I am non-violent because of what the Bible says. If I claimed to believe, like most American "Christians," that Christians must take up arms to protect the helpless and maintain justice, then now would be a good time to do it. But I don't believe Christians have the right to use the sword of steel, whether personally or by governmental rule.
God gave the Sword of the Spirit to the Church (Christians) to wage spiritual warfare, and He gave the sword of steel to Human Government to protect the righteous and punish the wicked. Apparently the USA will not do the right thing concerning the sword of steel. However, that does not mean that Christians should do what the State has refused to do. I am still under orders to fight against the powers of darkness in high places, with spiritual weapons.
Christ's kingdom is not of this world, if it were, then His servants would fight.
Christians wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual powers.
The weapons of Christian warfare are not carnal (material, fleshly) but they are spiritual.
Christians are not sent to take the lives of their enemies, but to give their lives in service to Christ.
There is not one place in the New Testament where Christians are commanded to kill anyone or use violence.
There is not one place in the New Testament where Christians are commended for killing anyone or using violence.
There is not one place in the New Testament where Christians are allowed to kill anyone, or use violence.
The New Testament condemns those who kill and those who use violence.
The entire New Testament directs Christians to be peacemakers, to love our enemies, to do good to our enemies, to die in service to God, rather than kill in His Name.
Christians are required to support the State when it fulfills God's directives of protection and punishment.
Christians must obey God rather than men.
Whew... maybe you think I am too political. Well, the fact is, the powers of darkness are now at the helm of the Ship of State and it has sailed into conflict with Christ, His word and His people. One day Christ will forcefully bring all nations to their knees, but until then we march into battle on our knees (in prayer). We must not run from the fight, simply because other people are in error.
Since there has been so little loyalty to the cause of Christ, then there is not much danger of those who call themselves Christians actually mounting any kind of physical offensive against evil leaders. They shout the talk, but they shun the walk of obedience to God. Those who face the enemy, with only God as their protection are not cowards. Those who ridicule the peacemakers ain't got the guts to stand up to their oppressors.
Have a nice day.
David and Mark made some very good points about the reason for the Crusades, along with the fact that the Crusades were not the actions of Bible believing Christians. Sometimes God uses terrible actions by non-believers in order to accomplish His own purposes. It is the concept of God using the unclean to do a good thing, such as using the ravens (unclean birds) to feed Elijah.
I will not repeat David's post, but I will share some of my own comments, as they relate to Christians and violence.
Sword of Steel to the State (Human Government)...
Like it or not, God gave the sword of steel to the State to protect the righteous and to punish the wicked. God gave the Sword of the Spirit to the Church (Christians) to wage spiritual warfare. We (Christians) wrestle not against flesh and blood. Our (Christians) weapons are not carnal.
God gave the spiritual battle to those who are in His army and He gave the earthly warfare to Human Government. The Church is the body through which God does His spiritual work and the State is the body through which God does His protection of the righteous and punishing of the wicked.
Paul would not have taken up carnal weapons in the name of Rome. Christians (Bible following Christians) will not take up carnal weapons against others (whether the unsaved or the saved). That is the job of Caesar. Caesar has no authority to send believers to kill other people, since we are to love our enemy and do good to those who hate us. I have no problem understanding that God has given the State a responsibility that does not involve believers, just as I have no problem understanding that God has given the Church a responsibility that does not involve the State.
Nomenclature...
I, too, use, "non-violent" and, "peace maker" instead of pacifist. I see pacifism as being actively anti war. The Bible calls Christians to non violence and peacemaking, while supporting the State in its service of law and order.
Bible Ignorance...
I think a big part of the problem is that there is so little Biblical teaching along these lines. The protestant movement held on to Roman view of violence, while the Friends, Mennonites, and Brethren had a more Biblical view. Christians often say they will obey GOD rather than men, but they don't usually know what God has actually said. Then people worry about how it will look to other people (who also are ignorant of what God said). If we believe (or say we believe) in Christians taking up weapons to protect the weak and oppressed, then the abortatoriums should be under siege. But that is not Biblical. We must talk the talk and walk the walk. Christians are called to lay down our lives for others, not take the lives of others.
Clarification...
(name of person) it does not seem to me that you understand what is being said. Maybe I have not made myself clear to you.
I just choose to stand on Biblical truth rather than human wisdom. If God tells us to do something, we should do it, regardless of what others say. This might be a new thought to you. I don't know you. I am only going by what you have said in this discussion. And, by the way, God would not tell a Christian to kill an abortion doctor or anyone else, but if an abortion doctor is killed, David is right, that doctor stopped killing babies.
So, the order is...
make sure the directive is from God...
THEN DO IT and quit talking about it, and quit waiting until you have the support of other people.
Biblically
Christians are not told to kill other people.
Christians are not allowed to kill other people.
No Christians ever killed anyone in the New Testament.
No Christian was ever physically violent in the New Testament with God's approval. The only example of that possibility was Peter cutting off the ear of Malchus, and then Peter was reproved.
If a person says that he is going to physically fight for the helpless in the name of Christ, he is in Biblical error. But people need to put their lives where there tongues are and get busy or stop making empty and cowardly boasting. Christians should live by their words, not hide behind faulty arguments.
David Fought Goliath Trusting God, Not Trusting Saul and Israel...
I always thought David went in obedience to God and trusting God, rather than counting on the cowards who hid in the tents. My bad (NOT)
1 Samuel 17:44-50 (READ VSS. 45-47)
(44) And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field.
(45) Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.
(46) This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.
(47) And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD'S, and he will give you into our hands.
(48) And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.
(49) And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.
(50) So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.
(name of person), you can trust in horses and chariots, but a man of God trusts only in the name of our Lord God.
Psalms 20:7
(7) Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
(name of person), as I said, I don't think you understand what I am talking about. I am talking about obeying God in spiritual warfare. Your comments apply to fighting in the flesh.
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