Unreported News, Commentary, Resources and Discussion of Bible Prophecy
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Jericho wrote:Suppose your church is targeted by activists who are aggressive, disruptive, and not interested in playing nice. You know the type. What should the Christian response be? Should we be passive, aggressive, or defensive? And how should we go about doing it?
Mat 5:38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
Mat 5:39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Mat 5:40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.
Mat 5:41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
Mat 5:42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
Mat 5:43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
Mat 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Mat 5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
Mat 5:46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
Mat 5:47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
Mat 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Ready1 wrote:All of my flesh rises in rebellion to this, but I trust the Lord to show me the correct response if and when the time comes.
Jericho wrote:Ready1 wrote:All of my flesh rises in rebellion to this, but I trust the Lord to show me the correct response if and when the time comes.
I note that the apostles didn't actively fight back when persecuted but they didn't let it stop them from preaching either. However, how did we rectify with the passage where Jesus tells the apostles to buy swords? There's only one use for swords.
Rev 6:10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
Jericho wrote:I note that the apostles didn't actively fight back when persecuted but they didn't let it stop them from preaching either. However, how did we rectify with the passage where Jesus tells the apostles to buy swords? There's only one use for swords.
bchandler wrote:Jesus told his disciples that a time had come when all would turn against them, then he told them to acquire swords... I think this is obviously a matter of their right to defend their own lives.
Mat_5:39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Jas_5:6 Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.
Jas_4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Ready1 wrote:My mind (from scriptural understanding) tends to nonresistance. Not passivity but nonresistance.
NT model appears to be...Mat_5:39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Jas_5:6 Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.
On the other hand, we are told to resist the devil.Jas_4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
ST wrote:And that resistance (against the devil) is spiritual in nature.
shorttribber wrote:And that resistance (against the devil) is spiritual in nature.
mark s wrote:shorttribber wrote:And that resistance (against the devil) is spiritual in nature.
I think it's an act of the will, a choosing to continue in the new man, not get pulled back to the old man through some inflamed passion of anger or angst.
A drawing near to God as the world is pulling your attention towards it through a perception of threat or harm. And as we do that, then whatever is the godly response, the Holy Spirit will work in our lives. Even as the fear fills our minds, should it, by choosing to trust that God IS our Shepherd, and resting in that, we resist everything and everyone trying to get us to doubt.
Much love!
Exit40 wrote:Generally speaking, and I do not like to play to 'what if's', but I would likely just stand and take whatever is directed at me.
I can take any verbal assault however it comes, however, I would not likely stand for a physical assault on a friend, neighbor, or Brethren in Christ. How I would resist that would depend on the circumstance I suppose. I don't have Scriptural backing for this, it's just the way I'm built from the inside out. Always been like this, too old to change.
God Bless
David
Mat_5:39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers doing business.
When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables.
And He said to those who sold doves, “Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!” (John 2:13-16)
Jericho wrote:Suppose your church is targeted by activists who are aggressive, disruptive, and not interested in playing nice. You know the type. What should the Christian response be? Should we be passive, aggressive, or defensive? And how should we go about doing it?
Exit40 wrote: can take any verbal assault however it comes, however, I would not likely stand for a physical assault on a friend, neighbor, or Brethren in Christ. How I would resist that would depend on the circumstance I suppose.
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