A Baker's Dozen - Meditations On The Scripture and Our Right To Defend Ourselves By Nathan Barton

A Baker's Dozen - Meditations On The Scripture and Our Right To Defend Ourselves By Nathan Barton - Price of Liberty

A Baker's Dozen - Meditations On The Scripture and Our Right To Defend Ourselves
By Nathan A. Barton (TM and © 2008)

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July 07, 2008

#1 BUILDERS

Verse: Nehemiah 4:9: “So we prayed to our God and stationed a guard because of them [furious plotters, verse 8] day and night.” (HCSB)

Throughout history, the builder has frequently also had to defend what they have built against those who do not want the building done. Sometimes it is a spiritual “building project,” and sometimes it is a physical project with a spiritual aspect. Whether it was the Anasazi defending their cliff dwellings against nomadic raiders, a contractor protecting his equipment and job-site against eco-freak “monkeywrenchers,” or an inner-city ministry defending their chapel against a street gang, they can all appreciate the situation in the rebuilding of Jerusalem 2500 years ago.

Prayer is essential; it is a powerful weapon in the arsenal of the believer. But Nehemiah and his fellow builders in Jerusalem were careful to recognize that faith inspires works. As Nehemiah 4:15 records, they stood watch against their enemies “with their swords, spears, and bows.” While trusting the Lord, they were prepared and ready to fight if needed. They understood that they were not to depend on their own ability, though. They knew that “Our God will fight for us.” (4:20).

This sound Biblical principle applies to all endeavors we undertake, spiritual and physical. James tells us (2:17), “faith, if it doesn’t have works, is dead by itself.” “Watching” was clearly, to Nehemiah and his pioneers, more than just being alert and sounding an alarm. It included an active defense and required weapons. An unarmed watchman is worthless.”

Yes, they still trusted to the Lord that they were prepared enough, that He would keep them alert and ready “unto every good work,” even when that work required physical defense against those attacking them, their work, their families, and their community.

Are we able to do the same today?

Read also: James 2: 22-24, and Psalm 127: 1-3.

Song: Remember Me, O Mighty One

#2 INFANTS IN EVIL

Verse: 1 Corinthians 14:20. “Brethren, don’t be childish in your thinking, but be infants in evil and adult in your thinking.” (HCSB)

We often see and comment on how a child implicitly trusts their father and mother, in ways that an adult would not trust even a parent. Although sometimes that trust is misplaced, such is rare. And it is important, because the child does not always realize the danger offered by walking across a street or highway, listening to the blandishments of a stranger, or dealing with adult tools and equipment.

Children often try NOT to see evil, bad things, and do not look forward and consider what can go wrong. Yet, they are trusting and all too often, we as Christians think that it is this sort of childish behavior that we are to imitate. Paul corrects that misunderstanding in this passage. An adult anticipates and plans for things to go wrong, instead of just “hoping” that all will go right. Then (childlike), the adult does not think of evil to do to respond when things go wrong. It is not ungodly to take actions to avoid and respond to evil, whether physical or spiritual. Indeed, it is wisdom as God defines such. But like a little child, we should exhibit faith and be free of malice, and not acquiesce in evil deeds, either by submitting to them or allowing someone (or ourselves) to be forced into doing evil in return, as a result of the evil done to us.

Read also: Hebrews 5:12, 14, and 2 Peter 3:18.

Song: Children of the Heavenly King

#3 ONLY A LITTLE BOY

Verse: 1 Samuel 17:47. “And this whole assembly will know that it is not by sword or by spear that the Lord saves, for the battle is the Lord’s. He will hand you over to us.” (HCSB)

It is not uncommon, in the news I review, to find a story about a young boy who has rushed to the defense of his mother, his sister, or an elder, against a physical attack by a man, taking what weapons are available, including (in recent months) a knife, a club, or even a pistol. Often, these modern children are younger than the young boy who spoke that day so long ago.

David’s ringing words of faith echo through the ages. Unfortunately, the modern “standard” view fails to remember the rest of the story. Indeed, a popular denominational preacher goes on from this verse to claim “spiritual battles are not won by bullets, nor by ballots, nor by any human means.” This, we are told, means that we need do nothing (or at least, nothing physical) and let God do everything.

According to this idea, David should not have run “forward to meet the Philistine [Goliath],” nor “took out a stone, slung, and hit the Philistine” (17:48-49). As verse 50 says, “David defeated the Philistine.” He did it with God’s help, he did it by God’s grace, but it was a human who did it. He did not, as so many “believers” today, merely sink to his knees to pray for God’s intervention; rather, he stepped out boldly knowing that God was with him because he had prepared and knew what to do.

His battle was physical, but he and Samuel and the Lord knew it was a physical part of an essentially spiritual battle. The battle was for the spiritual life of Israel; the freedom of the Hebrews to worship and serve God and live at peace in their land. So too, today, many physical battles are only a part of a spiritual war, a war against evil, tyranny, humanism, and death. The battle, then and now, IS the Lord’s, and He demands that we (like David) go forth, armed and prepared both physically and spiritually, trusting in Him, and WIN.

Read also: Psalm 33:16, 18, and Matthew 16:18.

Song: Only an armor bearer (Bliss)

#4 RESCUE US!

Verse: Matthew 6:13: “And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one, for Yours is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever, Amen.” (HCSB)

One small piece of Morse Code that virtually every person in the Western world knows is “S.O.S.” – the cry for help: da-da-dah, dit-dit-dit, da-da-dah. It is a call sent out only in extremis, when all efforts at our own rescue have failed. But even this ultimate cry is impossible without some preparation and action on our own part to recognize the danger, have a means of communication, and know how to use that.

This last phrase of the “model prayer” (often mislabeled the “Lord’s Prayer”) reminds us that our destiny is in God’s hands, no matter what evil we face, and no matter how we are tested. It is a powerful appeal: “Rescue us from evil!” Evil comes in many forms, manifesting itself in both spiritual and physical aspects. When looking at the whole prayer, it is obvious both spiritual and physical evil, and rescue from both, is implied. The same is true of both “bread” and “debts.” (Verse 12).

Our prayer for daily bread and relief from debt does not and should not take away our responsibility to go out and earn the money or raise and process our food, or work to discharge our obligations to others. Few people who claim to follow God would claim otherwise. We trust our Heavenly Father to see that we are fed, and to forgive our debts, but we understand that this is not a license to be lazy.

In the same way, our prayer for rescue from evil should not be viewed as justification to do nothing to protect ourselves from either physical or spiritual evil. God will deliver us, but He requires that we be prepared and able to take the opportunity He provides to protect ourselves and our loved ones from danger, just as we would take the opportunity He gives us to earn a living (our daily bread) and repay our debts. Our faith is no excuse for inaction.

Read also: James 1: 22-25, and James 2:18-19.

Song: Deliver me from evil (Mendelssohn)

#5 VALLEY OF THE SHADOW

Verse: Psalm 23:4: “Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear [no] danger, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff — they comfort me.”

Valleys are dangerous places for soldiers and explorers, pleasant and bountiful as they may be: death in the form of natural dangers and ambush hiding in the dimness, sudden floodwaters, and a lack of escape routes are not pleasant to contemplate, and indeed may be feared by many.

We know this verse better with an alternate reading: “the valley of the shadow of death.” And indeed, there is no darker valley, sunlight or moonlight, than a valley where the threat of death lies heavy and danger is strong. No wonder that this is a beloved verse for generations of soldiers and pioneers familiar with the presence and threat of death.

But today, let us pay more attention to the last clause, to the Lord’s rod and staff. These were the shepherd’s tools, indeed, the shepherd’s weapons. They were intended to protect both him and his charges, and anyone with him. By today’s standards, we don’t think much of such “primitive” weapons, but they were often all that was available to face the threats to the shepherd and his flock. As the very writer of this psalm knew from personal experience, sometimes the human-made rod and staff were not enough to protect either the shepherd or his flock. David himself had to use both sling and sword to carry out his duties as shepherd. But even those might sometimes have been seen as unequal to the task, without the Lord’s help. All these weapons were still gifts of God, by way of man’s ingenuity.

Today, our modern weaponry is still a gift of the Lord, through the creativeness of men, to use to defend ourselves and our flock, whatever form that flock may take: our responsibilities to family, to church, to community, indeed, to our people. But no matter how powerful our tools of defense may be, they are puny indeed compared to the power of the Lord Himself to guard and defend us. David did not walk through the “valley of the shadow” unarmed and alone; and neither should we today. And we must remember that however powerful our weapons might be, compared to those of the shepherd David, they are still not enough to defend what must be defended without the Lord’s rod and staff.

Are we able to fear no danger in the darkest valley today?

Read also: Isaiah 42:3, and Psalm 95:7-11.

Song: Tarry with me (Scott or Smith)

#6 BEING PREPARED

Verse: Luke 22:34-36: ‘He also said to them, "When I sent you out without moneybag, traveling bag, or sandals, did you lack anything?" "Not a thing," they said. 36 Then He said to them, "But now, whoever has a moneybag should take it, and also a traveling bag. And whoever doesn't have a sword should sell his robe and buy one.”’

This passage contrasts starkly with the popular “christian” perspective of “Gentle Jesus, meek and mild,” or the “Jesus-freak” hippie-like pacifist Jesus of the late 1960s and on. Few if any advocates of “Christian pacifism” will dare address this teaching of Jesus, instead skipping immediately to His rebuke of Peter for slicing off Malchus’ ear as “proof” that even defense of a family member, let along self-defense, is unchristian.

The problem the pacifist christian has with this verse is resolved if the distinction between aggressive and defensive action is understood. To the usual pacifist, ANY violence is automatically wrong, a position which has led, in some cases, to the idea that the Lord of the Old Testament is actually some demonic impostor because He allowed and even ordered violence. So warfare between nations is equated to defending yourself against a home invader or a mugger, and soon leads to the idea that you are doing the “christian” thing to refuse to come to the aid of a child being molested or an innocent being beaten by cops.

Fortunately, the Lord Jesus and His apostles in the first century understood the difference. Paul saw no conflict in using Roman forces to defend himself against the plotting of his fellow Hebrews, and (despite claims to the contrary) saw no reason for soldiers converted to Christ to immediately leave their service. Nor did he condemn the use of the “sword” to punish and deter criminals. Jesus ordered His disciples to be prepared to defend themselves; a defense surely not limited to wild animals nor bad weather, as they spread across the world to preach the Good News. But over the centuries (as with so much else), some of His words have been ignored even while others (such as the Sermon on the Mount) have been twisted into incomprehension. Even as the definition of “meek” has been twisted from “great power held in check” to just plain “weak.”

As with Jesus in the Temple, Paul in Philippi (and Caesarea and Rome), today His followers are authorized, even required, to use force to defend, while His teachings continue to forbid us to attack or force people to do anything beyond cease from their attacks against us. Whether done directly or indirectly, with a hand, a fist, a knife, a sword, a pistol, a rifle or an atomic weapon, the method of defense is not at issue; the reason for employing force is.

Are we prepared to follow Christ’s commands or just what people claim He taught?

Read also: Luke 11:21, Luke 22:34-36.

Song: God is our refuge and our strength

#9 LAYING DOWN OUR LIVES

Verse: John 15: 12-13: “This is My command: love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life for his friends.”

Note Jesus’ words in this passage very carefully. He is speaking to His followers: not those who reject Him and His message. As He said later, in Matthew 26:28 (also Mark 14:24) to his Apostles, "...this is my blood of the new covenant, which is being shed for many…” He did not (as the current Roman Catholic mass and doctrines of many denominations teach) say “for all men.” He is, in his own words, the sacrifice “for His friends.” We are not to die for our enemies, or for “humankind,” or for “the sake of peace.” We are to be willing to love Him and each other (that is, others who are followers of Jesus Christ) enough to be willing to lay down our lives for Him and one another.

What does it mean to “lay down our lives?” It is more than just being willing to die; it is being willing to risk our lives for one another. A human phrase comes to mind: the men who once pledged “our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor” for the cause of liberty. We are to intervene when our comrades in faith are threatened: and that does not just mean impose our bodies between them and the bullet or blade or blast. It means to actively intervene even with force, if necessary, to protect one another. We must be effective, as Jesus was, if we do indeed give our lives for others: it does no good to die if our sacrifice is not effective to save the life(s) for which it is given. That Passovertide was not the first time His enemies had sought His death; He knew that He must give His life for us at the right time.

Are we prepared to follow His example?

Read also: Matthew 26:28, Mark 14:24, Romans 13:8-10

Song: I walk with the King

#10 CLEANSING THE TEMPLE

Luke 19:45-46: “He went into the temple complex and began to throw out those who were selling, and He said, ‘It is written, My house will be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.’”

Too often, we are willing to walk or drive right past something that is wrong, harmful, evil, and obvious, but ignore it for whatever reason.

When people go around asking “what would Jesus do?” we virtually never hear this incident cited as an example of Christ’s actions which we expect to follow. Many people are rather embarrassed by it, in fact, as if it were something shameful for the Prince of Peace to use violence. Others claim that He did not “use” violence but only “hinted” or “threatened” violence.

The text is clear: “He… began to throw out…” Our Lord DID violently take action; He DID attack these people. There clearly comes a time when talk is not enough and action is required. And notice, He did not send His disciples to do the work; He did it Himself. He incited no one to violence, He did not command anyone to attack – He acted. Too many religious (and political) leaders today, of all stripes, seek to distance themselves from such things, claiming no responsibility for the actions of their followers even when they have incited them to do something. How different our Lord is!

He had been challenged the first time He did this (John 2:14-16) and He explained the reason for His violence. It was His Father’s house: HE had the authority to defend what was His, against the defilement that making it into a marketplace, a den of thieves, had caused. Violence was acceptable to defend a spiritual principle, to uphold a right of ownership. Even if there was not violence directly offered by those offenders.

The Lord teaches, in word and deed, that there are things and circumstances that demand action, even violent action; even to the point of arming ourselves (as He did with a whip, John 2:15) to attack and end evil actions which harm ourselves, and others. Like Him, we must be careful to do so when it CAN make a difference, when the time is right. He had been to the temple many times, but only two times did He take action. Like Him, we must make it clear WHY we are doing so. We must never resort to such action lightly, and our actions must be appropriate to the threat.

Today, we understand that we are God’s temple, and “that God’s Spirit lives” in us (1 Corinthians 3:16-17). If Christ Himself was willing to use violence to defend a temple which was to be destroyed in a few short years, how much more should we be prepared to defend a child of God?

Read also: Matthew 21:12-13; Mark 11:15-17; Luke 19:45-46, John 2:14-16.

Song: Where He leads I’ll follow

#11 FAITH AND WORKS

James 2:14: “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith, but does not have works? Can his faith save him?” 24: “You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.”

The story is told of the old couple sitting on the roof of their house in the middle of a flood, praying for God to save them from the waters. A neighbor comes by in his boat and offers to take them to dry land, but they refuse, saying that they trust God to save them. A while later, a National Guard helicopter also offers to airlift them to safety and again they decline, and return to their prayers. The house suddenly is lifted off the foundation by the rising waters and they nearly fall, but their prayers increase in fervency. Finally, the Lord sends an angel who appears to them. They reach to grab the angel’s hands only to find them insubstantial. “How can you rescue us if you can’t carry us to safety?” the woman cries out. “I’m just here to find out what is wrong with you,” the angel tells them. “The Lord sent a boat, the Lord sent a helicopter. What more did you need?”

Faith, living faith, demands action. We trust in God for our daily bread, pure water to drink, safety in our daily lives, security in our homes and businesses, and good health. But we do not neglect to plant and cultivate food (or go to the store to buy them). We are zealous to prevent pollution of our water supply. We do not neglect properly maintaining our automobiles, nor do we run across busy freeways on foot. We put our valuables away and lock our doors. And we visit our doctors, get our exercise, and eat right. (Or, rather, we admit that we should be doing all these things!)

Hardly ever will you hear anyone claiming, “well, if you really trusted God, you’d not worry about these things.” Although sometimes you will hear a quote from Jesus’ sermon on the Mount: “Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing.” (Matthew 6:25b)

Too often, though, people seem to pull out that quote when we start talking about protecting ourselves against evil men by being armed, or when we discuss the need to preserve our God-given freedoms against tyrants and enemies. We appear to have a double standard – we are willing to take action against what might be an obvious and immediate threat (being hungry or thirsty) but are willing to “trust in God” for not-so-obvious and perhaps more distant threats. (Yet, how many people who claim to be followers of Christ do not buy flood or hurricane insurance?)

Clearly, God does not distinguish between faith and works the way men do: He expects us to do what we can, to the best of our ability, to take care of the daily troubles of life, and to trust Him to provide what is beyond our control. That is the point of Jesus’ words: we trust God that our daily actions will be blessed by Him and that He will ensure that we have what is needful. And that includes ways to defend ourselves against evil.

Read also: Matthew 6:24-29, Ephesians 6:10

Song: Yes, for me He careth

#12 SELF-DEFENSE: A CASE STUDY

Acts 16:22-23: “Then the mob joined in the attack against them, and the chief magistrate stripped off their clothes and ordered them to be beaten with rods. After they had inflicted many blows on them, they threw them into jail, ordering the jailer to keep them securely guarded.”

Falsely accused, attacked and dragged to court, when egged on by a mob, a perhaps-fearful judge humiliates and punishes them in violation of the law. Paul and his companions surely had the God-given right to defend themselves against this evil. Yet they did not. They seem to have offered no resistance.

This, it is said, is the way Christians are always supposed to behave – we are never to resist evil in any physical way; only spiritual resistance is right. Some even state that even verbal resistance is wrong, saying that we are to imitate the Savior. “He did not open His mouth. Like a lamb led to the slaughter and like a sheep silent…” (Isaiah 52:7). We are constantly taught about the early martyrs, unresisting as wild animals tore them apart and as soldiers and gladiators pierced them with swords, sliced off their heads, and set them alight as torches on crosses.

However, this picture of Paul is at odds with the Paul seen just a few verses later, in 36-40. Gone is the compliant Paul; there are no sweet words of gratitude. Rather, he is demanding – indeed, threatening – to these government officials. We see that same side of Paul elsewhere: in chapters 23 and 26, we see this apostle challenging and standing on his rights, willing to use not just the threat of violence but actually the violent action of Roman soldiers to defend himself.

What gives? Morally, can there be any difference between wielding the weapon yourself or having someone do it for you? Clearly, some other interpretation of verses 22-23 is needed. Paul was led by the Spirit; his actions can be assumed acceptable to God (Galatians 4:12-14). What he did was right and proper, in both places. Physical resistance would have been foolish and useless, facing the mob either in the square or the courtroom: resisting the judge’s illegal decree would have accomplished nothing save a worse beating and even death “resisting.” Later, with different conditions, the resistance, defiance, and threat of force to defend himself DID have good chances of succeeding. Paul understood what it meant to abuse our Christian liberty.