Is a Christian entitled to self-defense? If that is the case, how does that work with the teaching of Jesus that we are to turn the other cheek and go the extra mile?
Should a true follower of Jesus be a complete pacifist? Or can a Christian actually be in favor of war? More specifically, can a Christian, in good conscience, serve in the military or as a law enforcement officer?
These questions have been asked for hundreds of years, and they are valid questions. In the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7), Jesus deals with this issue and far more.
Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount to His disciples. Its standards are not those by which a society is governed as much as they are principles by which a true follower of Jesus is to live. The real theme of the Sermon on the Mount is simply this: the heart of the matter is the matter of the heart.
That is why Jesus saved His most scathing words not for tax collectors or for prostitutes, but for Pharisees. He told them, "Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness" (Matthew 23:28).
Jesus was looking at their hearts. And God is still looking at human hearts today.
Have you ever actually wanted to kill someone? Has someone ever made you so angry that you almost could have? Let me put it another way: Have you ever driven on a freeway during rush hour?
Let's be honest. We have all felt that kind of anger. This is why we are warned about going "in the way of Cain" in Jude 1:11.
Cain was a murderer. His murderous motive started with envy when he saw that God accepted his brother Abel's sacrifice over his. That envy ultimately led to murder. And that is why we have to nip these things in the bud.
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