Just a few notes on this subject :
Notice what Jesus did not say in the "turn the other cheek" saying. He did not say if someone stabs you in one side turn to him the other and let him stab you there. As others mentioned earlier, the scenario here is clearly not a life-threatening situation, but more along the lines of the personal insult as mentioned.
When life-threatening situations are involved, Jesus repeatedly advises Christians to take action to save their lives, usually the action mentioned being to flee, but the reference in Luke is clearly a message that if you're going to be somewhere where a prudent person would carry a weapon, then you need to do whatever it takes to get a weapon, even if you have to sell your coat.
Christians are elsewhere commanded to be "... as wise as serpents, and as harmless as doves...". Snakes, generally speaking, exist by fleeing from danger and reserving their bite for life-threatening situations, that is their bit of "wisdom". If you go tromping loudly thru the brush, they usually get out of your way (flee). When cornered, they clearly have the abilility to render a lethal "bite". If you don't have a "bite" then you don't have the "bite" option when cornered. (Bite in this case being equated with firearms). Notice that Jesus clearly chose the serpent for his wisdom, and not the dove. Both flee from danger, but only the serpent has the lethal "bite" option.
Also note that twice Roman commanders are listed as being righteous/having faith. Note that Cornelius the first Gentile Christian was not told he had to resign his job (not sure he could have even if he wanted).
The Commandment : "Thou shalt not kill" (King James) is better translated "murder" (New King James) instead of "kill". Murder is an illegal killing .
Joab, David's commander (& cousin), is put to death by Solomon, not for "killing" hundreds of enemy soldiers, but because "he shed the blood of war in a time of peace" in "murdering" Abner and another man.
Also note that in describing the cities of refuge, the Israelites were ordered by God to put murderers to death.
In short, the instructions of the Bible advocate taking action to save lives.
(will furnish scripture references tomorrow)
Notice what Jesus did not say in the "turn the other cheek" saying. He did not say if someone stabs you in one side turn to him the other and let him stab you there. As others mentioned earlier, the scenario here is clearly not a life-threatening situation, but more along the lines of the personal insult as mentioned.
When life-threatening situations are involved, Jesus repeatedly advises Christians to take action to save their lives, usually the action mentioned being to flee, but the reference in Luke is clearly a message that if you're going to be somewhere where a prudent person would carry a weapon, then you need to do whatever it takes to get a weapon, even if you have to sell your coat.
Christians are elsewhere commanded to be "... as wise as serpents, and as harmless as doves...". Snakes, generally speaking, exist by fleeing from danger and reserving their bite for life-threatening situations, that is their bit of "wisdom". If you go tromping loudly thru the brush, they usually get out of your way (flee). When cornered, they clearly have the abilility to render a lethal "bite". If you don't have a "bite" then you don't have the "bite" option when cornered. (Bite in this case being equated with firearms). Notice that Jesus clearly chose the serpent for his wisdom, and not the dove. Both flee from danger, but only the serpent has the lethal "bite" option.
Also note that twice Roman commanders are listed as being righteous/having faith. Note that Cornelius the first Gentile Christian was not told he had to resign his job (not sure he could have even if he wanted).
The Commandment : "Thou shalt not kill" (King James) is better translated "murder" (New King James) instead of "kill". Murder is an illegal killing .
Joab, David's commander (& cousin), is put to death by Solomon, not for "killing" hundreds of enemy soldiers, but because "he shed the blood of war in a time of peace" in "murdering" Abner and another man.
Also note that in describing the cities of refuge, the Israelites were ordered by God to put murderers to death.
In short, the instructions of the Bible advocate taking action to save lives.
(will furnish scripture references tomorrow)
