Mixed Morality

Can Christians go to war? Can we use violence in self defense? Should we? Do we know? Do we care? These are questions we ask ourselves when we look at how Jesus instructed us to live. He told us to turn the other cheek, to love those that hurt us.

But did He really mean people who physically hurt us? Well, let's take a look at the context. Jesus was talking to the Jews, a group of people who were overrun by a foreign power. The Roman armies were aggressive, brutal, and efficient. It was to a group of people who lived under government like this that Jesus was speaking to. He told them to love their neighbors, therefore we should love ours as well.

We are told to not resist an evil person. (Matt. 5:49) But what does that mean? Does that mean we are to let people rob us? Let them hurt us? What about our families? Are we to stand by and do nothing?

This is where we get mixed morality. We teach and preach the fact that we are not to resist others. However, how do you and I live our daily lives? Do we resist (hurt or deceive) our neighbor in business? Do we honor our deals? Do we act in a way that helps them?

We live in a country that is based on capitalism. That means businesses compete to get customers. This leads to a strong economy that must always improve itself, but what does that do for us as Christians? Do we practice greed in business and then try to be selfless in our personal life? Do we make cutthroat deals and backstab our competitors, then work in unity in the church? Can this work? Should we do this? Where do we apply Christian ethics and where do we not? Is it ok to use any means necessary to get ahead in business as long is it is not illegal?

What does business have to do with violence? Well, quite a lot actually. We need to remember that we are to be a light to the world in all locations. If we are not a light to those that we work with in our business, then how do we expect them to believe us when we claim to follow Christ? If we are not a consistent witness in business, what we do in a violent situation is moot. We rarely run into a situation that actually involves our witness as non-resistant to violence, but our day to day business speaks volumes.

In the end, we need to be Christlike in our dealings with people before any of this matters. If we are not a witness in any other way, our nonresistance (or lack thereof) is pointless.

But back to violence in self defense. Can I defend myself with violence? How about my wife, or children? If I sit back and do nothing while they are injured, is that honoring God? This is a question that has been asked more times than I could count, and I am sure there are people with a better answer than mine. But before we answer it, lets look at an example or two of Jesus life.

Exodus 20:8 reads, "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy." We are told further in to the chapter that we are not to work on that day. But what did Jesus do on a Sabbath? We are told that He healed a man on that day. When asked, He responded that man was not made for the Sabbath, but Sabbath for the man. (Mark 2:27) How does that tie in? Well, Jesus says that the rule is to help man, not hurt him. It appears there are exceptions, for Jesus Himself made one. What matters is the reason for what we do. Jesus did not work on the Sabbath to make a profit. He was helping people. In the same way, self defense due to pride, profit, or our own glory is wrong. However, to defend the helpless is another calling we have. (Prov. 31:9, Ps. 82:3 and others) We are not to use violence as a way to get our way, but that does not mean we cannot defend those who need defense.

Jesus also used violence at one point in His life. Note that He did not do so to further His own name, but the name of God. Again we see that why we are doing is the important part of what we are doing. Jesus used whips to empty the Temple. (John 2)

The heart is indeed what matters. (I Samuel 16:7) Why we do what we do is the driving source of our Judgement before God. Therefore, it should be the driving force in deciding these types of issues. In the end, we cannot make these types of decisions without going before God in prayer. By that, I do not mean praying only when the situation arises. We need to spend time with God daily so that we can get to know Him. Once we do, these situations can be addressed in a Godly manner. Until then, no amount of knowledge or research can solve this question. May God guide you as you draw near to Him.