| We live in a world that is dangerous. We read in | | | | drew his sword and cut off a servant's ear. Jesus |
| the papers, hear on the radio and see on the TV | | | | heals the servant and rebukes the disciple. Then |
| about attacks robberies, rapes and murders. | | | | He said," Do you not think I cannot appeal to My |
| Maybe you have personally witnessed or been a | | | | father in heaven and would not send 12 legions of |
| victim of an attack. As Christians we know that | | | | angels. But how then should the scriptures be |
| the source of all this is sin. Man has a sinful heart | | | | fulfilled, that it must be so?" It seems clear that |
| which causes him to do sinful things. We read this | | | | the reason for the rebuke was because it was |
| in Romans 3. In verse 15 it states "they are swift | | | | God's plan that Jesus should go to the cross and |
| to shed blood". So what are we to do? The Bible | | | | die for our sins not because He is against |
| tells us in the sermon on the mount to" turn the | | | | defending yourself or a loved one. |
| other cheek". Does that mean that if we are | | | | As I said before we live in a dangerous and sinful |
| physically attacked we can't defend ourselves? If | | | | world. We as believers are called to stand up for |
| we see someone being attacked are we just to | | | | what is right and against evil. God has given us |
| yell for help and do nothing to rescue the victim? | | | | the civil government with its laws and officials to |
| Would it be sin to intervene if it meant attacking | | | | protect us, but they can't be everywhere. There |
| the attacker? These are important questions.One | | | | may be a time when you have to step up. What |
| of the reasons this is important to think about | | | | if you or a loved one is attacked would you be |
| now is because if we are ever in that type of | | | | able to defend yourself or protect a loved one? |
| situation we won't have much time to think. Either | | | | Will you be ready? This is a thorny issue, but don't |
| you act or you don't. | | | | let that keep you from searching the scripture, |
| The scripture in the Sermon on the Mount seems | | | | your heart and God. I do believe that the |
| to be referring to someone being insulted because | | | | scripture does teach that we can defend |
| of the use of the word slap which would do little | | | | ourselves and others from evil. |
| physical harm but would hurt a man's pride. | | | | This does not mean that we go around looking |
| There are some scripture verses that seem to | | | | for fights or that we should feel we are |
| promote self defense such as Luke 22:35-38 | | | | responsible to protect everyone. This does, |
| where Jesus tells His disciples to buy swords for | | | | however mean that we should search the |
| protection. This would indicate that Jesus | | | | scripture, your heart and God. The scriptures |
| approved of using weapons in self defense. On | | | | teach that a man should be convinced in his own |
| the other hand Jesus did rebuke peter for cutting | | | | mind on issues that are not clearly forbidden or |
| off the servant's ear. I think Jesus' reply gives us | | | | approved. I 'm convinced that the scripture does |
| insight into how He looks at this issue. In Matthew | | | | teach that we can defend ourselves and others |
| 26:47-54 we have the story of Jesus' betrayal by | | | | from evil. |
| Judas. As the crowd tries to seize Him Peter | | | | |