Violence - yes or no?

DEFENSE ... of self and family ...

Under the circumstances of self-defence, and to protect someone when being attacked.

Violence is an offence sometimes necessary to prevent a greater offence. There is no love or honor in failing to defend the innocent.

Norman70 said:

We can be violent towards others in ways not physical, but to begin I am asking respondents only to consider physical violence. This can range from mild fisticuffs to serious harm or killing, and can involve individuals, groups and all-out war.
Are there any circumstances where a Christian is justified in using violence towards another? We have the Scriptural admonitions to do unto others only what should be done unto oneself, and to turn the other cheek. Carried out in all circumstances there should be no violence ever perpetrated by a Christian, not even in a so-called just war. Ultimately martyrdom is all true Christians can offer, it appears, but how many of us are prepared to go for that?

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Yes generally we are not to be violent.

The following though is my own understanding, which I might have to use (though rarely or never).

There may be exceptions to being non-violent: how when defending other innocent people, we might at times be actually following the rule:

"In everything, do to others as you would have them do to you, for this sums up the law..." (Matthew 7:12)

-- to for instance trip or knock down or even shoot to disable an attacker who is clearly threatening to definitely kill (or already is actively killing) others, so as to stop them from killing others.

But it's all about intent. If the intent is the Matthew 7:12 rule fully, then this makes all the difference. Only the force required is used, and not more than that, just as we want police to follow. This could mean at times risking oneself in order to disable the violent person without killing them. But it totally depends on the circumstances, whether other lives are in danger, and then disabling the killer becomes the situation of following the rule.

God will know what is in the heart, whether one intentionally used more force than was needed, according to the circumstance.

Surprising, but often a good Christian action is modeled in dramas where the police officer at risk to themselves talks down the person with the gun, even though doing so is risking their own life.

Norman70 said:

Ultimately martyrdom is all true Christians can offer, it appears, but how many of us are prepared to go for that?

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Matthew 10:28-33 KJVS
[28] And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. [29] Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. [30] But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. [31] Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. [32] Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. [33] But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

A_Thinker said:

DEFENSE ... of self and family ...

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Norman70 said:

Many thanks for the Scriptures, but what about Jesus's admonition to turn the other cheek? Should we look away if someone is attacking someone else, or running at us to do so? Violence begets violence?

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exodus22:2 If a thief is caught breaking in and is beaten to death, no one shall be guilty of bloodshed

Norman70 said:

Many thanks for the Scriptures, but what about Jesus's admonition to turn the other cheek? Should we look away if someone is attacking someone else, or running at us to do so? Violence begets violence?

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We are totally to turn the other cheek. Of course a slap (and also of course the verbal equivalent) isn't a gun or a weapon that could seriously wound physically.

For the 2nd question, we should not look away if someone else is attacked, but help them.

If someone is running to attack us, and no one else is at risk, only ourselves, there are several possible actions, including running away, or talking with the person, or ducking or dodging, or running around a corner, or perhaps tripping them or such, etc., depending on the exact situation. It's about the Matthew 7:12 rule, which is for every situation from A-Z. If you reversed positions with them what would you want someone to do? If I was crazed enough to be attacking someone, I'd like them to follow the golden rule in defending themselves, using only the force needed, like a good police officer ideally should.

Norman70 said:

We can be violent towards others in ways not physical, but to begin I am asking respondents only to consider physical violence. This can range from mild fisticuffs to serious harm or killing, and can involve individuals, groups and all-out war.
Are there any circumstances where a Christian is justified in using violence towards another? We have the Scriptural admonitions to do unto others only what should be done unto oneself, and to turn the other cheek. Carried out in all circumstances there should be no violence ever perpetrated by a Christian, not even in a so-called just war. Ultimately martyrdom is all true Christians can offer, it appears, but how many of us are prepared to go for that?

Click to expand...

The old testament was about punishing evil with physical violence

The new testament is about demolishing evil in the spiritual realm before violence occurs. Above and beyond that, there are some events that cannot be avoided .. because they are written in heaven.

You reap what you sow. So choose.