‘Christian’ means “Christ-like,” or “a follower of Christ.” Did Christ teach violence?
No. He said:
Matthew 5:38-48: “Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have they coat also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
“Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you: That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sunto rise on the evil and on the good and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For If ye love them which love you, what reward have you? Do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? Do not even the publicans so?
“Be ye therefore perfect even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”
Romans 12:17, 21: “Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in he sight of all men…. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Does this leave us, then, as helpless victims?
2Corinthians 10:4-5: {“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;) Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”
When Israel’s army was in warfare against the Philistines, they were cowering down before the Philistine giant, Goliath, until David stood up to the threat and agreed to go out against him. King Saul offered David his own armor, but David found that it was not suitable for this battle, (1Samuel 17:38-47.)
David approached the giant with these words: “Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.”
David stated his purpose: “That all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.” This approach and strategy won the battle. The giant was defeated and slain and God was indeed glorified.
For Christians carnal weapons are in vain:
Psalm 33:16-20: “There is no king saved by the multitude of his host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength. An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength. Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waiteth for the Lord: he is our help and our shield.”
We cannot meet the spiritual enemies on their terms. Christianity cannot go to battle in carnal armor. Neither can we allow them to choose the battlefield. We must deal with the enemy on the spiritual level, and fight with spiritual weaponry. We cannot go into battle without the Lord with us; our strength is in the Holy Spirit.
Psalm 46:8-11: “Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in the earth. He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire. Be still and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen. I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.”