“For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth; who when He was reviled (verbally abused), did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously” (I Peter 2:21-23).
As antichristian sentiment and oppressive legislative action rises in America, from time to time the call goes out for Christians to “stand up and fight back”, to be as aggressive for Christ as the unbelievers are against Christ. Sometimes even the actions of the Muslims are held up as a role model of religious zeal for us Christians to imitate!
Just how should disciples of Jesus “fight back”? Can we literally use violence? NO! Jesus says: “My Kingdom is not of this world. If My Kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight, so that I would not be delivered to the Jews; but now My Kingdom is not from here” (John 18:36). And to Peter, and to us, He says, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword” (Matthew 26:52). And Paul reminds us that we must arm ourselves with spiritual rather than temporal weapons, “for we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts in the heavenly regions” (Eph. 6:12).
Christians cannot, in either the defense or the advancement of the Christian faith, use violence or guns or knives or fire or force or threatening. We are not of the ancient spirit of the Catholic Crusaders or Inquisition! We cannot participate in the organizations or the spirit of the Ku Klux Klan, “homeland militias”, and certainly not the Muslims who have from their very beginnings waged literal war and murder out of hatred and envy against Jews, Christians, and Catholics!
Street demonstrations, “political right” organizations, boycotts, lobbying Congress, attempting to get all believers to vote together for righteous causes and men – all such are of little avail! The wicked will always be more numerous than the elect! Believers identifying themselves as “Republicans” or “Democrats” almost universally vote “the Party” rather than righteousness!
How do we “fight” for Christ and the Christian faith? How do we defend the Gospel cause or advance the Kingdom of Heaven? By following the example of Jesus! He lived a life of love and holiness, He revealed God and salvation to men, He acted as physician to every unwell person, He was a good neighbor who, inasmuch as possible, lived peaceably with all. But He did not fight evil with violence, boycotts, street demonstrations, political activism, secret organizations, or military coup! And when violence was used against Him, He never retaliated, but left revenge to the Heavenly Father, and committed Himself to the care of God! We are to pursue the same course and employ the same methods. Ours is to be a war waged by love, positive example, peaceful activity, a sharing of Bible truth to all who voluntarily want to hear it, and a non-aggressive spirit.
Note! We are speaking here of Kingdom policy, not American policy. America, as a temporal nation among other temporal nations, pursues a course of action best designed to promote the physical welfare, temporal happiness, and safety of its citizens. To even survive police activity and military force is at times deemed expedient. We Christians are citizens of two kingdoms. As such, we must “render unto Caesar that which pertains to Caesar, and unto God that which pertains to God.” But we cannot adopt the means and methods of a secular government for use in defending or advancing the cause of our Lord Jesus Christ!
“Stand up and be counted for Christ?” “Fight back as Christian soldiers?” Yes, indeed! And the best way to do that is to “follow in His steps”, imitate His example, and fully imbibe His spirit!
Larry Atkin, Preacher
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