Yes... we are to turn the other cheek when they hit us for the Gospel sake.
As those called out of the world and told NOT to be a part of it, how can a Christian be "hit" for anything else?
Jesus told his disciples that they would be persecuted for the same reason he was.....for preaching about God's Kingdom. (John 15:18-21)
But standing by as a group of people kill innocent people is a failure of loving your neighbor not to mention a violation of God's law of not to murder.
And yet that is exactly what happens when evil regimes perform mass murder, often of their own citizens. No one can stop them without more bloodshed. It is returning evil for evil. Do you not believe that God sees everything and will deal with it in his due time? We know ho is running the show down here....right? (1 John 5:19)
One incident that comes to mind is when Paul and his companion Silas were imprisoned for expelling a demonic 'spirit of prediction' from a young girl and leaving her masters with no means to gain profit from her predictions. The two were beaten severely by an angry mob.
There was a great earthquake that night, freeing all the prisoner's bonds. When the jailer saw what had happened, he was about to kill himself when Paul called out to him....“Stop! Don’t kill yourself! We are all here!” Even when the opportunity presented itself to escape, they did not take it. The jailer was so impressed that he became a believer and took them home to his own house to clean and dress their wounds, from the mistreatment they had received beforehand. (Acts of Apostles 16:16-34)
We are better off allowing God to take care of things. Nothing happens without his say so....remember Job? (1 Corinthians 10:13)
Again... there is a different. They were imprisoned for spreading the Gospel. In such cases you don't retaliate.
Again, what else would a Christian be imprisoned for?
As disciples of Christ, they are not law breakers. (1 Peter 4:15-19)
Yes... if you enemy is hungry feed him and if he is thirsty give him drink. Stopping the murder of innocent is not vengeance. Vengeance is to avenge. Stopping a murder isn't an act of vengeance. Besides. God has used men in His decision to execute vengeance.
Please tell me how a Christian can do that without violating the 'Law of Love'? Can you give me some examples of what you mean?
Yes. And standing by while ISIS is murdering innocent people is not "love your neighbor". We should go and be the hero and save the neighbor.
Again, please tell me how you do that whilst still obeying the Christ? Many Christians hid Jews in Nazi Germany endangering their own lives....this is fine and acceptable, but any form of bloodshed is disobeying Christ's command. There are peaceful means to achieve a goal....and we should use them.
When Jesus said....
"But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect."
Do you see anything in his words that would justify what you are suggesting?
Yes, and God has used men many times to deal with evil men.
Yes indeed....He can use whomever he wishes to bring relief to his worshippers.....but not since the days of ancient Israel has he sanctioned the use of deadly force....certainly not with regard to the disciples of his son.
No argument here.
Points of agreement are always good.
The question, IMV, is when is it returning evil for evil. Putting a man in jail for stealing isn't returning evil for evil. Taking the car away from an habitual drunk to prevent him from killing someone isn't returning evil for evil. Stopping someone with an UZZI from killing innocent people isn't returning evil for evil
And whom would God use to do that? Seems to me that the world has its own law enforcement, but we are a peaceful people so we would not be part of that enforcement if it involved the use of weapons. We could use physical force to detain someone we saw committing a crime, but because life is more precious than material possessions, we would not risk our lives to pursue a drug crazed thief who had a weapon. We would also come to the rescue of someone who was injured, like the good Samaritan. Saving a life, doesn't always mean sacrificing a life to do it.
Yes, if at all possible, work things out peacefully. No where did Jesus tell any soldier to stop being a soldier. John, his precursor, simply said to be happy with the wages and not rob.
The previous reference works I quoted demonstrate that a Christian would not have remained in the military or involved himself in political matters. Being "no part of the world" means that we do not make ourselves part of the problem, but preach to people about the solution, as Jesus and his disciples did.
And
believe it or not, I am a peace loving person.
I am really pleased to hear that.
