I've always been of the mind that (justified) violence is a-okay, but a while ago I had a real confirming moment. I won't go into too many details, but basically my wife and I were in a very dangerous spot when God sent someone to rescue us literally at the last moment. I left with the distinct conviction that I as a husband need to be more capable of protecting my wife, and as a man of protecting all innocence. Luke 22:36 has been ringing in my head. I have started working out, I conceal carry now (I used to, but got out of the habit a couple years ago), and I am learning how to threat-identify. It is now a mission of mine to remind Christian men of this duty, and have a church full of men who are both deep and strong.

Does it bring glory to Christ that you defend yourself against an assistant attempting to murder you? Debatably. Does it bring glory to Christ that you allow yourself to be hacked to death by a lunatic? If it could be argued, then may pigs fly. In all that we do, we should aspire that it, ultimately, may bring glory to the Lord God. Jumping in front of your family to let them rum from the approaching lion is heroic, and brings great glory to the Lord. You have fulfilled your purpose as a father and a man. Walking up to the lion without purpose is foolish. You ought not test your Lord with such idiocies. Do not fight, when you are able. Always fight, when you must.

I'm Catholic adolescent from Poland. Faith is really important to me and i've been trying my best to learn about theology to figure out, how to live my life the way that would make Our Father proud. Usually i trust the interpretations of the majority for it makes sense to me that if the majority of the qualified people interpret the bible in one way then it is most likely the right way. However I've watched numerous videos about christian view on self defence and the overwhelming majority of them say that violence is only acceptable when: 1. A parent protects his family, when there is a leathal threat. 2. The police force and the army use it to defend its people. But when you are being assaulted you ACTUALLY SHOULD turn the other cheek and NOT respond with violence. I've been thinking a lot about this and i came to the conclusion that I refuse this idea for it is absurd. A Christian should not attack, bully or assault. A Christian should use violence only to protect himself or others. If i somebody attacked me, started hitting me, i would absolutely hit him right back enough times so that he would understand that he cannot mess with me for i WILL protect myself. And I believe that others should do the same. Being passive to violence or bullying means allowing it and I wholeheartedly believe that our God would not want that. Somebody insults you with words? Turn the other cheek. Show that it does not affect you. Somebody assaults you? Tries to humiliate you? Fight back, protect yourself, don't let them think that their actions will go without consequences. You're a Human, you've got God given Dignity and you are NOT a punching bag. Amen.

Jesus was not adverse to using violence and held no general principle against violent action in itself, he endorsed self-defense as a last resort. He only told us to love our enemies and to turn the other cheek, which means to forgive those who seek forgiveness interpersonally, and to be stoic. War is justified only insofar that it meets the requirements of a Just War, and that you as an individual hold no hatred or animosity to those you are fighting. treat all with honor and dignity.

"Can Christians ever fight?" Literally everyone in the old testament: Yes.

I don't know how one would separate one's vocation from one's interpersonal life

Awesome content! Brilliant mind

God bless ❤ Praise be to Jesus our Lord and Savior

Sometimes peace is not an option.

Very interesting zoomer, I’m catholic trying that’s been to strengthen my faith in the past few months. At the same time I’m also trying to join the U.S. Marine Corps, and it’s been kinda hard to put the two together. I know that there definitely have been other Christians in the branch, but I didn’t know how to handle my faith and future career at the same time. Also I thought you were gonna mention that the 6th commandment “thou shalt not kill” has been mistranslated and the original was “thou shalt not murder”. Very good video👍

i love your videos

I mean, there a lot of important centurions in the New Testament described as men of God.

the 5th commandment is a mistranslation it is thou shall not murder which means there is times were it is ok

I would love for you tackle Christian Anarchism as its unique in its approach to how Christians should view the state (the name kinda gives it away) and many of its views are similar to anabaptists albeit more politically charged I’d recommend Christian Anarchism: A Political Commentary on the Gospels for run down of the core beliefs

Pursue peace when you can endure bloodshed when you must

Gearing up for the protestant retaking of the holyland

I Greet Thee, Who My Sure Redeemer Art ❤️

I am not Reformed or Calvinist, but I can learn good stuff from them.

Great video! Can you talk about calvinism in the OT or maybe make an IG post about it? I was just reading Psalm 20:6 "Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed; he will answer him from his holy heaven with the saving might of his right hand." It sounds like the elect and I want to learn more but there are very few videos I can find on youtube that talk about this (and most are anti-calvinist).

Hi, I'm currently working on a Grad School paper and I was wondering where in the Reformed Tradition (as a Catholic I'm not too familiar) they talk about "vocation"? Thanks

"If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." Romans 12:18. Sometimes it doesn't depend on us. On the topic of "turn the other cheek" (and it's paired statement, "if anyone takes you shirt, give them your cloak also"), I once had a theology professor who made the argument that, in their cultural context, these statements may have meant something closer to "If someone attacks you, instead of fighting them directly, defend yourself by making it shameful for them to attack you farther." She also purported that "An eye for an eye," was meant to be the upper limit of retribution (specifically in legal arbitration), not a standard or minimum, i.e., justice should be fair, not vengeful.

Nice

I've always wondered implications of going to war with another country like Russia where a large majority are Christian

The point of giving up the tax isn’t that you should pay your taxes. The coin is the property of the republic, regardless of whose pocket it’s in. You need to pay the tax not because it’s just arbitrarily good to pay taxes and indirectly contribute to evil, which makes no sense, but because the currency is the property of the state and not the individual that holds it.

From the Catholic faith, we believe Pacifism to be an egregious sin. You turn the other cheek when your pride is at stake but when other lives are at stake you must put your enemy to the sword as a righteous society cannot be ruled by the unrighteous. Of course, those who live by the sword die by the sword, so don’t take vengeance. Room must be left for God’s vengeance.

@Redeemed Zoomer can I get your opinion on a Christian doing MMA?

For a man that’s supposed to be hyper pacifist, the lack of Jesus or the New Testament explicitly condemning violence used in the name of justice has always struck me as odd. That certainly isnt the case in the Old Testament *AT ALL.* The verses usually brought out to defend their position are actually pretty vague when you think about it. That’s not to say the pacifist position doesn’t have its merits, but it’s far too strict to be credible, IMHO. The strongest argument for the pacifists position is clearly from the pre-Nicene church, but even there, the situation is much more ambiguous than is often claimed. The idea of a hyper non-violent early church that totally forbade military service has been disputed by many historians. “Scholars are not agreed on the question of the attitude of the early Church towards military service. Some claim the evidence clearly points to a pacifist position (Bainton and Horus, following Cadoux), others that there is plenty of material to show that Christians in fact served in the Roman army, and developments after Constantine, when Christianity became the religion of the Empire, were certainly anticipated in the earlier period (Harnack, Helgeland/Daly/Burns). Those who have examined the material have too often approached it with an axe to grind. Those who would in principle seek to be objective, must recognize the fact that there is no such thing as an entirely neutral observer, and the presentation of the evidence involves interpretation whether we like it or not.” “The Early Church: Military Service, War and Peace.” by Frances Young.

Amen🙏🕊️❤️😇✝️😊😀🍞🍷🎉

Was the American revolution justified then? If not, should we give america back to whoever all had it first? Or do we only keep the Louisiana Purchase? The war was declared on a government format. As far as paying taxes go, I pay my taxes, but I don't think Jesus would say it is right to pay taxes to a government who funds baby killing, ESPECIALLY when people desperately need finances to eat and be sheltered.

15:09 link? :D

Most orthodox protestant out there

It says just play mindcraft lol.

Can you give an example of a just war in the last, let's say, two centuries? And if someone refused to participate (i.e. agree to kill other people), would that be considered a sin?

imma summon herobrine to haunt your minecraft server

15:47 I hate when people do this. Lutheranism/Anglicanism shouldn't be an experimental zone for Protestants playing around with Catholicism. They're traditions with communities grown around them in their own right -- stop using my heritage as your gateway drug.

I must disagree on several points here. The whole argument from Augustine only works if he is reliable, but his argument about vocation is simply not found in the Bible. Yes, John the baptist did not call soldiers to leave their faith, but his whole purpose was to point to Jesus, John the baptist was Jewish, not Christian, and the Mosaic Law was still in force. Yes, we are called to do our job well, but not if that job is sinful. If our job is "shoe maker", make great shoes, but if our job is "tobacco farmer", grow something else, and if our job is "soldier", quit, or if you're conscripted, endure persecution rather than sin. Jesus commanded us at John 13:34-35 I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, you also love one another. By this all will know that you are my disciples-if you have love among yourselves.” We CANNOT be showing love among ourselves if we are killing each other for some Ceaser or other.

well Romans 13 has officially made me not Christian anymore

UUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

I think you missed the target big time on this one. I don't know how you can love your enemy while you're shooting him in the head. I don't think we just get to throw out the first 300 years of church history because Saint Augustine said something different. Even if you are going to use just war theory we have to remember that it's actually a specific thing with very specific tenants and I would argue that they're has never been a war that has actually met all of the criteria of just war theory so none of the wars we ever fight are actually just ones. Before America dropped the first nuke the pilots took communion from a Catholic priest and then flew across the ocean, used a Catholic cathedral as the landmark to aim their bomb and dropped the nuke on a church in a city with no military base that was filled with non-combatants including extra children because the Japanese had moved children there from other cities where there were military bases.

You say, "If it is your vocation", It's okay to commit violence. What if your vocation is "Prostitute"? Assassin? Drug dealer?

What I'm learning from RedeemedZoomer so far: pronouns in your bio are evil, killing people for money (as a soldier) is good. Got it!