[Mrs. Don-o]

Tell me where they took up arms to defend their families and congregations. The Christian posse rode out to stop Saul of Tarsus,? Or to save Stephen? Or James? Or anybody, in the first 300 years of the Church?

I'm not making a pacifist argument here. I am not a pacifist and I do not defend that position. I'm just saying historically, Christians in the pre-Constantine centuries didn't defend their families and congregations with force of arms. If you think that's disturbing, you're surely not the only one.

The passage you cite certainly is not about armed defense. They said "Here are two swords" and He said "Enough!"

[CynicalBear]

>>The passage you cite certainly is not about armed defense. <<

Oh really? What was Peter doing carrying a sword?

John 18:10 Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus.

Why does the Vatican have guards?