Christians oftentimes accuse other Christians of cowardice and even an accessory after the fact for teaching that we should let authorities deal with violence. From the old to the New Testament indifference, i.e., inaction to suffering is clearly condemned:
“Rescue those who are being taken away to death, And those who are stumbling to slaughter, Oh hold them back.” Proverbs 24:11
“To one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.” James 4:17
In the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25–37), the priest and Levite “pass by on the other side.” They do nothing. The Samaritan draws near, helps, and pays the cost. Jesus says: “Go and you do likewise.” Luke 10:37 But Jesus also time and again commands his followers not to use physical violence or take revenge:
“Do not resist by evil means the one who is evil; but whoever slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.” Matthew 5:39
Paul echoes this:
“Do not repay anyone evil for evil…Beloved, do not take revenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God….Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:17, 19, 21
It is clear that the church is under the law of Messiah (1 Corinthians 9:21), not the law of “an eye for an eye.” So to take matters into your own Christian hands, with a weapon in hand, is disobedience to Jesus.
Later, Paul, Right after forbidding revenge in Romans 12, describes the role of those who do:
“For rulers are not a terror to good conduct but to bad…for it is God’s servant for your good. But if you do what is bad, be afraid, for it does not bear the sword for nothing, for it is God’s servant, an avenger for wrath on the one who does what is bad.” Romans 13:3–4
So that two truths stand together:
- Believers must not take vengeance (Romans 12).
- Civil authorities, in this age, bear “the sword” to restrain evil (Romans 13).
Christians are “aliens and strangers” (1 Peter 2:11), citizens of the coming Kingdom, not the sword of the state. But the state still exists. God can use its imperfect systems to protect life.
Calling on the authorities in an emergency is therefore Not drawing a weapon, not repaying evil for evil. It is reporting the truth about an evil situation about to take place and appealing to existing authority to deal with it. Those authorities will answer to God and so will Christians who become complicit in lies, starting violence, but not simply for reporting evil and asking for help.
