[Mylo]

Indeed, Christ said "he who lives by the sword shall surely die by the sword".

They had no swords until Jesus said that a man without a sword should sell his cloak to buy one. Then two were purchased in this manner. When the soldiers of the priest came Peter cut one's ear with one of the purchased swords causing Jesus to tell Peter to put it away, and that "he who lives by the sword shall surely die by the sword". Jesus would not resist arrest, but if not for the swords who knows what the priests soldiers would have done to his disciples (he feared not for himself, and would not have his disciples fail to "render unto Cesar"; i.e. 'obey the law'- therefore the swords were so that Jesus and his disciples would be 'among the lawless' as prophesied, or for self defense if the soldiers went beyond the law).

Moreover Jesus said he would speak in parables, and this is my favorite one "He without a sword should sell his cloak and buy one". Notice that he doesn't say your shoes or your bread or any other thing. My interpretation of the parable is that Jesus is saying it is better to be defenseless before the elements (without a cloak) than defenseless before your fellow men (without a sword).

[patriciaruth]

That's an interpretation that makes sense. He didn't want his disciples to be seen defenseless during the melee of his arrest.

Despite your tagline, and despite my staunch belief in the aggressive defense of my country, I still have doubts about whether Christ would approve of us Christians waging war and killing for any reason.

God the Father wreaks vengeance when it is due, and He uses many means, including our Army to free the Iraqis from their long suffering.

So, it is confusing to me that God the Son doesn't want me personally to kill or resist those who do evil against me.