Should christhians make use of violence for self-defense?

Question

Or is it right that they be involved in the military or police or even go to a war?

Answer 1

What happened to turn the other cheek?

Answer 2

You have some great answers by Sensei Scandal, Pugpaw, SiFu Frank and Stillcrazy. A few other did well too. I will not mention the names of the others. I'm not sure why some even bother to respond. I guess it goes back the Sensei Scandal question. Since there are so many great answer I will keep my comments brief. Martial Arts - Like Possum said it was designed for war or during the time of martial law. Self defense is included in it. Self Defense - This is a term that people use to define something similar to a crash course on martial arts. You do not learn the entire curriculum you learn a few techniques on how to escape if attacked or grabbed. Often this is a class for women and or children. Some use this as a way to market the real classes. The student should realize that the training that they have is sufficient and they need to know more and that they need more practice. Unfortunately there are those that leave a self defense class and believe that they are equipped to defend themselves if necessary. Martial Sport - This is not a term. In actuality it is just a sport. It is not budo. This a game or contest in which the athletes use a limited amount of techniques in order to win a contest or to build their ego. It has rules and a referee. Can a style be more? Within martial arts it should contain self defense. But there is much more repetition and training than is a basic self defense class. You will fine some techniques taken from martial art in the sport, but you lose the intent of the training. Sports intent is to win a trophy, medal, or contest and build your ego. Martial arts the intent is to survive by any mean necessary. Self defense class is to hopefully survive and promote your real martial arts class(recruitment). it is just a sample of the art.

Answer 3

More wars have been fought in the name of Gods and religion, than for any other reason. There were the Romans, who at one time seized land in their Gods name that conquered over 75% of the then known land masses. Richard the Great, Hitler, and issues over land rights in Jeruselum/Palestine, have caused the largerest numbers of loss of lives in war due to religion.
In fact, some governments practiced the exclusion of those who did not practice the assisgned or recognized religions. It is a sad statement, but many families went homeless, were imprisioned or worse, over the cause of religion.
The question is a double edged sword, religion, some say is the cause of the wars currantly being waged in the Middle East today, in Isreal, Koren, Asia, Africa, and in parts of South America.
To the question should christans use violence for self defense, be involved in the military, police or go to war: Why not? I was an officer for several years, and I taught women self defense. As more and more women head house holds, like myself, we need the confidence of knowing we can protect ourselves, be it in the line of duty, the line of fire or the parking lot on the local mall. Violent crimes are on the increase per population. The truest measure of self defense is knowing when and how to use it.

Answer 4

Of course, or why else would Jesus have told His Disiples to "sell their cloak and buy a sword.."

Also, there can be such a thing as a "just war". If the war meets the following criteria:

A just war can only be waged as a last resort. All non-violent options must be exhausted before the use of force can be justified.

A war is just only if it is waged by a legitimate authority. Even just causes cannot be served by actions taken by individuals or groups who do not constitute an authority sanctioned by whatever the society and outsiders to the society deem legitimate.

A just war can only be fought to redress a wrong suffered.

For example, self-defense against an armed attack is always considered to be a just cause (although the justice of the cause is not sufficient--see point #4). Further, a just war can only be fought with "right" intentions: the only permissible objective of a just war is to redress the injury.

A war can only be just if it is fought with a reasonable chance of success. Deaths and injury incurred in a hopeless cause are not morally justifiable.

The ultimate goal of a just war is to re-establish peace. More specifically, the peace established after the war must be preferable to the peace that would have prevailed if the war had not been fought.

The violence used in the war must be proportional to the injury suffered. States are prohibited from using force not necessary to attain the limited objective of addressing the injury suffered.

The weapons used in war must discriminate between combatants and non-combatants. Civilians are never permissible targets of war, and every effort must be taken to avoid killing civilians. The deaths of civilians are justified only if they are unavoidable victims of a deliberate attack on a military target.

Answer 5

Well, Jesus is absolutely unambiguous that all violence, even in a good cause or in self-defense, is forbidden. Read Matthew 5 and Luke 18, and it is especially clear that the two most important social-ethical teachings of Jesus are:
(1) total nonviolence
(2) socialization of all property

Yet the mainstream Christian churches in America are pro-war and support policies that make the rich richer and the poor poorer. They have lost sight of Jesus' central teachings and are instead fixated on hating Gays and Lesbians. No wonder many people think the mainstream Christian churches in America are ridiculously hypocritical. They are the Church of Mammon now in many cases.

Answer 6

6. "Thou shalt NOT kill".

But personally, I am now a Buddhist (rather than the CoE Christian, that I was brought up to be) & I abide by "kill no living thing", which is even clearer.

The point to this, is not to prevent harm to others, so much as to prevent the harm (to one's soul, if you like), that occurs, when using (self-defense) violence. Violence not only harms the victim, it harms the attacker too.

In most individual cases, the need for self-defense occurs, because the individual hasn't used enough though in their prior actions - in other words, they are in an avoidable situation.

It's like going to court on a drunk driving charge & trying to find a way out. The time for action was when you decided to drive - not when it's too late.

Answer 7

A killing is killing, no matter how well justified it might be. Reason often becomes the lame excuse behind making choices that are harmful for others. You cannot reason your way into harming another soul, through actions, words or intentions, no matter how big a reason it might be or no matter how big a hurt you might have to avenge.

That is why, mere reason cannot be the only reason enough behind making such a choice, the presence of a higher guidance or intuition is imperative.

You can only make a choice, if you are also willing to experience its consequence yourself. So, every time, you are making a choice, just because you can justify it, or have the ‘right to, know that you are only fooling yourself. You are only creating experience you’d rather not experience; hurt or anger never justifies any action. Taking responsibility of the consequences of our actions is the only way to go ahead.

Answer 8

I think that the military and police aren't typically involved in self-defense so much as a bigger picture of protecting citizens of the bigger nation. Sure, on the small scale, fighting occurs and soldiers/police officers are "fighting" and take action in self-defense, but that's not really the full picture.

Answer 9

Read Kings James Version Romans 13:1-4 and also 2Timothy 2:3 for your biblical answer also share this answer to all who serve under the watchful eye of Michael the Arch Angel of Heaven as soldiers,marines,airmen,sailors and police and related fields .

Answer 10

yes,

religion is no excuse for cowardice.

If this were indeed true then how do you explain the knights?

If one is truly devout, they will simply draw a cross on thier gun and justify that as a holy instrument of killing your enemy just like they did in the middle ages. They believed that the sword represented holy killing in the name of god.

However, military history shows us that the sword was not even close to the dominant weapon on the battlefield and was even less so during the age of plate.

Still, if a bunch of uneducated peasants and illiterate nobles bought it way back then and little has changed today then there shouldn't be much difference.

Answer 11

Question: "What does the Bible say about a Christian serving in the military?"

Answer: The Bible contains a large quantity of information about serving in the military. While large portions of the military information contained in the Bible are only analogies, several verses directly relate to this question. No, the Bible does not come out and specifically state “Thou shalt serve in the military;” and in contrast it also does not state “Thou shalt not serve in the military.” At the same time, Christians can rest assured that being a soldier is highly respected throughout the Bible, and know that such service is consistent with a Biblical worldview.

The first example of military service is found in the Old Testament (Genesis 14), when Abraham's nephew Lot was kidnapped by Chedorlaomer, king of Elam, and his allies. Abraham rallied to Lot's aid by gathering 318 trained men of his household and defeating the foreign forces.

Late in its history, the nation of Israel developed a standing army. The sense that God was the Divine Warrior and would protect His people regardless of their military strength may have been a reason why Israel was slow to develop an army. The development of a regular standing army in Israel came only after a strong, centralized political system had been developed by Saul, David, and Solomon. Saul was the first to form a permanent army (1 Samuel 13:2; 24:2; 26:2). Nevertheless, the army had to be supported by food and other supplies from the homes of individual soldiers (1 Samuel 17:17-19).

What Saul began, David continued. He increased the army, brought in hired troops from other regions who were loyal to him alone (2 Samuel 15:19-22), and turned over the direct leadership of his armies to a commander in chief (Joab). Under David, Israel also became more aggressive in its offensive military policies, absorbing neighboring states like Ammon (2 Samuel 11:1; 1 Chronicles 20:1-3). David established a system of rotating troops with 12 groups of 24,000 men serving one month of the year (1 Chronicles 27). Although Solomon's reign was peaceful, he further expanded the army, adding chariots and horsemen (1 Kings 10:26). The standing army continued (though divided along with the kingdom after the death of Solomon) until 586 B.C., when Israel ceased to exist as a political entity.

Jesus marveled when a Roman Centurion (officer in charge of one hundred soldiers) approached Him. The Centurion’s response to Jesus indicated his clear understanding of authority, as well as his faith in Jesus (Matthew 8:5-13). Jesus did not denounce his career. Many Centurions mentioned in the New Testament are praised as Christians, God-fearers, and men of good character (Matthew 8:5,8,13; 27:54; Mark 15:39,44-45; Luke 7:2,6; 23:47; Acts 10:1,22; 21:32; 22:25-26; 23:17,23; 24:23; 27:1,6,11,31,43; 28:16).

Historically the places and the titles may have changed, but our armed forces should be just as favorably valued as the Centurions of the Bible. Being a soldier was highly revered. For example, Paul describes Epaphroditus, a fellow Christian as a “fellow soldier” (Philippians 2:25). The Bible also uses military terms to describe being strong in the Lord by putting on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-20).

Yes, the Bible does address serving in the military, directly and implicitly. The Christian men and women who serve their country with character, dignity, and honor, can rest assured that the civic duty they perform is condoned and respected by our Sovereign God. Those who serve in the military deserve our respect and our thanks.

With love through Christ Jesus,

Dusty