The One Who Has No Sword

You have probably concluded from the first three essays in this series that I am a Christian. You would be correct to assume so. I am one of the 2.2 billion people on this planet that shape their worldview based on the principle that Jesus of Nazareth was more than man. Like all Christians, I fail frequently in my attempts to live up to the standard set by Christ, and I rely on a belief that God accepts my frailty and forgives my transgressions as I recognize, repent from, and atone for them.

I would imagine my view of Christianity is slightly outside the mainstream. I am not a Biblical scholar by any means. However, I would guess I’ve read it more than most. It is a wonderful book. If you see no value whatsoever in religion, faith, or purpose it will still be the most important book you ever read. It is a brilliant text for political scientists, historians, philosophers, entrepreneurs, lawyers, and teachers. But if I could describe the Bible as relevant to any subject of modernity, it would be psychology. In fact, I would assert that the Holy Bible could and should be the academic text book for the entire field of psychological counseling. Yes, I am aware that this idea sounds ridiculous to a secularist. Nevertheless, the demands, encouragements, and wisdom available to us in this manuscript make it the greatest self-help book in the history of civilization.

There are some pastors, ministers, and priests that will claim that Christ was a pacifist and that we are called by God to flee violence and conflict. They will use verses from Scripture to make the case that all violence is evil and that we are better off to die a martyr than to save ourselves from such a fate through violent self-defense. ... Is a life of fear, abuse, and retreat what God had planned for us? I don’t believe so. I can not accept that this glorifies our Creator. Christ told us that the meek shall inherit the earth, not the cowardly. If it is fear that keeps you from defending yourself and your family, then I believe that to be a sinful mindset.

I believe this, too. We have a positive duty to protect life from evil.

I recently wrote on FR:

...I can find no proscription of self-defense in the Bible, and I believe there is a positive duty for the preservation of life, even if it requires the use of deadly force. If you want a detailed treatise on the subject, I suggest two: Charl van Wyk's "Shooting Back: the right and duty of self-defense" and Greg Hopkins' "A Time to Kill: The Myth of Christian Pacifism".

Charl van Wyk (pronounced "Sharl Van Veek") knows of what he speaks: he defended a 1200-member church in South Africa, using only a .38-spl revolver, against multiple AK-47-wielding Communist terrorists. Then, he later went to each of the [perpetrators] in prison, told them he forgave them, and attempted to lead them to Christ.

The commandment is "thou shall not murder," not "thou shall not kill". It infers a positive duty to protect innocent life against evil. Jesus never told us to lay down and allow evil to mow down the innocent.

I have thought this through, and am willing to use deadly force in self-defense. God will judge me, perhaps, but I believe I am acting according to His Word.

Also, I would be remiss if I did not mention Massad Ayoob's book "Deadly Force: Understanding the Right to Self Defense", which briefly touches on the Christian position for self-defense, while also providing a solid legal education on self-defense.

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