The Strong Case for Christian Non-Resistance
Matthew 5 :38 “You have heard that our fathers were told, ‘Eye for eye and tooth for tooth.’ 39 But I tell you not to stand up against someone who does you wrong. On the contrary, if someone hits you on the right cheek, let him hit you on the left cheek too! 40 If someone wants to sue you for your shirt, let him have your coat as well! 41 And if a soldier forces you to carry his pack for one mile, carry it for two! 42 When someone asks you for something, give it to him; when someone wants to borrow something from you, lend it to him.
Luke 22:35 ¶ And he said unto them, When I sent you without bag, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye anything? And they said, Nothing. 36 Then he said to them, But now he that hath a bag, let him take it, and likewise a scrip: and he that hath none, let him sell his coat, and buy a sword. 37 For I say unto you, That yet the same which is written, must be performed in me, Even with the wicked was he numbered: for doubtless those things which are written of me, have an end. 38 And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough.
Their having two swords was enough that now “with the wicked was he [Jesus] numbered.” That is, in my humble(?) opinion the only deduction possible!
Matthew 26:52 Then said Jesus unto him, Put up thy sword into his place: for all that take the sword, shall perish with the sword. 53 Either thinkest thou, that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he will give me more than twelve legions of Angels?
John 18:36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, my servants would surely fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. 37 Pilate then said unto him, Art thou a King then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a King: for this cause am I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth: everyone that is of the truth, heareth my voice.
Notwithstanding:
Revelation 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords.
One that occasion I hope to be riding with My Lord the Messiah!
Now in this day, even this perilous day:
2 Corinthians 10:3 Nevertheless, though we walk in the flesh, yet we do not war after the flesh. 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God, to cast down holds.) 5 Casting down the imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ,
Ephesians 6:10 ¶ Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the assaults of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, and against the worldly governors, the princes of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness, which are in the high places. 13 For this cause take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to resist in the evil day, and having finished all things, stand fast. 14 Stand therefore, and your loins girded about with verity, and having on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace. 16 Above all, take the shield of Faith, wherewith ye may quench all the fiery darts of the wicked, 17 And take the helmet of Salvation,
and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 And pray always with all manner prayer and supplication in the spirit: and watch thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all Saints, 19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly to publish the secret of the Gospel, 20 Whereof I am the ambassador...
See three comments I have posted amplifying concerns encountered from friends here:
COMMENTS
3 comments:
Jesus asked them: When I sent you without bag, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye anything? And they said, Nothing. What has changed now that they need a sword? Only this, "That yet the same which is written, must be performed in me, Even with the wicked was he numbered: " Luke 22:37 And two swords were enough to number him, even one would do, for Peter's act of cutting off the ear was that not wicked? If Jesus was interested in arming His disciples then or at any time since, He would have every one of them carry swords and have every one bring ten friends each with a sword.
Jesus raised and army of 12, lost one to satan, then saw two armed with a sword and we say He id authorizing the department of defense? it just does not figure! Not until Constantine brought the weak and weary worn out saints around to a state run church which we now call the Holy Roman Empire and Roman Catholic Church do we see the church raising armies, armies that eventually crusaded for the capturing of Jerusalem.
Paul, another who repented of violence, would not have said the weapons of our warfare are not carnal... and our enemies are not flesh and blood but spiritual if Jesus had authorized the dept of defense by the sword. I remain more convinced than ever that we have lost sight of the assurance of eternal life and think our selve needy to protect our fading estates on earth.
This current world is passing away! And so are our mortal bodies. Our warfare should by all means be against those who would keep us from salvation. That war does not require a two edged sword, but one even sharper!
The tension in this matter really rises when one has a wife and children. I would not fault anyone for going to war for their loved ones. But I would think it unwise and even disobedient for a man to not go to war with the devil first, for his own soul sake and for his families sake.
Of all the scriptures we balk at, it is Matthew 5:38-48 which cause us to disbelieve them, and say then can not literally mean what they say. Yet Jesus ~ from Gethsemane to the flogging post to the coronation of thorns to the removal of his beard, to the spitting in his face, to herod's chambers and to the cross ~ he did not resist an evil man.
AMPLIFIED:
38 You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.
39 But I say to you, Do not resist the evil man [who injures you]; but if anyone strikes you on the right jaw or cheek, turn to him the other one too.
40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your undershirt (tunic), let him have your coat also.
41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two [miles].
42 Give to him who keeps on begging from you, and do not turn away from him who would borrow [at interest] from you.
43 You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy;
44 But I tell you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
45 To show that you are the children of your Father Who is in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the wicked and on the good, and makes the rain fall upon the upright and the wrongdoers [alike].
46 For if you love those who love you, what reward can you have? Do not even the tax collectors do that?
47 And if you greet only your brethren, what more than others are you doing? Do not even the Gentiles (the heathen) do that?
48 You, therefore, must be perfect [growing into complete maturity of godliness in mind and character, having reached the proper height of virtue and integrity], as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Matthew 10
1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)
38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
39 He that will find his life, shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake, shall find it.
Jesus said lose your life; take up your cross. He didn't say fast for 3 days or even 40. He didn't say go to seminary instead of law school or even to the mission field instead of wall street. Essentially He said "Prepare to DIE! They are gonna hate and kill me, and they are gonna hate and kill you too! Cut your attachments to a family, a career and a retirement in the sunbelt, YOU ARE GONNA DIE!" And which of them did not die? Even John the beloved they tried to boil i oil and somehow that failed so they put him on Patmos a prison island for the criminal and the criminally insane!
There have been moe christians killed, murdered martyred for the faith of God in the last 113 years than in all the years from 33CE to 1899 CE. !!!!!
It has not happened like that here in the USA or much in Western Europe, but it could start tomorrow.
For a long time the state, that is the crowns of Europe and Asia held the church captive. Not even Luther or Calvin broke that stranglehold, but the Waldenses, the Hugeonots, and the Anabaptists did. Today the Anabaptists, (Amish, Mennonites, and Bruderhoff in the USA) do not vote, do not enlist in the armed forces and have a doctrine they call Nonresistance. It goes betong that of "Nonviolence" which allows and encourages protest in the streets. Just like Jesus refused to resist His own death, and refused to ask for an angel army to take Him from it, we (who will all die of old age in nothing else more painful) are called to be sheep to the slaughter! It is a priviledge!
Matthew 5
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Acts 5
40 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
In one of the texts from the very early church age, the author remarked that very many people were impressed that the christians went to their deaths by cross or wild beast or whatever means with rejoicing!
We need to prepare ourselves for the strong possibility that we will be imprisoned, or worse! And if for being a follower of Jesus we need to BELIEVE His words that we are to rejoice for the honor ! I'm not saying Jesus was singing and dancing down the road to Golgotha. BUT: "Jesus... for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."
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