Is Violence Permissible?

Is violence permissible as a means of resolving a matter?

What is a Christian to do? Christians are followers of Jesus Christ and his teachings. So, next question is: What does the Bible and Jesus teach us about how to live? Christians must follow the teachings of Jesus and his apostles found in the New Testament. The New Testament is the final revelation of God’s truth to man; and the Old Testament is to be seen in the light given by the New Testament. The Apostle Paul tells us that the Law and the Prophets are the shadow, but Christ is the real thing. The Old Testament was a school master to bring us unto Christ. Once Christ is come we now enter into the reality to which the Law and the Prophets were pointing.

Now what does the New Testament teach us about Jesus and how we are to live. Christ lived as an example of how we are to live and to overcome evil as Christ did. Luke 9:56 says, referring to Jesus, “For the Son of Man is not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.” This is the opposite of what happens in the wars waged by men in the flesh; human life is always destroyed. Satan comes only to steal, kill and destroy, so those who participate in war are doing what Satan is pleased with, since he is constantly plotting to destroy human life anyway that he can.

Jesus informs us that the two greatest commandments are to love God with all our heart, soul and mind and to love our neighbor as ourselves (Mark 12:30,31). I Thessalonians 5:15 says,” See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.”

Jesus said, “ But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Luke 6:35-36

Jesus taught forgiveness rather than returning evil for evil. Matthew 6:14-15

When human governments demand actions of men that are contrary to God’s instructions we must yield to God rather than to mans systems. Peter and the apostles answered to the officials who commanded them not to preach in the name of Jesus, “We ought to obey God rather than men.” Acts 5:29

Obeying God may land us in prison at times, as we have the accounts in the Bible of Daniel and the Hebrew boys, Joseph, and the example of the disciples, and apostles of Jesus Christ and thousands of Christian martyrs throughout history who have suffered for the cause of Christ. Following Christ was never presented as an easy path; but on the other hand the way of the transgressor is hard; and there is no rest for the wicked.

Jesus and his apostles came preaching the Kingdom of God. This Kingdom is a universal kingdom. Jesus command was to take the Good News of Peace to all nations and make disciples of all nations. However the weapons of this kingdom are not carnal. We can’t protect or build this kingdom with carnal power.
When Peter tried to protect Jesus with the sword, Jesus said, “ Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.” Matt. 26:52 Also the Apostle Paul tells us that, “ the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” II Corinthians 10:4-5.

The Kingdom of God will never come to an end; there is no foe that can overthrow it; and it is the kingdom to which we pertain. Since carnal warfare does nothing to protect the Kingdom of God it is very silly to use it. The weapons of love, forgiveness, prayer, kindness and many other spiritual weapons are much greater; and they will get the job done whereas fighting a carnal war with guns, bombs and tanks will not get the job done; they only make things worse. Therefore, let’s leave carnal warfare behind and instead follow the teachings of Jesus and the apostles, and spread the Good News of Peace and the Kingdom of God to all the world