09/04/25 C O... EXPLAINED

09/04/25 C/O... EXPLAINED

"Conscientious Objector" does not adequately define or explain the New Testament position of Christian non-violence, since the title can be claimed by people for a variety of reasons, even if they are diametrically opposed to the Jesus and the New Testament, such as Muhammad Ali.

Basically, the New Testament view of Christian non-violence is Christians do not deliberately kill other human beings, even for protection of property or life. The New Testament teaches that the State has the responsibility to protect the law abiding and the responsibility to punish the law breaker.

The State and the Church are two different and separate entities in the economy of God, each serving a distinct purpose in God's plan, the State bearing the sword of steel and the Church bearing the sword of the Spirit. The State does not have the relationship with God, which the Church has, and it does not serve the same function in the world that the State does. The State does not have the right to require Christians to disobey God in anything, including killing anyone. Even the State is under the authority of God and must meet certain criteria when exercising the sword of steel.

The New Testament instructs Christians to pay legitimate taxes, which includes the State's responsibility to protect the citizenry against our enemies, foreign and domestic, but when the State claims the right to send Christians to kill other people, the Christian must obey God rather than men.

Remember...
The New Testament does not command anyone to kill anyone.
The New Testament does not commend anyone for killing anyone.
The New Testament does not condone Christians killing anyone.
The New Testament forbids and condemns Christians to kill anyone.
The New Testament actually teaches that Christ followers will not kill anyone.
Followers of Christ and His revelation in the New Testament do not kill other people.

Don't be upset with me. I am only the messenger. The message is God's revelation. It only appears to be a hard saying to those who have been misled to believe in Christians killing other people.

Do not follow in the steps of the wayward Roman religion or the steps of the Reformation leaders, who built their churchmanship on Roman Catholic errors. Discover what God said in the New Testament and commit yourself to follow in the steps of God's leading.

Christian non-violence is not an easy way out of a difficult dilemma. Christians are persecuted and hated for following Jesus for many reasons, and holding to the New Testament view of Christian non-violence is one of those reasons we are hated.

Christian non-violence is not a cowardly response to violence.
God has various ways to deal with oppression and violence, but resorting killing is not one of them.

Being non-violent does not mean simply surrendering to evil or violence, but it does mean responding in God's way.
Refusing to kill another person is not to be confused with passively sitting by while being victimized.
There are non-violent options, but obedience to God is essential.

God has often intervened on behalf of believers who chose God's way rather than the way of human violence.
God does not always deliver His people from all oppression and suffering in this present evil world.