Matthew 5:38-48
Introduction:
1. This is a challenging question for sure, so we must proceed carefully.
2. We will expand the question to include police work and self-defense/defense of other innocents as these all fit under the same umbrella in Scripture.
3. We will consider three positions in the matter: full pacifist, selective pacifist, and the just war/defense positions.
Discussion:
I. The Full Pacifist
A. Full pacifists argue that any taking of human life is sinful, regardless of the reason.
B. The argument states that “Thou shalt not kill” (Exodus 20:13) means any and every type of killing: in war, death penalty, self-defense/defense of others.
C. This position faces a few major difficulties:
1. The word used in Exodus 20:13 means murder, not killing of any sort (NKJV, ESV).
2. This is proven in the next chapter (21:12, 15, 16, 17, 20, 22-23, 28-29) with seven capital offenses, not to mention the conquest.
3. The Bible consistently upholds capital punishment (cf. Genesis 9:5-6; Romans 13:1-4).
II. The Selective Pacifist
A. Selective pacifists believe civil authorities may act as God’s avengers (Romans 12:19-13:7), but it is sinful for Christians to serve in such roles because:
1. Matthew 5:39 denies the Christian the right to resist an evil person.
2. How can we love our enemies while killing them? (Matthew 5:44; Romans 12:14, 17-21)
3. Our warfare is not carnal, so we cannot serve in the military, etc. (2 Corinthians 10:4; Ephesians 6:12).
4. Romans 13 distinguishes government from the Christian, so we cannot participate in it.
B. This position faces some key troubles too:
1. Contextually, Matthew 5:39 is dealing with insults, not attempts to kill an innocent person.
2. Romans 12:17-21 addresses revenge, not defense: repaying evil for evil, taking revenge, etc.
3. Does God love them while having them killed?
4. Fighting carnally to expand the kingdom of Christ is Paul’s concern in 2 Corinthians 10; thwarting wickedness is a separate matter.
5. Where does God establish a separate law for Christians and non-Christians in this vein?
III. The Just War/Defense Advocate
A. Just war/defense advocates argue God has one law for Christians and non-Christians regarding punishing evil, so Christians may serve in this way.
B. I am convinced this is correct for several reasons:
1. The punishment of evil, including capitally is God-ordained, and thus fully just on His terms.
2. There is no indication that God has two separate laws operating as indicated in texts involving soldiers and centurions whose repentance included no call to leave military service (cf. Matthew 8:5-13; Luke 3:14; Acts 10-11).
3. If taking life in punitive justice is sinful, would having a person lose their life by use of the authorities not implicate us? (cf. Acts 2:23)
4. The laws under which we live authorize the citizen to thwart violence by force, including lethal force, making us an arm of government.
Conclusion:
1. Though it does not appear inherently wrong to take a life as a functionary of the government, the executor of such justice will bear those scars for life.
2. Though it seems clear that being in the military is not condemned in Scripture, we must not be blind to the added layers of temptation involved in such service.
3. So, we must be very cautious not to forfeit our soul for bodily safety (Matthew 16:25-27).