Jesus demands His followers to be absolute advocates of peace and the Kingdom of God<\/strong>
\nThis one is simple. Jesus emphatically declares that it is the peacemakers who are blessed (Matthew 5:9). Perhaps a better way of explaining this point is to note that the primary mission of the people of God is to be proclaimers of the kingdom of God. Our mission is to be a light to the nations.<\/p>\nIt is essential to note that the fundamental nature of the Kingdom of God is that it comes through love and not violence.<\/p>\n
In addition, the kingdom of God is a kingdom of peace\u2014a kingdom in which weapons of war will be used for agriculture and war will cease (in fulfillment of Isaiah 2:4). Now, it is without question that this kingdom has not yet come in fullness. But the point is that we are to be advocates of this kingdom. It is this kingdom that we pray will come (\u201cYour kingdom come\u201d; Matthew 6:10).<\/p>\n
As a result, one cannot utter the Lord\u2019s prayer and advocate for guns. This is tantamount to saying that \u201cJesus is Lord\u201d (whose kingdom comes through love and suffering) but so also is Caesar (whose kingdom comes through violence).<\/p>\n
No, Jesus is Lord! And though Caesar may think he is, he is not.<\/p>\n
The simple conclusion then is this: if Jesus is Lord, and if His kingdom is one of peace, then we are to be advocates of a kingdom of peace. We cannot, at the same time, be advocates of guns and violence. That is how the kingdoms of the world operate. To use such means is to affirm that they have some rightful claim to power.<\/p>\n
2)\u00a0<\/strong>The people of God are not permitted to participate in retaliatory violence <\/strong>
\nThe reason for making this point is simple: the primary violence in the NT is that which God\u2019s people suffer.<\/p>\nDo they ever respond with retaliatory violence? The answer is no. Never in the book of Acts, nor in any of the letters of the NT, are the people of God recorded as participating in, or encouraged to participate in, retaliation.<\/p>\n
In fact, they are particularly exhorted to not retaliate: \u201cDo not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God\u2019s wrath, for it is written: \u2018It is mine to avenge; I will repay,\u2019 says the Lord. On the contrary: \u2018If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.\u2019\u201d (Romans 12:19-20).<\/p>\n
Furthermore, Jesus provides no opportunity for retaliation among His followers: \u201cBut I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also\u201d (Matthew 5:39).<\/p>\n
In fact, we can take this one step further. The people of God are not only not permitted to retaliate with violence, but they must respond by giving a blessing: \u201cTo sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing\u201d (1 Peter 3:8-9).<\/p>\n
The notion that a follower of Christ may yield a gun for retaliatory violence appears to blatantly contradict such passages and the whole tenor of the NT.<\/p>\n
Responding to objections<\/strong><\/h2>\nBuy a Sword<\/em>
\nNow at this point, many cite Jesus\u2019 command to sell your robe and buy a sword (Luke 22:36). It is very difficult to conclude that Jesus meant this literally\u2014even though the disciples appear to take Him literally (remember the disciples are the ones who want to call fire down from heaven and destroy the Samaritans; Luke 9:54)\u2014when the following factors are considered.<\/p>\nIt is first important to note the context of Luke 22. Jesus was preparing His disciples for their ministry to the nations, which was about to begin. Jesus explains to them that their future mission will not be like the missions He had sent them out on previously (cf Luke 9:1-6; 10:1-11; Note that Luke 22:35 directly refers to the events of Luke 9 and 10).<\/p>\n
While they were relatively safe in their earlier missions, their future missions will be perilous. Note the strong contrast, \u201cbut now!\u201d in Luke 22:36. This emphasis, which is readily apparent in the Greek, is meant to heighten the disparity between the relatively peaceful efforts they experienced in the previous sendings (Luke 9, 10), with what is coming! Thus, Jesus declares, \u201cBut now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don\u2019t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one\u201d (Luke 22:36).<\/p>\n
That Jesus was speaking hyperbolically (exaggerating for the sake of effect) and not literally is evident first by the overwhelming testimony of the NT that demands radical non-violence and non-retaliation. For Jesus to be encouraging them to buy a sword for self-defense would contradict everything He has been saying for the past three years.<\/p>\n
Secondly, just a dozen or so verses later, Peter, using one of the swords which the disciples possessed, cuts off a man\u2019s ear. Jesus\u2019 response is not: \u201cI told you that you would need those.\u201d No, Jesus rebukes them for using it, and reverses Peter\u2019s action: \u201cBut Jesus answered, \u201cNo more of this!\u201d And he touched the man\u2019s ear and healed him\u201d (Luke 22:51).<\/p>\n
Thirdly, there is the fact that nowhere else in the NT do we find any teaching on the use of swords for self-defense. We don\u2019t see any indication of the disciples defending themselves in Acts by means of a sword. There were certainly ample opportunities for them to do so. Stephen could have used a sword in Acts 7. A sword might have been helpful to James and Peter in Acts 12. Paul could have used a sword on numerous occasions.<\/p>\n
None of the letters of the NT encourage the persecuted churches to fight back, or to purchase swords. Furthermore, the people of God in the book of Revelation have only one weapon: namely, their prophetic words (Rev 11:5).<\/p>\n
I did not come to bring peace<\/em>
\nOthers may attempt to cite Luke 10:51: \u201cDo you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.\u201d The problem here is that Jesus is not suggesting that Christians are to go around seeking conflict! It is clear that in order to be peacemakers we are to avoid conflict. After all, we are to be ambassadors for the prince of peace (in fulfillment of Isaiah 9:6).<\/p>\nWhat Jesus is indicating in this passage is that the inevitable result of the Gospel is division. Division may not be the goal, but, unfortunately, it is the result. When one family member becomes a Christian, it often results in division. That is precisely what Jesus says in the next two verses (cf Luke 10:52-53). It would be downright silly to suggest that Jesus would have us respond to this division with violence.<\/p>\n
Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\nIf the fundamental expression of Christian living is to love my enemies and pray for those who persecute me (Matt 6:44), then, I ask, how could I do so with a gun holstered to my side? Does this express contradiction not end the discussion?<\/p>\n
A good friend, Sami Awad, a Palestinian, non-violent, peace activist, has a sticker in his office that says, \u201cwhen Jesus said, \u2018love your enemies,\u2019 I think He probably meant don\u2019t kill them.\u201d\u00a0I think that pretty well sums it all up.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n