[CynicalBear]

>>they did not take up arms even to defend their families and congregations.<<

Luke 22:36 Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.

Those were probably for cutting their meat at the dinner table?

[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!"