to the ground and were terrified. And Jesus came to them and touched them and said, “Get up, and do not be afraid.” And lifting up their eyes, they saw no one except Jesus Himself alone.

Mark 9:2-8 Six days later, Jesus *took with Him Peter and James and John, and *brought them up on a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them; and His garments became radiant and exceedingly white, as no launderer on earth can whiten them. Elijah appeared to them along with Moses; and they were talking with Jesus. Peter *said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three tabernacles, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” For he did not know what to answer; for they became terrified. Then a cloud formed, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!” All at once they looked around and saw no one with them anymore, except Jesus alone.

Luke 9:28-36 Some eight days after these sayings, He took along Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while He was praying, the appearance of His face became different, and His clothing became white and gleaming. And behold, two men were talking with Him; and they were Moses and Elijah, who, appearing in glory, were speaking of His departure which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and his companions had been overcome with sleep; but when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men standing with Him. And as these were leaving Him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three tabernacles: one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—not realizing what he was saying. While he was saying this, a cloud formed and began to overshadow them; and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. Then a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!” And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone.

Hebrews 1:1-2 God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.

Transfiguration: Jesus gave us principles. His words and actions shows what God wants from His people today: Christians. No longer the Mosaic or Prophetic Laws


Galatians 3:24-29 Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.


Man-made: Not Biblical
It is completely subjective

An act of aggression by a state could easily in their eyes be just

Just Cause: Subjective

Reasonable Chance of Success: How is that determined?

Proportionality: How would anyone know if violence is in proper proportion to casualties and what is that proper proportion; subjective

Civilian Casualties: They can be killed if it’s unavoidable when there is an attack on a target; just their bad luck I guess.

Legitimate Authority: Who in the world is to say what is legitimate; subjective. The U.S. may say a state is not legitimate yet that state may disagree; who is to say the U.S. is right in their assessment?


With modifications as to intent in war added later by Thomas Aquinas, there are seven generally accepted tenets of the "Just War" doctrine. They are divided into two types of arguments. The first, jus ad bellum, are the principles that establish the justness of the war itself; the second, jus in bello, are the principles that establish just conduct in the war itself:

Jus ad bellum (Justness of War):

(1) Competent authority: A war must be declared by politically responsible authorities and not by private individuals.
(2) Probability of success: A war should not be undertaken if there is no obvious hope for success.
(3) Last Resort: A war must be a last resort after sincere efforts have been made to resolve the controversy peacefully.
(4) Just Intent: The object of a war must be peace and reconciliation and not the unlimited destruction of the enemy state.
(5) Just Cause: The war must be an act of defense in response to armed aggression.

Jus in bello (Justice in war):

(6) Proportionality: The good brought about by a war should outweigh its evils in cost and destruction to both sides and the means used should be proportional to the harm caused.
(7) Discriminate means: Military actions should not be waged that directly intend to take the lives of noncombatants (i.e., civilians or innocents).



John 18:36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.”

As followers of Jesus we belong to His Spiritual Kingdom/Government; therefore we do not fight.


Luke 3:10-14 And the crowds were questioning him, saying, “Then what shall we do?” And he would answer and say to them, “The man who has two tunics is to share with him who has none; and he who has food is to do likewise.” And some tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Collect no more than what you have been ordered to.” Some soldiers were questioning him, saying, “And what about us, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not take money from anyone by force, or accuse anyone falsely, and be content with your wages.”

John doesn’t tell soldiers to quit the military or not kill. The absence of not saying something that’s prohibited does not make it or anything else acceptable; this is a logically fallacious argument. The acceptance into this new “way” was for everyone and God used the outsiders, weak, sinful, lowlife of society to do His work. And finally John does not say it is acceptable to harm or kill. One could be in the military today and it be justifiable in God’s eye. What is important is the hearts’ desire and ones’ actions. If one does not kill then they have not sinned. A valid argument cannot be made from something NOT said. However, it is also true that Jesus had dealings with prostitutes, and he is nowhere recorded as having told them to leave their profession. Are we to argue from this that prostitution is an acceptable calling for a Christian disciple?


Matthew 8:5-13 And when Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, imploring Him, and saying, “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, fearfully tormented.” Jesus *said to him, “I will come and heal him.” But the centurion said, “Lord, I am not worthy for You to come under my roof, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.” Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those who were following, “Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel. I say to you that many will come from east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven; but the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” And Jesus said to the centurion, “Go; it shall be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed that very moment.

Many accounts of the same events in the Bible are recorded and the accounts differ. Jesus may have told the centurion not to harm people. The fact is Jesus did not say for him to harm people. Again a reason to prove an argument is fallacious when it is based upon something not said.


Acts 10 Cornelius

Cornelius was not told to stop being a soldier nor was he told to harm anyone. It is possible he was told to quit his job or not kill. Scriptures simply do not say. The main point is Cornelius was not told to harm anyone. Again arguments based on something that was not said is fallacious


Romans 13:1-10 Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor. Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. For this, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

The direction is not for the reader (Christian) to wield the sword. It is not permission for God’s people to be the ones to administer punishment. This is a warning to Christians to obey the secular authority. it can also be argued that this is a warning for the forthcoming of the persecution in the 1st and 2nd centuries.

We recognize the worldly authority.

The principle we find is that God’s people are to be in subjection to the worldly authority and too obey that authority. It should be clear that this only applies up to the point at which the expectations of the government do not contradict God’s desire for us. We are to obey as long as it does not cause us to go against Jesus’ principles.

We do not have instruction to engage in this authority of bearing the sword.

If our government is a minister of God and we go to war with another government then we are destroying a minister and servant of God. How can this be?


Acts 5:27-29 When they had brought them, they stood them before the Council. The high priest questioned them, saying, “We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.


John 2:13-16 The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem And He found in the temple those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. And He made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables; and to those who were selling the doves He said, “Take these things away; stop making My Father’s house a place of business.”

Whip used on animals

Does NOT say He hit or harmed people, simply is silent.

One cannot state that Jesus harmed anyone when it simply does not say that. This is an illogical fallacious argument based on something not said.

Being angry is not the issue, that is ok. Being evil or harming others is what is wrong. Many many examples of Jesus and disciples being angry and speaking firmily and passionately regarding issues.


Ephesians 6:17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

We are to fight using a sword which is “The Word” (Jesus)

Jesus was not defending Himself


Matthew 10:34-39 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household. “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.

It is evident from the context of this verse that Jesus is speaking of "sword" metaphorically, not literally. Loyalty to him will produce serious tensions even in the family of the disciple, causing a "sword" of division to separate a man from his father and a daughter from her mother. A parallel passage is found in Lk. 12:51 in which the word "sword" is replaced with "division".


Luke 12:51-53 Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

John18:19-24 The high priest then questioned Jesus about His disciples, and about His teaching. Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world; I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together; and I spoke nothing in secret. Why do you question Me? Question those who have heard what I spoke to them; they know what I said.” When He had said this, one of the officers standing nearby struck Jesus, saying, “Is that the way You answer the high priest?” Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify of the wrong; but if rightly, why do you strike Me?” So Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

Jesus used words to rebuke people when wrong was done to Him, not physical harm

• 
  
  
  • WE CAN USE VIOLENCE WHEN OTHERS ARE BEING ATTACKED​

Nowhere does Christ instruct us to physically protect or defend others. This is purely a manmade principle.

We in fact have a perfect example: God had the ability to protect the disciples as they went about spreading the gospel yet He did not. The disciples were beaten, imprisoned, and murdered. God did not physically protect the very first people that were His followers going about telling the world about a new way of living, a new message from Him to His creation.


Genesis 1:27 God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

EVERYONE has been made in the image of God. EVERYONE has an innate worth which cannot be changed by evil. All are equally worth the blood of Jesus and our unconditional love regardless of who they are or what they’ve done; and this love is the same love God has shown us. This worth is absolute. The end result of what God eternally does to all of us is irrelevant to this principle here for us in this physical realm.

What are some of the images of God that we see through Jesus? Let us not forget as Christians God showed Himself to us via Jesus as man.

If it’s loving to help/protect the victim by harming the attacker; where is the love for the attacker.

One not harming or killing an attacker does not imply one is non loving towards the victim nor responsible for the harm done to the victim


Romans 5:6-10 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were ENEMIES we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

Where does Jesus show or instruct that loving an enemy or evil person is less important than loving someone else? Where does Jesus show or instruct that loving an enemy or evil person is conditional?


Matthew 5:39 "But I say to you, do not resist an evil person..."

This is plainly stated. Someone who is evil, no disclaimer given here about what the evil person might be doing, should not be resisted. Do we not understand from Jesus that it is not our responsibility nor place to resist; yet that belongs to God.

Would not the enemy of your loved one also be your enemy; thereby having the principle of loving your enemy apply. There is no qualifier that evil being done to someone else is the exception to resist them; for that matter nowhere in the NT can be found an exception to helping others through violence, resistance, killing, or harm.

Also what if your loved one believes in absolute non resistance and doesn't want the attacker to be harmed, what do you do? I do believe we should be active in helping others. My first thought is to remove my loved one or victim and put myself between the attacker and them so they can potentially get away. Attacking the attacker; is that showing them the love of God and are you not then taking upon yourself a responsibility that God has not given us by judging what life is worthy of death/harm and what life is not?


You have the opportunity to kill an attacker of your spouse are you going against your spouse’s wishes of nonviolence? This could also be said regarding going against the wishes of any family or friends. By killing you are making yourself the judge of which life if more worthy of another. We have not been given this responsibility. Our call from God is to teach, who better to teach than an attacker. Jesus said the sick need a doctor, how is killing someone helping them that are obviously sick. Would the death of your loved one not be a better end just as Paul said to be with God is greater? To argue one must protect the helpless at the expense of the life of a soul which Jesus died for makes no sense. Saving one life by killing another life; irrational. Jesus gives us no measurement upon which to decide who we love more. Our love for family and for a stranger and for an enemy should be the same. Where are the exceptions given by Jesus?

We are to love God more than anyone

Nowhere does Jesus indicate that providing for or protecting your family as a man is to be done to the point of not loving an attacker and killing an attacker. A husband is to lay down his life for his wife just as Jesus (husband) laid down His life for the Church (bride)

Evil has always been part of this world since Adam and Eve sinned. I see no reason evil will ever be stopped completely. As followers of Jesus we are told to expect to give our life for this cause. Jesus doesn’t indicate that not killing an attacker upon your family or anyone for that matter is a transgression or makes you evil or not fulfilling your duty as a man.

This is a man-made idea

If argues they must provide for their family is it then justifiable to steal to provide for your family?


Luke 14:26 “If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.

We always have a choice. We cannot foresee the future to know what someone will do. Even if someone does something bad the fault lies with them not with anyone else. Acting based on claiming to know what someone in the future will do is not putting your faith in God to act in that situation. Bringing in When one deviates from non-violence they make decisions based upon the assumption that they know the future: what others will do, what the outcome of situations will be. This is most applicable with the just war theory; which has no Christian foundation.

Luke 22:35-38 And He said to them, “When I sent you out without money belt and bag and sandals, you did not lack anything, did you?” They said, “No, nothing.” And He said to them, “But now, whoever has a money belt is to take it along, likewise also a bag, and [whoever has no sword is to sell his coat and buy one. For I tell you that this which is written must be fulfilled in Me, ‘And He was numbered with transgressors’; for that which refers to Me has its fulfillment.” They said, “Lord, look, here are two swords.” And He said to them, “It is enough.”

His point was not to prepare His disciples to fight. It makes no sense, He knew these common men could not fight battle trained Romans. He was making the point that was prophesied in Isiah that he, Jesus, would be among transgressors (Isaiah 53:12) and part of that was with the disciples which did nothing wrong other than have 2 swords. The main point is nowhere does Jesus instruct anyone to fight, retaliate, resist, or commit violence; just the opposite very soon after. There is no logical argument based upon something Jesus DID NOT say.

It is also possible that Jesus is figuratively speaking about obtaining swords; although evidence seems to indicate Jesus is speaking literally


Matthew 26:52 Then Jesus *said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword.

John 18:36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.”

2 Corinthians 10:3-6 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.

Matthew 10:34-39 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household. “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.

Jesus said I came not to bring peace but a sword,


We are to love God more than anyone

Luke 14:26 “If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.

We always have a choice. We cannot foresee the future to know what someone will do. Even if someone does something bad the fault lies with them not with anyone else. Acting based on claiming to know what someone in the future will do is not putting your faith in God to act in that situation. Bringing in When one deviates from non-violence they make decisions based upon the assumption that they know the future: what others will do, what the outcome of situations will be. This is most applicable with the just war theory; which has no Christian foundation.


Ephesians 6:10-20 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

John 18:36 Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”

Since the church and state belong to separate kingdoms or spheres of operation, the methods for defense and offense is also different. Christ was patently clear on this point in addressing Pilate. “If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here”


2 Corinthians 10:2-5 I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world. For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

This means that believers are not free to employ physical force as a method of warfare. They cannot “war after the flesh: For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal”

Romans 12:1-2 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Rebuking/admonishing someone, leaving or unfriending a Christian


Matthew 10:38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.

God through Christ has given man absolutely no justification to kill any one.

Christian non-violence does not mean doing nothing, it is actually should be active. The ultimate action is giving your life to try and save any one's life.

Also involved in Christian non-violence is a resolute willingness to suffer injustice and injury without retaliation.

Some use silence as their argument. Is it reasonable to use what Jesus did NOT say to have more merit and importance than what Jesus DID say?

God's instructions are to individuals. He merely references governments. His teachings are for individuals to hear, and implement into their lives.

Unconditional non-violence is holistic; it's not simply doing nothing!

Be aware and clear on what God's teaching us. Carrying a sword is not what is spoken sinfully about; what one does with the sword is what is potentially sinful.

Likewise holding a certain office/position is not spoken of as sinful; how we treat others is the main and only issue. Avoiding certain jobs can help one to avoid some temptations.

For example, can one participate in war and take the life of a person for whom Christ died when our basic mission as Christians is to win that person to become a brother or sister in the Lord?

As it relates to battle, the sacrifice is to be ours not the sacrificing of our enemy or anyone else. We sacrifice our self not the enemy, if we want to protect someone.

As Christians even, our paradigm is off. As it relates to observing someone being attacked and wronged we often hold to the belief that life, or life, is more important than death. Also that avoidable death must be stopped. If it must be then use our own life to try and stop it. Also we have no control over anyone. We cannot see into the future to know what someone will do and even if someone does something that we expected them to do it is not our fault, the responsibility relies solely on them.

If we want security then we should not trust in leaders, man's tactics, or physical weapons; but in God and what He has said should be our tactic.

Both believers of justifiable and unjustifiable retaliation likely have the same desire for certain people to be spared pain and death. I feel deep sorrow and emotion at the sight or thought of individual's hurt. I have a natural desire to stop it and even retaliate. Jesus taught us to deny ourselves; that is to deny our natural desires and pursue spiritual desires. In baptism we die to ourselves and put on Jesus. What does "putting on Jesus" mean: make his life our life, make His ways our ways, to follow His example and live by His principles. His ultimate example was dying!

Basic training of all military teaches how to kill someone. This being one of the "basis's" for it's purpose causes one to question why put oneself in such a tempting position. However, one's service in the military is not spoken by God to be sinful; what matters is how one treats another.

Can one use the absence of words as a foundation for principle?

Many reasoning's for violence are based upon human logic not God's wisdom. Rarely does one give scripture as a basis for violence. God does not prohibit one from putting themselves in harm’s way to save another in distress. In fact this is our duty as Christian, to be servants of others. Nonviolence is not defenselessness. We are to use our sword to fight: Jesus/The Word.

A non-violent Christians guide to fighting

God has given us instructions on how to combat evil. We are to arm ourselves and fight against evil. We are not to be "mannequins" when we see injustice or evil taking place; we are to be active. SCRIPTURE -

Our armor and sword:

Our enemy:

Our tactics: love, self sacrifice, patience, understanding, explanation to person of what is wrong and right.


It was prophesied that a new way was coming which would no longer involve fighting to carry out God's vengeance or His purpose. Jesus'

The crucial question, of course, is not how later churchmen evaluated participation in the military. The normative question is, What did Christ teach about resistance and retaliation? It is not a question of taking an occasional word out of context, or of making a wooden legalism out of a few phrases. Rather, exegetical honesty requires us to test the intent of our Lord's words by His own example in actual life. Did He mean literally that Christians should not resist an evildoer? That the love of His disciples should be so great that they were willing to offer the other cheek when smitten? Matthew 5:38-48. Did He actually mean that He was sending out His disciples as harmless and defenseless lambs in the midst of wolves? Luke 10:3. Was Paul truly reflecting the spirit of his Lord when he reminded Christians that although they walked in the flesh, they do not war according to the flesh? 2 Corinthians 10:3. Also, when he reminded the young church in Thessalonica not to render evil for evil to anyone? 1 Thessalonians 5:15. Also, that the Lord's servant must not strive, but be gentle toward all? 2 Timothy 2:24. Was Peter led of the Holy Spirit when he grounded the nonresistant spirit of his Christian readers in the nonresistant example of Jesus Christ who suffered unjustly -- even to crucifixion on a felon's cross? 1 Peter 2:21-24. Was Peter right in twice asserting that Christians are called to a ministry of nonresistant suffering? 1 Peter 2:21; 3:9. Is it correct that just as the Lord Jesus suffered in the flesh, so the Christian ought to "arm himself" with the same readiness to suffer meekly? 1 Peter 4:1. The witness of history is that the primitive church understood these many injunctions to mean literally what they said. And this witness did not die out until the fourth or fifth century.



John 18:36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.”

Jesus' Kingdom is not of this world, His followers are not fighting in this world.

It was prophesied that a new way was coming which would no longer involve fighting to carry out God's vengance or His purpose. Jesus'



We always have a choice. We cannot foresee the future to know what someone will do. Even if someone does something bad the fault lies with them not with anyone else. Acting based on claiming to know what someone in the future will due does not put your faith in God to act in the situation. When one deviates from non-retaliation they make decisions based upon the assumption that they know the future: what others will do, what the outcome of situations will be. This is most applicable with the just war idea.

Christian pacifism or non-violence does not mean doing nothing, it is actually active. The ultimate action is giving your life to try and save someone else’s.

Also involved in Christian nonresistance is a resolute willingness to suffer injustice and injury without retaliation.

I believe the vast majority of people claiming to not only be Christian but serious Cristian believe some circumstances justify revengeful harm to others. My thoughts regarding how this eventually came about is over time the church has allowed society or culture to dictate the church's belief. My belief and principles are based solely on the teachings of God, through Jesus. Not only does God teach us today that violence is wrong in any situation by an individual; it is the main principle of God’s New Covenant or put another way God’s New Testament as “Covenant” and “Testament” derive from the same place and are similar in meaning; through Christ. The struggle for most to come to this belief will be very difficult do to the strong hold of their tradition, society, and their identification as a small minority. My hope is that all will with an open mind study and meditate on God's Word before making judgment or conclusions. Just like me years ago, I believe most Christians have never fully studied this topic. I want to put forth the Word and let it speak for itself. If individuals disagree then that is normal for just about anything in life. People will believe what they want; it's not my job to explain why they don't believe the truth. My purpose along with all Christians is to simply proclaim the truth as effectively and lovingly as we can. It's up to each of us individually to believe what we will.

However, it is also true that Jesus had dealings with prostitutes, and he is nowhere recorded as having told them to leave their profession. Are we to argue from this that prostitution is an acceptable calling for a Christian disciple?

Some use silence as their argument. Is it reasonable to use what Jesus did NOT say to have more merit and importance than what Jesus DID say and DO?

Unconditional non-violence is holistic; it's not simply doing nothing!

For example, can one participate in war and take the life of a person for whom Christ died when our basic mission as Christians is to win that person to become a brother or sister in the Lord and be reconciled to God? If we kill someone they will either be a Christian which we are responsible for taking a brother in Christ’s life or they are a non-believer who we need to allow a chance for them to hear the gospel and have a justifiable relationship with God; not take their life thereby potentially putting them in eternal punishment.

God's instruction is to individuals. He merely references governments. His teachings are for individuals to hear, and implement into their lives.

As Christians even, our paradigm is off. As it relates to observing someone being attacked and wronged we often hold to the belief that life, is more important than death. Also that avoidable death must be stopped. If it must, then use our own life to try and stop it. Also we have no control over anyone. We cannot see into the future to know what someone will do and even if someone does something that we expected them to do it is not our fault, the responsibility relies solely on them.

Be aware and clear on what God's teaching us. Carrying a sword is not what is spoken sinfully about; what one does with the sword is what is potentially sinful.

Likewise holding a certain office/position is not spoken of as sinful; how we treat others is the main issue. Avoiding temptation is a possible issue related to this.

Christian nonviolence is energized by a belief in the power of the Holy Spirit. Saul of Tarsus was an enemy of the Gospel who had participated in the murders of Christians, but the Holy Spirit was able to save him and make him a missionary. What would have happened to the cause of the Gospel if the early Christians had felt it acceptable to defend themselves against his persecution with the sword, and someone had killed Saul of Tarsus before his conversion? How would that have been a victory for the kingdom of God?

As it relates to battle, the sacrifice is to be ours not the sacrificing of our enemy or anyone else. We sacrifice our self not the enemy, if we want to protect someone.

If we want security then we should not trust in leaders, man's tactics, or physical weapons but; in God and what He has said should be our tactic.

Both believers of justifiable and unjustifiable retaliation likely have the same desire for certain people to be spared pain and death. I feel deep sorrow and emotion at the sight or thought of individual's hurt. I have a natural desire to stop it and even retaliate. Jesus taught us to deny ourselves, that is to deny our natural desires and pursue spiritual desires. In baptism we die to ourselves and put on Jesus. What does "putting on Jesus" mean: make his life our life, make His ways our ways? To follow His example and live by His principles. His ultimate example was dying!

Basic training of all military teaches how to kill someone. This being one of the "basis's" for its purpose causes the writer to question why one would put himself in such a tempting position. However, one's service in the military is not spoken by God to be sinful; it is how one treats another. Yet my opinion on the matter of military servive is that I find it hard if not impossible for one to give his word to protect by physical resistance or violence and then not carry that out if found in such a position to defend. I see no exception in God's teaching from one person to another. Who we work for, who our boss is does not change how God expects us to live.

As Christians God has not given us any justification to not love everyone and we have no justification to ever harm, retaliate against, or kill anyone, ever.

I find it almost absurd that this topic warrants an in-depth discussion. I can only suppose that it has to do with ideas and events that occurred long before my time on earth. Nonetheless it is an issue that must be addressed no matter how or why the issue came to this point. I wish to keep my personal feelings out of this issue; however I hope it may add to the effectiveness of it. I'm confident that there are others who hold to the same beliefs as me on this subject and who are just as passionate and possibly disappointed. My background has exposed me my whole life to bible study, worship service, and basically "conservative" teachings in the Church of Christ. Because of this my natural belief was that there were situations which justified an individual to harm or kill another. I don't recall ever hearing a sermon or having a bible study directly on this subject one way or the other yet I never got the impression that the Church of Christ was "pacifist". Only upon my own serious study of God's Word was I to come to the realization that this subject not only was spoken about in the Bible but


Ignatius of Antioch (80-140 AD) in Epistle to the Ephesians: “And let us imitate the Lord, who, when He was reviled, reviled not again ; when He was crucified, He answered not; when He suffered, He threatened not ; but prayed for His enemies, Father, forgive them; they know not what they do. If anyone, the more he is injured, displays the more patience, blessed is he.”


Justin Martyr (110-165 AD) in Dialogue with Trypho: “…we who were filled with war, and mutualslaughter, and every wickedness, have each through the whole earth changed our warlike weapons,— our swords into ploughshares, and our spears into implements of tillage, —and we cultivate piety, righteousness, philanthropy, faith, and hope…”


Irenaeus (120-202 AD) in Against Heresies: “But if the law of liberty, that is, the word of God, preached by the apostles (who went forth from Jerusalem) throughout all the earth, caused such a change in the state of things, that these [nations] did form the swords and war-lances into ploughshares, and changed them into pruning-hooks for reaping the grain, [that is], into instruments used for peaceful purposes, and that they are now unaccustomed to fighting, but when smitten, offer also the other cheek…”


Emperor Marcus Aurelius (121-180 AD) in Justin Martyr (100-165 AD), First Apology, Ante-Nicene Fathers: “The Emperor Caesar Marcus Aurelius, to the People of Rome, and to the sacred Senate…I was surrounded by the enemy; and the enemy being at hand... there was close on us a mass of a mixed multitude of 977,000 men, which indeed we saw… Having then examined my own position, and my host, with respect to… the enemy, I quickly betook myself to prayer to the gods of my country. But being disregarded by them, I summoned those who among us go by the name of Christians. And having made inquiry, I discovered a great number and vast host of them, and raged against them, which was by no means becoming; for afterwards I learned their power. Wherefore they began the battle, not by preparing weapons, nor arms, nor bugles; for such preparation is hateful to them, on account of the God they bear about in their conscience.”

Athenagoras (about 170 AD) in A Plea for the Christians: “…for we have learned, not only not to return blow for blow, nor to go to law with those who plunder and rob us, but to those who smite us on one side of the face to offer the other side also, and to those who take away our coat to give likewise our cloak.”


Clement of Alexandria (150-215 AD) in Paedogogus: “In peace, not in war, we are trained.”


Clement of Alexandria in Protrepticus: “If you enroll as one of God’s people, heaven is your country and God your lawgiver. And what are His laws? You shall not kill, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. To him that strikes you on the one cheek, turn to him the other also.”


Tertullian (145-220 AD) in On Idolatry: “But how will a Christian man war, nay, how will he serve even in peace, without a sword, which the Lord has taken away? For albeit soldiers had come unto John, and had received the formula of their rule; albeit, likewise, a centurion had believed; still the Lord afterward, in disarming Peter, unbelted every soldier.”


Hippolytus (170-235 AD) in Apostolic Tradition: "Persons who possess authority to kill, or soldiers, should not kill at all, even when it is commanded of them. Everyone who receives a distinctive leading position, or a magisterial power, and does not clothe himself in the weaponlessness of which is becoming to the Gospel, should be separated from the flock."


Hippolytus in Canons: “No Christian should go and become a soldier unless a commander who has a sword compels him; let him not draw any guilt of blood shed upon himself.”


Origen (185-254 AD) in Against Celsus: “To those who inquire of us from where we come, or who is our founder, we reply that we have come agreeably to the counsels of Jesus. We have cut down our hostile, insolent, and wearisome swords into plowshares. We have converted into pruning hooks the spears that were formerly used in war. For we no longer take up sword against nation, nor do we learn war any more. That is because we have become children of peace for the sake of Jesus, who is our leader.” “We do not indeed fight under him, although he require it; but we fight on his behalf, forming a special army -- an army of piety -- by offering our prayers to God.”


Arnobius (died 326 AD) in Against the Heathen: “A numerous band of men as we are, we have learned from his teaching and his laws that evil should not be repaid with evil. Rather, it is better to suffer wrong than to inflict it. We would rather shed our own blood than stain our hands and our conscience with that of another.”



Lactantius (220-330 AD, tutor for the emperor Constantine’s children) in The Divine Institutes: “For how can a man be just who injures, who hates, who despoils, who puts to death? And they who strive to be serviceable to their country do all these things…”
“For when God forbids us to kill, He not only prohibits us from open violence, which is not even allowed by the public laws, but He warns us against the commission of those things which are esteemed lawful among men. Thus it will be neither lawful for a just man to engage in warfare, since his warfare is justice itself, nor to accuse any one of a capital charge, because it makes no difference whether you put a man to death by word, or rather by the sword, since it is the act of putting to death itself which is prohibited. Therefore, with regard to this precept of God, there ought to be no exception at all; but that it is always unlawful to put to death a man, whom God willed to be a sacred animal.”



Martin of Tours (316-397 AD) in The Paedagogus - “I am a soldier of Christ. To fight is not

permissible for me.”