We were given the scripture of turn the other cheek by Jesus. Let’s look at that. Matt. 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.”
Why do you suppose He used the term “resist not evil?” God controls everything and everybody. Therefore, if evil comes against, God has allowed it. We should consider it a test. That said, I feel God has instructed me that “turn the other cheek” is not addressing self-defense. That is more like refusing to engage in a duel, as aristocrats using their gloves to smite someone in challenge.
Jesus was not discussing self-defense. Read the next three verses and you see He is speaking handling confrontation. The account in Luke has it in the same verse: Luke 6:29 “And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.”
So, let's discuss this as it pertains to serving as police or military also.
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That is true that turn the other cheek is not speaking of self defense, but to not fight at all physically, also it states if they steal your cloke let them have your coat too, adding further to not fight back.
Resist not evil means do not resist physical assault.
But the Bible says resist the devil and he will flee from you for we resist evil spiritually.
Some people believe we can defend ourselves if confronted but the Bible says the saints are persecuted all the day long, and are counted as sheep for the slaughter, so it appears as if they cannot defend themselves physically for God is in control.
If we fight physically, even to defend ourselves, then we are acting like the world that fights physically for their ways on earth, and we have to be different than that.
The man Christ Jesus never fought against anyone physically, and for people that say He made a whip and chased the people out of the temple I believe the whip was to chase the animals out of the temple, for Jesus overthrowing the money tables, and chasing the animals was enough for the people to leave for their purpose for being there was thwarted.
Jesus said be wise as serpents, but harmless as doves.
If they hit you on one cheek turn to them the other cheek to hit.
Do not fear what they can do to the body but can do no more, but fear God for He will punish all evilness.
God said all wars come from people the lust of their flesh, and not from God.
Do not take vengeance upon yourself, but give place to wrath, for God said vengeance is mine, I will repay.
God said no government, or authority, can rule unless God allows it, and if He allows it then do not go against that authority.
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, referred to as gold, that rode on eagle's wings for they acknowledged the God of Israel as the greatest God, and the king said if anybody said anything amiss against Him they shall be cut it pieces, and their house made a dunghill, said that God rules in the kingdom of men, and gives the kingdom to who He wants to have it.
They could not touch Jesus until the time came for Him to give His human life for us.
God is in control, and nothing can happen unless God allows it, so if He allows it who are we do go against it.
When the beast attacks the saints God warns them not to fight back, for however they fight back it will come back on them for they are acting like the world, which this is the patience and faith of the saints.
Jesus told the disciple when he cut off the servant's ear to put up his sword, for he who uses the sword shall also perish the sword, and it appears as if the sword was for the purpose of healing the servant's ear as a testimony that Jesus is of God the same as Jesus saying I am He and they fell down backwards.
We are not to fight physically at all, and if we are verbally assaulted we do not verbally assault back, and if we are physically assaulted we do not physically assault back.
And nothing can happen unless God allows it, so if someone comes against us God is allowing it, and we know we are persecuted by the world and God allows it, so why are they trying to fight against it.
As far as a job such as a police officer, or military, where they are willing to take a life if it comes to that they should not do a job like that unless they are a Chaplain that does not fight.
And as far as anybody attacking their nation it could not happen unless God allows it, and God will determine whether it stands or falls, and the saints will have no bearing on that if they fight, and there are plenty of people of the world that can do the fighting.
If God rules in the kingdom of men, and gives the kingdom to who He wants to have it, and no power or authority can rule unless God allows it, and determines whether it stands or falls, then why are saints fighting for their nation when God will determine if it stands or falls so their involvement has no bearing on the outcome of the nation.
But the saints are supposed to stay out of those affairs that the world engages in according to violence and fighting, and God determines whether they escape persecution or harm, or if they do not, and He fights for them.
Now with that being said it does not mean I might not fail at giving heed to that for that is a hard thing to endure, and put up with according to the flesh.
For one we do not want to appear as a wimp in the sight of others to let someone kick the crap out of us especially if we like physical exercise, and are known for strength.
We do not want to take a physical beating for it can hurt like the dickens at times.
But if there was many people that adhered to this it like 90 percent of the population that loves God, and goes by truth, it would not be so bad to take the beating, but we live in a world where they all appear to be kind of violent, and the majority of saints seeming that they would fight back.
So it can make you mad that you want to fight back, and the majority believes in physical violence, and you do not want to appear as a wimp seeing you do not have so much support from people abstaining from fighting back.
For you know how it was through school if you did not fight back you were hassled as being a wimp, and a sissy, and you did not want that, although some would want that for they did not like to fight.
I know it can be tough to endure the ways of the world against us, but we have to endure it and be different than the world, and God will not allow anything to go against us unless He allows it, and if He allows it who are we to go against it.
Rom 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Rom 8:36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Rom 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Rom 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
If the saints can go through these things, and God allows it, why do they think they can fight back.
And we are not supposed to care about these physical bodies for we are part of the spiritual kingdom.
If someone fights physically caring about the physical body then they care about the world, and it's ways.
2Ti 4:5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
2Ti 4:6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
2Ti 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
2Ti 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
Paul said to endure afflictions, and that he is ready to be offered, for Paul did not fight against it but his attitude was bring it don't sing it.
But many that like when Paul says faith alone will not want to hear him on this matter.
They need to let God handle the affairs of the world according to their fighting and power, and the saints should stay out of it for they are not part of the world, but belong to the spiritual kingdom of God where He is in control of that dominion, and His will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
God is in control so let Him handle it, and it is His world for He created it, so let Him decide what happens on it.
But many will fail but all sin can be forgiven, but if they do not realize it is a sin then they are in error and acting like the world.