Hi, I know of certain scriptures that state "resist NOT evil...turn the other cheek" etc. Does this mean that we cannot defend ourselves or our families? If my wife was being attacked by a rapist and I have the chance to save her life, but the only way to do so was to severely hurt or even kill the attacker, do I just sit there and watch as she is raped and possibly murdered or am I permitted to take physical action in order to protect my family?
Yes, I'm sure some will say "thou shalt not KILL"... However, it actually says "thou shalt not MURDER". "Murder" and "killing" are obviously not the same thing. Murder is an evil act for the sole PURPOSE of doing harm on someone, either in revenge, hatred or some other evil intention. Killing to protect your loved ones obviously does not fall in that same category.
Someone else may say, "love thine enemy". Yes! However, killing or hurting an attacker to protect your family does NOT mean that you have a LICK of hatred in your heart towards the individual (enemy) either. So basically, to me, it is an issue of the HEART. I believe your heart is RIGHT to do what is necessary to protect your family from an attacker. However, would your heart be right if you then go out to hunt the individual who attacked your wife to cause harm on him after the fact? I would say no. This would be a spirit of revenge. Giant difference.
What are your thoughts on this?
Jeremy