I think this article plucks the words of Jesus grossly out of their context and glosses over a simple thing that Jesus said. Be they pacifists who try to cram in some symbolic meaning to resolve a conflict in their interpretations, or apologists for arms who want to play Jesus up as some revolter, why do these authors always yank out that single phrase, without considering the whole thought?
Luk 22
35 And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing.
36 Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.
37 For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end.
38 And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough.
Q: What is the context? What was going on here?
A: Jesus was about to be crucified, and his flock scattered.
Q: Ignore the phrase about the sword for a moment. What was Jesus telling them to do?
A: Where before he had told them to take nothing with them and trust God, now he was telling them to be pragmatic, and take provisions with them.
Q: What did he tell them to take?
A: Items that a traveler takes with him: A purse, a scrip (like an ancient checkbook), one garment, and a sword. Why would a traveler need a sword? Because he sleeps on the road, where robbers and rapists and thugs and wild animals are. Obvious.
Jesus wasn't being symbolic here, as convenient as that would be for you Christians who are always trying to take things literally in every other corner, nor was he starting an armed revolt, nor was he really telling them to even arm themselves - he was just telling them to be pragmatic, and make provisions for living on the run.
Now, although getting armed to the teeth wasn't the point, this passage does, unquestionably, blow "Biblical Pacifism" completely out of the water. This passage proves that Jesus was pragmatic, as any sane person should be, about defending oneself against blatant attack by robbers and murderers. When Jesus instructed his followers to turn the other cheek also, he wasn't telling them to let thugs come into their houses to rape their wives and kill their children. A guy who would say that wouldn't be worth following.
