Question 1 - Upon reading the WORD of GOD, I get the impression that we are not to fight with our enemies. Jesus talks about loving our enemies and even praying for them. Eleven out of the twelve were martyred. Stephen looks his enemies in the face and asked God not to hold it against them. I can't picture the Church beginning an army against the Muslims. Please help me with this...
Follow-up Question - Teacher, where do Martyrs stand in refrence to this (especially knowing they
could of join together an army to defend themselves). Even Jesus, gave His
life (it wasn't taken), He offered it without fight (understanding of course
His war fare was more spiritual). I have such a deep conviction about
fighting that sometimes I would rather pay the price. I believe my testimony
would be a lot more effective this way, rather then fighting. Even the
twelve, not to mention the early church showed very little signs of
resistance (even some glorified God through it with songs of praise to God).
Anthony Garcia
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Dear Anthony,
Response to Question 1 - Go to the Web site and click on Passages in Translation... then click on the passage listings. The first one is on Matthew 5:43, 44 which addresses this question. After reading it, if you have further questions, feel free to ask.
Follow-up Response - This is a difficult subject for a lot of people. There are numerous passages that seemingly refer to pacifism. However, when you look at martyrs, for example, and there have been many of them, they were by-in-large in a helpless situation. For them, there was no way out and no way to fight back.
However, had they been able to band together, bear arms or whatever, they would have been perfectly legitimate and, in some instances, the proper force of action although most futile. A good example is the Jews in World War II. Most were herded together, did not know what was going to happen, and were led like lambs to the slaughter. However, throughout the Nazi Europe, there were those heroic Jewish and non-Jewish fighters who did what they could to resist the Nazi's and survived. Many did and became heroes to their people.
Of course, Jesus is a completely different question and really has no bearing on this particular subject as he had a mission to accomplish, namely the shedding of his blood.
Each circumstance, I think, requires a lot of wisdom and the direction of the Holy Spirit to determine how one should respond. But, from a Biblical perspective and a perspecitive of Jewish Law, if one comes to kill you, be quick and kill him first. And, there is a real reason for this that makes perfect sense when you understand: Man was created in the image and likeness of God and he is to reflect Godness in this world. If he allows himself to be destroyed, then just that much Godness has been eliminated from the world.
Roy
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