These consIDered questions come from an open forum conducted at Main Street. These questions were not addressed at that forum due to the constraints of time. I pray that these answers are helpful as we seek to walk rightly in this world.
Question: I have children, what should I be teaching them about protection, defending themselves in a broken society?
A few short months ago I received an email from my son in Uganda. He was on his way home from University and a gang attacked him and began to beat him severely in order to rob him. My son had his computer and a few other items taken from him. He was bloodied, his eyeglasses broken. The situation most likely would have been worse had he not come across a rock on the ground and used it to beat the aggressors back. Was my son ‘right or wrong’ to strike out and stop the beating? This is not a ‘theoretical question’ for me. As his dad, I was first concerned for his welfare, then I wanted to hop a plane to Kampala and ‘put a whoopin’ on the cowards who hurt him.
Here is an affirmation from John Piper regarding the latest threat from ISIS, ISIL or ‘the Islamic State.’
“You will not have safety even in your dreams, until you accept Islam.” http://dsr.gd/1bc3YPG Perhaps. I choose Christ now, safety later.
The issue of the ‘if, when, how, and where’ of even self-defense has been hotly debated from the inception of the Church. I cannot even adequately summarize the different convictions faithful brothers and sisters in Christ fiercely hold. I will, however, offer some Biblical principles for consideration so that the wise follower of Jesus can form an informed conviction.
“Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” (Colossians 3:2–3, NASB95)
I never have to ‘protect my life,’ I am dead to this world’s power and in Christ, God holds my life in His hand. This empowers the Christian to act with authority from reason and not to respond in fear. It is this truth we see Jesus illustrate when threatened his own murder.
“Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men.If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.” (Romans 12:17–18, NASB95)
As far as I able, I am to create and maintain an environment of peace and to refrain from retaliation.
““You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’“But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.“If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also.“Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two.“Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’“But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.“For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?“If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?“Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:38–48, NASB95)
When it is in the power of a Christian to receive insult (turn the other cheek); to offer extravagant servitude (go with him two); to exercise extraordinary generosity (let him have your coat…do not turn away from him who wants to borrow); to extend grace (love your enemy); we must do so for the sake of reflecting God’s character. Much of the daily ‘self-defense’ we are tempted to engage would be answered by one of those categories.
“‘You shall not go about as a slanderer among your people, and you are not to act against the life of your neighbor; I am the Lord. ‘You shall not hate your fellow countryman in your heart; you may surely reprove your neighbor, but shall not incur sin because of him. ‘You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord.” (Leviticus 19:16–18, NASB95)
If I truly love my neighbor as myself and I value the life of my neighbor as my own, I will not act against my neighbor, but I would willingly and quickly defend my neighbor. The power of true community is strength in mutual devotion. The non-violent, civil disobedience movement succeeds when there are those who are willing to suffer harm for the sake of ‘their neighbor.’ Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:12).
“If a thief is caught in the act of breaking into a house and is struck and killed in the process, the person who killed the thief is not guilty of murder. But if it happens in daylight, the one who killed the thief is guilty of murder…” (Exodus 22:2–3, NLT)
The difference between ‘night and day’ apparently the difference between innocence or guilt when violently defending oneself (and by extension one’s family). The ‘daylight’ is presumed to offer some less lethal means of defense and the follower of the LORD is required to prefer that means.
“The LORD is my light and my salvation— so why should I be afraid? The LORD is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble? When evil people come to devour me, when my enemies and foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid. Even if I am attacked, I will remain confident.” (Psalm 27:1–3, NLT)
David had both the means and ability to respond to threats against himself, but he confesses dependence on the LORD rather than the weapons of this world. David shed much blood in his days, but he still confessed the above as applied to his own life. I believe we would do well to remember the LORD is our fortress.
Personally, I believe God put that rock where right it was located and I thank Him for providing it and thus preserving my son from further harm.
TheNarrowRoadPursued 
Mr. Franklin,
I have to disagree with some of your interpretations of Scripture.
When it is in the power of a Christian to receive insult (turn the other cheek);
Social custom and law at the time allowed a ‘social superior’ to slap a person of lower status. By turning the other cheek, it was receiving the insult but it was also proclaiming equal status to the person slapping. By turning the other cheek, it forced the person, should he choose to continue, to use a punch instead of a slap. A punch was given between equals.
So while ‘receiving the insult’ the person was making a bold statement, against the law and custom, of proclaiming equality. Jesus was, as you point out, saying don’t return violence only when insulted.
to offer extravagant servitude (go with him two);
This was another instance where Jesus was pushing not ‘extravagant servitude’ but non-violent protest. Roman law allowed soldiers to require an non-citizen to carry their packs for 1 mile. Roman law had extreme penalties for exceeding that limit. So, instead of being generous in servitude, Jesus was advocating using the law against the person. The soldier would be put in the position of either begging the person not to go further or using violence to stop him. Either way, the soldier would be punished if it was known.
to exercise extraordinary generosity (let him have your coat…do not turn away from him who wants to borrow);
I think you have this one really backwards. Traditions and law at the time was against loans; so often people would offer to ‘sell’ their clothing, often their outerwear such as a coat. This thinly disguised loan was redeemed within a certain period but if it was not, the borrower would be taken to court. The court would order him to turn over the cloak/coat — again this has to be evaluated against traditions at the time to be fully understood. Nudity was not a problem for the person being without clothing but the person seeing it. That is why Jesus says to give him your tunic (underclothing basically) also — showing the world the person calling in the loan has left you with nothing. It was a non-violent way of trying to shame the person who loaned the money.
Definitely not a case of ‘extraordinary generosity’.
The difference between ‘night and day’ apparently the difference between innocence or guilt when violently defending oneself (and by extension one’s family).
No, self defense is clearly authorized by God regardless of the day or night. What was being called out was the limit of self defense based on the crime; people should not use lethal forced against a thief. We cannot imagine how dark ancient houses were for the most part. Even lanterns and candle light created shadows and barely illuminated ares of the home. In daylight, it would be easier to tell if a person was armed (assassin) or was not (thief).
The ‘daylight’ is presumed to offer some less lethal means of defense and the follower of the LORD is required to prefer that means.
Since God established the penalties for theft, He did not want others exceeding those under the guise of not being able to tell the difference between a thief or worse. But He also recognized that things happen and in the middle of the night it isn’t wise to ask “hey, are you here to kill me or rob me?”
I believe that taken in total, God wants us to live in peace with our fellow men and women – as much as it depends on us (Romans 12:18) but when responding to criminals it is not up to us to be at peace with them. We should respond with the least amount of violence necessary, we shouldn’t hold grudges or hate the criminal but at the same time we don’t have to allow them to harm us.
Bob S.
As I stated early in the post, the opinion is varied regarding this issue and hotly debated for two millennium. At some points we disagree less then you seem to think, on other points, our understanding of both Scripture and historical customs are far from synonymous. Thanks for taking time to offer your perspective.
I think this highlights how important it is to seek God’s guidance constantly. Jesus told his disciples that if they had a cloak to sell it and buy swords, yet because God told him to submit to the cross he did so. In the intricacy of human interactions only God can accurately guide us in our responses. The key is to learn how to develop the spiritual sensitivity to discern God’s daily guidance. Best wishes for your spiritual journey. ND of nomagicwandchristianity blog.
Thanks for bringing up the ‘sword’ passage. I find it interesting that the sword, used for its proper purpose at seemingly the proper time (Jesus was being unjustly and illegally arrested–at night) found opposition from God-in-the-flesh.
So, as you say, discerning God’s guidance FIRST before responding is crucial. Due to the difficulty to even think in such situations, I cannot imagine such a thing would ever be easy.