Thoughts on Christian non-violence

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That may be true for you personally but if your wife and children (or any other family members) are at risk, do you wish to sacrifice them to an evildoer?
Do you think missionaries that go to countries where it is illegal to be a Christian and where they can be killed for sharing there faith, bring or acquire guns so that they can kill anyone or protect themselves from people who want to hurt them? No, because they are on a mission from God to bring good news and light to a dark world. And that mission means that they might die. Would you be ok if a missionary had a gun to protect themselves in a foreign country?
 
That may be true for you personally but if your wife and children (or any other family members) are at risk, do you wish to sacrifice them to an evildoer?
Such a tough question. There is no scripture telling us to kill our enemies, and scripture after scripture telling us there is a better way.

When Saul tried to kill David, David would not kill Saul to protect himself.

Proverbs: "On the contrary, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
 
I already stated earlier that the only intended purpose of the swords was to fulfill the prophecy that Jesus and his followers were counted among the rebels and transgressors.
The fact that there were "rebels and transgressors" should be your clue that Christ's followers were going to suffer at the hands of ungodly Romans!

When your enemy, one who denies God, and one who will kill you BECAUSE OF YOUR FAITH, is intent upon taking your life.... you don't offer him your throat!

The perfect Kingdom of God we Christians all look forward to according to His promise is nigh at hand and we are promised persecution until then. So, I highly recommend you DEFEND YOURSELF!

We true believers are the restraining Spirit that keeps the antichrist from coming to power. So, the real question is, why should we lay down our arms?
 
The fact that there were "rebels and transgressors" should be your clue that Christ's followers were going to suffer at the hands of ungodly Romans!

When your enemy, one who denies God, and one who will kill you BECAUSE OF YOUR FAITH, is intent upon taking your life.... you don't offer him your throat!

The perfect Kingdom of God we Christians all look forward to according to His promise is nigh at hand and we are promised persecution until then. So, I highly recommend you DEFEND YOURSELF!

We true believers are the restraining Spirit that keeps the antichrist from coming to power. So, the real question is, why should we lay down our arms?
Could you explain this a little more?
 
Yeah', it is truly sad... but, until we beat our swords into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks and "learn war no more...", make no mistake, your enemy is viscous and deadly.
 
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Isaiah 2

The Mountain of the Lord
1The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

2It shall come to pass in the latter days
that the mountain of the house of the Lord
shall be established as the highest of the mountains,
and shall be lifted up above the hills;
and all the nations shall flow to it,
3and many peoples shall come, and say:
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of the God of Jacob,
that he may teach us his ways
and that we may walk in his paths.”
For out of Zion shall go forth the law,a
and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
4He shall judge between the nations,
and shall decide disputes for many peoples;
and they shall beat their swords into plowshares,
and their spears into pruning hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war anymore.
 
Isaiah 2

The Mountain of the Lord
1The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

2It shall come to pass in the latter days
that the mountain of the house of the Lord
shall be established as the highest of the mountains,
and shall be lifted up above the hills;
and all the nations shall flow to it,
3and many peoples shall come, and say:
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of the God of Jacob,
that he may teach us his ways
and that we may walk in his paths.”
For out of Zion shall go forth the law,a
and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
4He shall judge between the nations,
and shall decide disputes for many peoples;
and they shall beat their swords into plowshares,
and their spears into pruning hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war anymore.
I understand that part I just don’t understand if you are for self-defense or self sacrifice.
 
answering OP

guns are NOT the same as swords

Guns just put bullets in everything, wound, or kill if you can shoot them with accuracy. Guns are more like stones...they are just the mechanisms for discharging the stones (bullets)

Swords CUT

the action of a sword is more like a KNIFE than a gun. That is why the word likened to a double edged sword...it cuts both ways.
 
Beating a sword into a ploughshare is basically using the metal for another purpose
as spears into pruning hooks

Scripture says all those weapons are going to be used as tools instead for good purposes like gardening.

I carry secateurs on me.
for modern day, a tool would be a pair of good scissors.

scissors are basically two edged swords. They are just two blades together.
 
I am a peaceful man, but fierce when confronted with potential violence.
 
I already stated earlier that the only intended purpose of the swords was to fulfill the prophecy that Jesus and his followers were counted among the rebels and transgressors.
and, IMHO, you are incorrect. He told them that because he knew he was sending them out into a dangerous world.