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At the very best it isn’t an easy situation.

We don’t know all the details. What weapon did the robber wield? What other means were available to stop the robbing? Would there have been a difficulty using the gun to hold the robber?

What’s legal may be much more generous than what’s strictly Christian.

The devil is in the details, but if possible I might well jump on the back of a robber to stop him. I’m not super strong but I am pretty heavy.

In the gospels, Jesus is recorded telling the disciples whom He was soon to leave (to be crucified), to procure a sword. What followed, however, seems more ambiguous. Peter did pull out the sword, to defend Jesus, and in what looks like an attempt to cut a soldier’s helmet in two, instead sliced the soldier’s ear off. Jesus rebuked that, not for the lousy aim, but saying “he who lives by the sword will die by it.” And then healed the cut ear. There may be a metaphor in this, in that Jesus is warning that gratuitous violence on the part of Christians can blunt the hearing of the gospel.

And I’ve sometimes wondered if Jesus’ statement was a permissive, rather than desirous, one. I.e. in the manner that God tells the devil to do something evil that the devil has been fervently wishing to do. God didn’t wish the evil; the devil did; God granted permission.

Anyhow, I’d be far, far, far more disturbed at all the rejoicing over “happy ending” than at the way the actual incident ended. God gets no pleasure out of the death of the wicked, but again this is something Christians are expected to understand.

Ultimately, what impact will this event have upon the gospel and gospel belief? I’m truly not sure it would be as salutary as other ways it might have played out.

I know you are not Christian, Tiger, but I am talking this way for the sake of others who are, or may be considering becoming such.

These are the problems churches are having today, introducing 2nd guessing for young Christians. We are not under the Law! We have the right to self defense. God doesn't want His people murdered. Turning your cheek refers to arguing over Christ, not for protecting your life and family. If you are going to break man's law, let it be for the name of Christ. If this guy had no weapon, there could be trouble both spiritual and carnal. If he was armed, then all bets are off. To quote "Thou shalt not kill". misses the translation of "Thou shalt not shed innocent blood" or "Thou shalt not murder". Some people won't step on a cockroach due to this drivel. To turn your cheek just means we should stand firm for Christ, but that says NOTHING about being robbed or beaten to a pulp. If you and I contest over Christ, I'm supposed to take whatever you dish out to avoid being a brawler. Again, robbery and murder do not fall into that category.

Our Founders thought it legal to rebel against the King of England to avoid an ungodly man. They shot and killed many and lost no sleep over it. I assure you they knew more about the Scriptures than most of us on FR put together. Self defense is very different than murder. If we were all conscientious objectors, we would have been wiped out eons ago. The Romans and the Muslims tried hard to kill us all.

If this church allowed this to happen, there would be multiple robberies the rest of the year until someone finally fixed the problem.