Rev. Neil Steven Lawrence, M.Div.
It is a common misconception that Christians should never defend themselves to the point of killing someone. Often Christians think responding in violence, even to defend themselves or an innocent person such as family or friend is off limits. Is this really the correct belief?
The church itself has faced 2000 years of persecution and 10’s of millions have died for the sake of Christ. In fact more people are being persecuted and killed in this post-modern period than at any time in history. “The overwhelming majority (80%) of persecuted religious believers are Christians.”
(2019 Report Commissioned by the British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt to Bishop Mounstephen, Anglican Bishop of Truro, https://christianpersecutionreview.org.uk/storage/2019/07/final-report-and-recommendations.pdf)
“In the Middle East, the very survival of Christianity as a living religion is in doubt.” Though it is the birth place of Christianity and the place where it’s influence prevailed for 600 years after Christ ascended, a genocide has taken place, when one considers just “a century ago, 20% of the region’s people were Christians; today the figure is below 5%.”
There is also “a shocking increase in the persecution of Christians globally”, Christian persecution NGO Open Doors revealed in its 2019 World Watch List Report on anti-Christian oppression that “approximately 245 million Christians living in the top 50 countries suffer high levels of persecution or worse.”
( Ed Dr Matthew Rees, The Open Doors World Watch List Report 2019, ‘Key findings’, https://www.opendoorsuk.org /persecution/resources/wwl-advocacy-report-2019.pdf (accessed 19/3/19) )
Though it is heroic and the tale of saints to be told around the throne in our eternal reward with the Godhead and celebrating with the angels, will be wonderful; one wonders if it is correct to assume that Christians are not allowed to fight? If there are no circumstances in which Christians are allowed to defend themselves, even to point of killing?
This argument always comes back to the difference between kill and murder. There is Biblical justification for killing especially in a time of war or protecting your family. The Bible forbids us to murder but it allows killing when necessary.
There are a large number of people who believe the Christian worldview unequivocally condemns the use of deadly force. But the Scripture delineates a distinction between killing and murdering. “You shall not kill” is actually not a command found in the Ten Commandments. The command from scripture in the original language actually says “You shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13). The Hebrew word for “murder” literally means “the intentional, premeditated killing of another person with malice.”
Ironically, many people are familiar with this definition of murder, because it is reflected in the Penal Codes of many countries. In the State of California, the Penal Code defines murder:
187. (a) Murder is the unlawful killing of a human being, or a fetus, with malice aforethought.
Malice is a form of evil intent that separates “murder” from “killing.”
Even today there are acceptable forms of killing that lack this kind of evil intent, and these forms of killing exist as exceptions in the murder laws of the United States. In California, a homicide is justified (according to Penal Code sections 187, 196 and 197) if one of the following conditions is met:
1. A person kills someone accidentally
2. A person is trying to defend him or herself and prevent his or her own murder (self-defense)
3. A person is trying to prevent someone from entering his or her house to commit some violent felony
4. A person is trying to prevent the murder of someone else (protecting an innocent)
In all these situations, killing is actually legal and justifiable, and exceptions of this nature exist in the Penal Codes of every state in America. Even those who don’t accept the existence of God or the authority of the Bible recognize the necessity for laws like these; laws that allow for deadly force to be used to accomplish some greater good.
These exceptions are not the invention of the modern society; but they come from legal standards originating in the ancient Biblical Law. The Bible is the source for these modern laws and the exceptions come straight from the pages of the Bible:
Accidental killing is not murder.
Exodus 21:12-13
“Anyone who strikes a man and kills him shall surely be put to death. However, if he does not do it intentionally, but God lets it happen, he is to flee to a place I will designate.”
Numbers 35:22-25
“But if without hostility someone suddenly shoves another or throws something at him unintentionally or, without seeing him, drops a stone on him that could kill him, and he dies, then since he was not his enemy and he did not intend to harm him, the assembly must judge between him and the avenger of blood according to these regulations. The assembly must protect the one accused of murder from the avenger of blood and send him back to the city of refuge to which he fled.”
Killing performed in self-defense (or in defense of one’s home) is not murder.
Exodus 22:2
“If a thief is caught breaking in and is struck so that he dies, the defender is not guilty of bloodshed.”
A killing performed in an attempt to save the life of an innocent person is not murder:
Exodus 2:11-12
“One day, after Moses had grown up, he went out to where his own people were and watched them at their hard labor. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his own people. Glancing this way and that and seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.” (God did not judge Moses as a murderer because he was protecting the life of the slave).
Genesis 14:14-16
When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained men born in his household and went in pursuit as far as Dan. During the night Abram divided his men to attack them and he routed them, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. He recovered all the goods and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people. (God did not judge Abram as a murderer because he was protecting the life of Lot)
Killing becomes murder when (and only when) it is not properly justified, and the justifications are clear: you can use whatever force necessary to protect your own life from a hostile aggressor, or to save the life of an innocent from such imminent, life-threatening danger. The difference between the legal or illegal use of deadly force is really a matter of motive, intent and justification, and these distinctions come straight from the pages of the Bible!
Cultural Distortion of Christian Values
Weakening of the moral fabric of any culture creates and atmosphere of defenselessness and eventually an unwillingness to stand for what is righteous. If people, including Christians, cannot defend themselves, they will cease to defend others who are helpless.
(Read: aborting innocent babies “here”).
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” ― Edmund Burke
America has been poisoned by the “Hollywood” version of taking care of bad guys. You know the predictable scenario where the good guy beats the bad guy but doesn’t finish him off. Then as the good guy is comforting the people who were hurt, and he was trying to protect; then the bad guy gets back up at the rear of the camera frame and almost captures or kills the good guy. Then the good guy is now somehow justified to finish off the bad guy with a mortal blow. This mamby-pamby type of “Hollywood” justice is not real justice.
What About the Christian View of War?
In World War II the US military discovered that only 15% of the guns were fired. People had an ingrained caution against killing. And as I have shown, this is likely due to the confusion between the meaning of “murder” and “kill.” Afterwards the military changed their training tactics to break down that aversion to killing.
As far as I am concerned, when it comes to shooting an enemy combatant I would want to be a sniper in order to inflict maximum pain on the enemy in the hopes that it would drive them to make peace. We kill enemy combatants for a greater cause. It is never wise to fight a war without the absolute determination to win!
“Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no survival.”
– Sir Winston Churchhill
With enemy combatants law must rule. If they are captured and taken out of combat, then grace can apply, unless they have committed a war crime. But while my enemy is in combat, seeking my death or even torture, the righteous cause I stand for must inspire me as a Christian soldier. Therefore, it is my duty to wipe out as many as possible. Never fight a war unless your goal is absolute victory.
If the enemy is trying to kill my family, friends, fellow soldiers, myself, and harm the country I am duty bound to protect, my righteous duty will be to utterly obliterate them ASAP, with no hesitation! i’m not saying we go around warmongering I am simply saying when the time is required to fight we should not shrink back. This same concept is related to the scriptural admonitions to be vigilant and strong. “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous. This is what the Lord will do to all the enemies you are going to fight.” (Joshua 10:25)
Jesus is Our Example
Many people forget Jesus is not only a Lamb who brought forgiveness, grace, and life to believers and to mankind. But, Jesus is also the Lion who will destroy evil and judge “the dead.” My model is Jesus Christ: King of Kings and Lord of Lords, who will utterly slaughter all the demon-crazed Anti-Christ and Kings of the East armies in the Battle of Armageddon. Jesus does it all by Himself with the word of His mouth. And the blood will rise to the horses’ bridle for a span of 180 miles (1600 stadia). This will be the biggest battle slaughter in history!
When it’s all said and done Jesus will be the single biggest killer in history having slaughtered the entire combined armies of the Antichrist and the Kings of the East. This massive horde, will be the largest army ever assembled. Perhaps hundreds of millions of soldiers. They will have killed as many as 2/3’s of all Israeli’s (Zech.13:8), raped thousands of women, destroyed much of Israel, filled the land with their vile weapons, and surrounded Jerusalem. A third of the Jews in Jerusalem will be taken into captivity. Jesus will return to earth in His Second Coming at that moment! (Rev.19:11-21; Zech.14) He will not use a gun. He will use the word of his mouth (Rev.19:15). I don’t believe it will be a gentle death either. It will be a slaughter! (Zech.14:12) For the Bible says, “Blood will fill the entire valley of Armageddon up to the horses bridal.” (Rev.14:20)
Brutal History of Mankind
As a life-long student of history I have learned the shocking and sad tale of much of mankind’s “achievements” are told through wars. Without listing all the horrors, here are the “highlights.”
Genghis Khan and followers slaughtered 40 million people from China all the way into the lands of Eastern Europe.
Adolph Hitler’s godless National Socialist (NAZI) political ideology led to the death of civilians and war combatants totaling 48 million people in the European theater of World War 2.
Joseph Stalin’s godless Communist policies both before, during, and after World War 2 led to the slaughter of 15 to 20 million people. His reign of terror lasted thirty years from 1922 to 1953.
Mao Zedong’s godless Communist party leadership is responsible for the death of more than 60 million people. His reign of war, revolution, mismanagement, and terror lasted 41 years from 1935 to 1976.
Muhammad’s reign of terror (no pun intended) has lasted during the entire 1400 years of Jihad which Islam has spread over the world. Slaughter of unbelievers as a way of “protecting” Allah’s reputation has led to the annihilation of more than 270 million people. This includes:
a. 110 million African slaves who died in capture and transit.
b. 80 million Indians who died during the Muslim conquest of Indian.
c. 10’s of millions of Christians who died over the centuries of conquering and brutalizing Christian lands.
These mass murderers driven by ideology, caused others to murder and kill more total victims in history; but as far as one person doing the killing it will be Jesus at the Battle of Armageddon who gets the gold medal!
Carrying Your Cross is Not Reckless Suicide
Christianity stands unique as the most civilizing power in human history. The Golden Rule, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the implementation of the Kingdom of God in men’s hearts, and the “redemption and lift” impacting entire societies, nations and continents. It has effected the most powerful transformation upon mankind. This is “the most excellent way” we are to follow. (1 Cor.12:23-13:3)
But realize also the sin principle remains at work in the world. The level of brutality toward innocent people, many of whom have been Christians, staggers the mind. The State does bear the sword for a reason (Romans 13:4). And Christians should not shrink back from the righteous cause of defending themselves and the innocent. This may require killing. It is never the preferred option. But we also are not required to be pigeon-holed into believing a concept concerning killing which is unscriptural. Killing is not murder. Defending those we love is not a sin. Paul admonishes Christians to have the correct attitude in providing, protecting, and defending people we are entrusted to care for. “Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” (1 Tim. 5:8)
President Theodore Roosevelt said, “Walk softly but carry a big stick.” He won several wars and maintained peace with this policy.
President Reagan said, “Peace through strength.” He helped the forces of freedom win the Cold War with this stand.
When Hitler and his demon inspired Nazi regime threaten the whole world, it was Christian people and nations, standing on Christian principles who drove back and slaughtered the forces of evil and tyranny. Christians had to kill to survive and to protect the innocent.
“If you will not fight for right when you can easily win without bloodshed; if you will not fight when your victory will be sure and not too costly; you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all odds against you and only a precarious chance of survival. There may be even a worse fate, you may have to fight when there is no hope of victory, because it is better to perish than to live as slaves.”
– Sir Winston Churchill
Jesus, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah is our great example. He knows how to deal with wicked people.
“The rest were killed with the sword coming out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.” (Revelation 19:21)
