According to the bible, when is it OK to engage in violence. I am already aware of turn the other cheek..etc?

Question

Jesus taught peace and love (which I believe in also) But there is also great violence done in the old testoment.
And I could be very mistaken but wasn't the reason Jesus told his disiple to put away his knife after cutting the pharises ear off because he had to let them capture him in order for prophesy to be fulfilled. Is it ok to defend yourself/ loved ones? I don't want to offend anyone but I need to figure this out once and for all. Thanks

Thanks for all the answers.
But Jesus Made a whip and then went into the temple and started turning over the money changer's tables and chased them out.(I don't know if that counts as violence)
But it is one of my favrote parts in the bible,
and its probably the greatest visual in the bible, at least for me.

Thanks for all the answers.
But Jesus Made a whip and then went into the temple and started turning over the money changer's tables and chased them out.(I don't know if that counts as violence)
But it is one of my favrote parts in the bible,
and its probably the greatest visual in the bible, at least for me.

Answer 1

Yes self defense is understandable but guess what born again ppl dont need guns Cuz we have angels to help us out...
dont fear what flesh can do but instead fear the Almighty God

Answer 2

I would never resort to violence unless it was self defense or someone was hurting someone. Say a crazy adult is punching a defenseless baby very hard, my first reaction would be to get that person off the baby as fast as possible. How? well that person is obviously so whacked out that you should count on them in turn to hurt you too. I would sneak up on that person and whack them with a chair or something, take the baby and run to the police. If you stand around and call the cops the baby could die, if the crazy person sees you coming you could die. You better just hope that chair you hit him with does not kill him or that he does not get back up and get you anyway. If I believed in the bible I guess I would go with the peace and love part of the bible. However the bible is a myth but if you want to go with it do what works for you. Some (not all) of stories in the bible offend me not your question. Even though you are a Christian I respect your belief however I will never believe and I hope the Christians can respect that. You sound like a very kind person trying to do the right thing. Kindness comes from within your heart not what you worship.

Answer 3

THis is a tough question, but I know that those who believe that Jesus came to "fulfill" the law and the prophets of the Old Testament truly believed that Jesus taught no killing, turn the other cheek. True pacifists who do not believe the words of the Bible also must grapple with this question, and there are whole books on the subject in your library and bookstore, from both Christian and nonChristian point of view. BUt you asked about the Bible - Jesus changed a lot of things from the Old Testament, or Agreement.

I personally believe that there are countless ways you can defend yourself - from avoiding trouble in the first place, to stunning and running, and etc. - that do not include true violence. You must remember that true Christianity looks forward to a time that will be without time, without physical constraints, which will be better than what we have here. Would I give up that eternal weight of glory for a momentary light material thing?

Answer 4

/sigh

The bible was all written 200 yeasr after J man walked the earth.. if you had to write a book about george washington how accurate would it be?

The bible is about the meaning and the message, not the words.

Dont look for justification for violence. Look for answers on why you seek violence, that will tell you if you seek it for yourself or to protect others. Look within your heart, be honest with yourself if you let your heart guide you, most of the time, its right.

This is something you should ask a community religious leader about.

Answer 5

Tough question. I have discussed this with christian men and hear three positions:
1. Defend yourself, women and children, and be willing to go to war. Jesus told the roman soldiers only to be satisfied with their wages (meaning not to extort funds through threat of violence). They could still be soldiers. Remember the early church spread readily among the roman soldiers. They respected Christians because they died well.
2. Defend and protect women and children (if not other men), but do not protect yourself (be willing to be beat or martyred for your faith).
3. Be totally nonviolent. Do not protect or defend anyone. Not even yourself.

I personally am in paragraph # 2. Why? I am not sure, but deep down I believe men are to protect and defend women and children, and I do not believe I have the strength to standby and watch women and children suffer and die without acting.

Also Paul suggested when he was talking about what you may or may not eat that there are some things that are right for you if you believe they are right for you. This may be one of those issues. Please remember that what we must believe is the centrality of God, the Trinity, and Christ crucified. For other issues the scriptures may allow some room for individual differences.

Answer 6

I think it is in Psalms (not sure) that the scriptures say there is a time for war and a time for peace, etc. I believe you are expected to protect or help someone in trouble. You are your neighbors keeper. You are naturally a peace loving person when you are a Christian. But a time for war would be when evil comes into your life, whether that be drugs, or a human threatening someones life.

Answer 7

Hey, I have to be honest with you, I am confused about that one too. What about "an eye for an eye" The confusion seems to lie in the radical difference between the old and the new testaments.
Between a "vengeful God" and a "loving and forgiving" God. Hope you get your answer; I would like to see it too.

Answer 8

I keep my life simple. I read only the new testament. Basically as you have pointed out, the teaching there supercedes the teaching in the old testament. Jesus is a pacifist, that's what I like him all about.

Answer 9

In God's perfect world, there would be no need for violence; but, in a world filled with vile, rabid, sick humans, those who threaten your life must be 'smoted'.

Answer 10

any time your family or self are under attack you have every right to defend yourself, sometimes your prinicples need to be defended also but decression is always the better part of Valor