The New Testament church faced greater dangers than we do... they didn't equip men with swords to protect themselves. They saw Christ's words as being a commandment. They had a high regard for the Word of God and sought to obey it... even if it meant enduring tragedy and/or death.
“But God said unto me, Thou shalt not build an
house for my name, because thou hast been a man of
war, and hast shed blood” (I Chronicles 28:3).
“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. . . . Love your enemies, bless them
that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and
pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute
you” (Matthew 5:39, 44).
“Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they
that take the sword shall perish with the sword” (Matthew
26:52).
“And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying,
And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do
violence to no man” (Luke 3:14).
"But that we write unto them, that they abstain
from pollutions of idols, and from fornication,
and from things strangled, and from blood."
(Acts 15:20).
“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war
after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are
not carnal)” (II Corinthians 10:3-4).
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood”
(Ephesians 6:12).
“Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he
doth not resist you” (James 5:6).
I think it shows how little the modern church regards the teachings of Jesus and the true cost of being a Christian. Jesus never promised that it would be safe being a Christian, in fact he promised that it wouldn't be safe. Why doesn't this preacher begin preaching the Word of God and remind his church about the cost of being a follower of Jesus in a sinful and violent world?
"Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any
man will come after me, let him deny himself,
and take up his cross, and follow me."
(Matthew 16:24).
"Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted,
and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all
nations for my name's sake." (Matthew 24:9)
"They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time
cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he
doeth God service." (John 16:2)
In times like these we need to turn to the Word. Spelled W-O-R-D not S-W-O-R-D.
What should have happened on Sunday, December 9, 2007, when Matthew Murray stormed into New Life Church, determined to kill as many Christians as he could? What did happen is a church security guard shot him. She stopped him from killing any more people. You think she was wrong to shoot him? You think God counts it as sin?
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Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
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