With self defense, I think there are some building blocks that we need to start with.
(I may tweak this more in the coming days, and there is definitely more that could be addressed on this topic. [-Timmy, July 5, 2023])
1. God does not change
Psalm 144:1
David says in Psalm 144:1: Blessed be the Lord my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight.
Nehemiah 4:17-18
In Nehemiah 4:17-18 we read that the Israelites which built the wall armed themselves. They did this because of the enemies that wanted to stop the work: “They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon. 18 For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me”.
Exodus 22:2-3
The principle of self-defense is also given in Exodus 22:2-3: “If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for him. 3. If the sun be risen upon him, there shall be blood shed for him; for he should make full restitution; if he have nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft”.
There shall “no blood be shed” for him. That’s the language that is used consistently throughout the Bible for capital punishment. Gen 9:6 “Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man”.
Having said that, I think verses 2 and 3 in Exodus 22 teach about both self-defense and vengeance. If a thief is found breaking in, and be killed, the person is guiltless. However, if the sun comes up, the person is guilty who kills the thief. Some think this says that at night it might be an accident to kill the thief and God says the person is guiltless, but in the day that should never happen, you can not use lethal force. I think this is referring to a thief breaking in at night, is caught, then executed in the day. That is unjust, and that would be personally taking vengeance. Capital punishment is never God’s punishment for theft. Punishment for theft is always restitution and extra payment (see verse 4 in Exo 22). Again, if the thief is found breaking in… Just the possibility that the thief may be killed and God hold the killer guiltless, shows us there is more than just an accident. If killing in self defense is always wrong then God would only have needed to say that and not bring up the possibility of the killer being guiltless. I believe the principle in this text is one directly of self defense. While your family’s life is in danger and you use whatever force you can to defend, you are not guilty of killing the criminal if it comes to that. And that does not apply just at night. Jesus said “if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through” (Luke 12:39).
I believe one has to be inconsistent to say that yes, the government is God’s revenger of evil, but it’s evil for vengeance to take place. In the same way it’s also inconsistent to say that yes, God wanted the Old Testament saints to protect their house and their nations against evil-doers, but now it’s different. Who God is, and His moral standards, have never changed and will never change.
God does not change
Malachi 3:6 “For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.”
James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”
Numbers 23:19 “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?”
Psalm 102:25-27 “Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.”
Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.”
Isaiah 46:9-10 “Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.”
Psalm 33:11 “The counsel of the LORD standeth forever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.”
2. Vengeance belongs to God alone
Romans 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Vengeance belongs to God alone, and obviously to those whom God delegates that authority to. The authorities (higher powers) are God’s avenger (or revenger) on this earth. Romans 13:4 “For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil”.
I think this is where we need to seek the correct balance with self defense. It is never right to chase a thief to kill him, and I think there’s no question that it’s wrong for a Christian to seek “excuses” to kill someone. I am not saying with this that it’s wrong to chase or capture a thief. That is the Biblical way, a person would be caught and then turned over to the magistrate (the higher authorities).
But Jesus also tells us to turn the other cheek. What does He mean with that? Mat 5:39-40 “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. 40. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also”.
First, I think it’s clear that “to smite on the cheek” is no threat to life. Secondly, I think we can infer that Jesus is not speaking of self defense. To “resist no evil” goes along with the same principle Paul uses in Romans 12:18 that “if it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men”.
If someone smacks you on the cheek that can be easily seen as an insult, or someone being mad at you. This is the place where a Christian has the duty to seek peace, there’s no threat to life. It can even be argued from the context that this is more about Christian life and someone being mad at you for being a Christian or standing up for Christian principles. And again that it would be vengeance to respond personally “in kind”.
3. Taking stories that are not from the Bible does not help in defending the view of non-resistance
If you’re a Christian and want to be Biblical in all things, you should be very aware of stories that people tell to defend their theological viewpoints. Stories do not make theology, the Bible does. Something along the lines of “because person so and so did not resist, the criminal got saved”. How about those who have been brutally raped or murdered because the man of the household was passive or ran away? How does that look when thinking of 1Timothy 5:8? “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel”.
