How do you respond when people mistreat you?
What's your general way of responding?
Well, you know, the answer really depends on how we're mistreated.
As I'm going to point out as we go through this message this morning,
we live or we have been going through over the past several weeks now
Romans chapter 12.
We've been studying that chapter of Scripture.
We've learned how God wants us to live in a right relationship with Him
and how He wants us to live in relationship with other people.
When we got to Romans chapter 12 verses 14 through 21,
we found that we are expected, called by God,
to do everything that we can to live peacefully with people.
Do everything that we can to avoid conflict, if possible.
I want you to note some examples.
We'll look at them quickly.
This is from Romans 12.
Bless those who persecute you.
Bless and do not curse them.
Repay no one evil for evil,
but give thought to do what is honorable or right in the sight of all.
If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Where in the world would Paul get something like that?
Well, he learned it from Jesus.
That's what Jesus taught.
As we looked at last week in Matthew chapter 5, verses 38 through 42.
I want us to look at it quickly.
What Jesus said.
You have heard that it was said,
an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
But I say to you, do not resist the one who is evil.
But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek,
turn to him the other also.
If anyone would sue you and take your tunic, your shirt,
let him have your cloak, your overcoat as well.
If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.
Give to the one who begs from you,
and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.
Next week, we're going to look at Matthew chapter 5,
beginning in verse 43, where Jesus told us to love our enemies.
Now, in light of all this,
in light of what we've just read,
we need to be thinking,
is God telling us we've got to give up
on the idea of justice in this world?
Is Paul and Jesus telling us
that a Christian could not serve in the military,
could not be a law enforcement officer,
are these verses,
are they actually saying
that we could never defend our families or ourself?
Well, the answer to all three questions is no.
That's not what's being said.
Christians may and we should seek justice.
We can and should defend our families
and even our own lives
when they're threatened under certain circumstances.
Christians may certainly serve in the military
or be law enforcement officers.
God not only allows,
but He expects us,
as we live in this world,
as Christians,
as faithful Christians,
He expects us to seek justice,
to protect our families,
even our own lives,
just make sure we do it in appropriate ways.
That's what we're going to be looking at
as we go through this message.
But first,
I want to do a little quick reminder from last week.
First of all,
God prohibits us from seeking revenge
or retaliating against our enemies.
If you weren't here last week,
I'd encourage you to go online
and listen to that message.
God prohibits us from seeking revenge
or retaliating against our enemies.
God expects us to treat people better
than they treat us.
And what He wants us to do
is learn to exercise restraint.
Don't just have a mindset,
whatever somebody does to me,
I'm going to do it back.
I'm going to do it worse.
I'm not going to get mad.
I'm going to get even,
as I said last week.
That's not how we are called to live as Christians
in our relationships with other people,
even our enemies.
That doesn't mean we've got to let the bad guys win.
That doesn't mean they're going to win
because they won't.
Paul stressed
that God will make sure
that the bad guys don't win.
That justice will prevail.
But what we've got to do
is learn to trust Him.
We've got to learn to trust
that God's going to make things right.
That's what Paul talks about
in Romans 12, verse 19.
He says,
Beloved, never avenge yourselves,
but leave it to the wrath of God.
For it is written,
Vengeance is mine,
I will repay,
says the Lord.
Here's what we need to understand.
There's a lot of bad in this world.
There's a lot of evil people in this world.
There's a lot of people who will hurt you,
who will hurt your family,
who will hurt this country,
who will hurt people.
And the idea is not
God's telling His people,
well, you don't worry about it.
Just let it go.
It'll be all right.
No.
Scripture's telling us,
among other things,
we need to learn to trust God
that He will make things right.
He will avenge His people.
We can trust Him.
And Paul said,
elaborated on this
in writing to the Thessalonians,
that church,
as they went through persecution,
going through a lot of mistreatment.
I want you to look at how he said to respond.
We looked at this a few weeks ago,
2 Thessalonians 1,
but I want us to look at it again,
what God is going to do.
He says,
God is just.
He will pay back trouble
to those who trouble you
and give relief to you
who are troubled
and to us as well.
This will happen
when the Lord Jesus
is revealed from heaven
in blazing fire
with His powerful angels.
He will punish those
who do not know God
and do not obey
the gospel of our Lord.
They will be punished
with everlasting destruction
and shut out
from the presence of the Lord
and from the glory of His might
on the day He comes
to be glorified
in His holy people
and to be marveled at
among all those
who have believed.
This includes you
because you believed
our testimony to you.
Does that sound like
Paul is thinking,
well, God's just going to let things go
and so should we.
Not at all.
Paul is assuring us
we can trust God
to make things right,
to settle scores,
to do what needs to be done
in the lives of evil people
who cause harm
to God's people
or to just people in general.
Paul personally trusted God
to do that
when someone harmed him
and what he was trying to do
in his ministry.
I want you to look at
2 Timothy chapter 4.
Look at it.
Listen to it.
Alexander the coppersmith
did me great harm.
The Lord will repay him
according to his deeds.
Beware of him yourself
for he strongly opposed
our message.
Paul doesn't sound like
a pacifist, does he?
Whoever this guy was,
Alexander the coppersmith,
he did Paul harm.
He interfered in what Paul was doing
and trying to preach
and teach the gospel.
Paul's mentality was,
yeah, I can't get revenge.
I'm not going to retaliate.
But I am going to trust God.
The Lord will repay him
according to his deeds.
And Paul took this guy
and his
trouble making seriously
and told Timothy
who he's writing to,
you watch out for him too.
See, Paul's not saying,
oh, I'll just let it go.
He said, this is a bad guy.
God's going to get him.
And Timothy,
you watch out for him.
Don't let him
cause trouble for you
if you can help it.
But he will if he can.
That's what Paul's saying to him.
Now this doesn't mean that,
doesn't mean that Paul didn't
pray for his salvation.
But at the same time,
Paul didn't have this
unrealistic understanding
of life and evil
and evil people.
He knew that people could be evil.
He knew that he was done wrong.
And he knew that
somewhere along the line,
God would settle the score.
God would make it right.
But in the meantime,
he warned Timothy,
his associate.
He warned him
about this guy.
He's a troublemaker.
Every New Testament writer
warns us
that Christians will experience
persecution in this world.
We have been blessed
in our country,
throughout the history
of our country,
where we have been able
to live out our faith,
attend, worship,
live like we want to live
as Christians,
and not be persecuted.
We've had the privilege,
historically,
of even having laws
that protect
all of these rights,
all of these privileges
to worship
and live out
the Christian life.
But in the big picture
of the history of the church,
most Christians
experience persecution.
Most Christians
suffer
for the mere fact
that they believe in Jesus
and seek to live
a Christian life.
We're warned
that's going to happen.
We're warned
to expect that.
But we're not supposed
to retaliate
or seek revenge
when it happens to us.
Instead,
we need to trust God
to deal with our enemies.
We have to trust God
to deal with our enemies
in His way
and at His time.
But one of the ways
that God works
to right wrongs
and bring about justice
in this world
is through human government.
That's the second thing
we're going to look at.
God provides
for our protection
through governmental authority.
Paul writes
in Romans chapter 13
about this.
God has assigned
government
the responsibility
of providing justice
in our society.
Rewarding right
and punishing wrong behavior.
I want you to look with me
at verses 3 and 4
of Romans 13.
It's on the screen.
He says,
For rulers are not
a terror
to good conduct
but to bad.
Would you have no fear
of the one
who is in authority?
Then do what is good
and you will receive
His approval.
For He is God's servant
for your good.
But if you do wrong
be afraid
for He does not
bear the sword
in vain.
For He is the servant
of God
and avenger
who carries out
God's wrath
on the wrongdoer.
Paul is telling us here
that governmental authorities
are God's servants
to the world
to ensure that justice
take place.
Right now,
think about it this way.
our elected leaders,
judges,
law enforcement officers.
They are unconsciously
and imperfectly
serving God's purpose
of administering justice.
Right now,
for our benefit.
Paul is emphasizing
the authority
of government here
to punish lawbreakers.
even to the point
of administering
deadly force,
including the death penalty
when needed.
I want you to note
in verse 4
the phrase,
bear the sword.
For He does not
bear the sword
in vain.
When Paul says
that the government
is authorized
to bear the sword,
he means that
the government
has been given
authority by God
to use the sword
for the purpose
that people used
swords for
in the first century,
which was to put
people to death,
which was to
protect themselves.
This would apply
to the government
having authority
to wage war,
to carry out
capital punishment,
and to use
lethal force
when necessary
in enforcing laws.
Our government
has the God-given
right and authority
to wage war
against terrorism.
Our government
has the God-given
authority
to be engaged
in the fight
against ISIS
right now.
If you read
the front page
of this week's
newsletter,
I put an article
in there by
Russell Moore
from the Ethics
and Religious
Liberty Commission
of the Southern
Baptist Convention.
He talks about
how there is
no contradiction
for us praying
for our enemies
that they might
come to know Christ,
but also
when they're acting
as our enemies,
like ISIS is,
for example.
It's not wrong
to kill them,
to inflict
major force
firepower
to take them out,
to destroy
their lives
if possible.
That is God's
way
of enabling
civilization
to
experience
the most peace,
for justice
to prevail,
for properly
authorized
force
to be
inflicted
on evil
doers
of whatever
strife.
Paul
emphasized
that God
intends for
government
to be his
instrument
of justice
to make
things right
in this world.
Now I want to
reiterate,
we are not
to seek vengeance
for personal
offenses.
Look again,
verse 19,
beloved,
never avenge
yourselves,
but leave it
to the wrath
of God,
for it is
written,
vengeance
is mine,
I will
repay,
says the
Lord.
Instead,
as a general
rule,
we are to
look to the
government
to provide
police
and a
court system
in order
to do this.
Look at
verse 4,
for he is
the servant
of God,
that is,
he's embodying
government,
personifying
government here
as he writes,
for he is the
servant of God,
an avenger
who carries
out God's
wrath on
the wrongdoer.
This is the
general way
that we're
supposed to
seek justice
in the world.
The police
and judges
are called
by God,
put in place
by God
to be the
good guys
of society
who enforce
laws,
who
administrate
justice.
Therefore,
it's not only
acceptable,
but it's
ideal for
Christians to
fill these
roles.
It's good
when a
Christian serves
as a police
officer,
when they're
in the
military,
when they're
serving in
some way
in our
court and
legal system.
They're the
best ones to
administer God's
justice.
And we need to
respect everyone
who serves in
these roles,
everyone who
serves in
these offices,
by virtue of
what they're
doing,
God's agent,
God's servant.
We should
respect the
office.
We should
respect them.
We as a
society,
and especially
here in our
country,
we need to
hold all
governmental
officials to
a high
standard.
We need to
hold them
accountable.
We need to
have the
expectation that
they're going
to do what
they do in a
fair and
impartial kind
of way.
That's the
only way you
can have
justice,
isn't it?
But no
matter how
many law
enforcement
officers we
have, they
can't be
everywhere.
So sometimes
we, as
private citizens,
sometimes we're
faced with
situations where
our lives or
our health is
threatened.
Our families
are threatened,
and there's no
time to call the
police.
what are we
to do then as
Christians?
That's the third
point.
God allows us to
protect ourselves
and others we
are responsible
for or have an
opportunity to
protect.
We are not to
be pacifists in
this world who
just sort of stand
by and whatever
happens to us
happens to us.
It is not wrong.
It is not sinful.
It is not contrary
to Scripture for us
to defend
ourselves and
look to the
resources God
gives, provides
to defend us.
First, we can
look to God to
help us to
defend ourselves.
Jesus promised
this kind of
help to His
disciples when
they experienced
persecution.
Look at it in
Luke chapter 11.
Jesus said,
And when they
bring you before
the synagogues
and the rulers
and the authorities,
do not be anxious
about how you
should defend
yourself or what
you should say
for the Holy
Spirit will teach
you in that very
hour what you
ought to say.
Jesus is talking
about here religious
persecution.
He's talking about
when His disciples
are brought up
before the courts,
before the magistrates,
before whoever,
because they're
preaching and teaching
about Him.
And we read that
in the book of Acts.
And Jesus is saying
when that happens,
you can defend
yourself and you
can depend upon the
Spirit of God
who lives within
you to equip you
to know how to
defend yourself
in those kind of
situations.
Number two,
we can use the
legal system
to defend ourselves.
Paul did this
on several occasions.
As you read about
his life and ministry
in the book of Acts,
you'll find
there are times
when the situation
was such
that he exerted
his rights
as a Roman citizen
to avoid
punishment,
to avoid being
beaten,
to avoid death
even.
You see it on the
screen, Acts chapter
16 and Acts chapter
25.
In Acts chapter 16,
Paul was improperly
imprisoned.
He was a Roman
citizen.
And to make a long
story short,
Paul required
the citizens
of that country,
the officials,
the magistrates,
it says,
the magistrates
of Philippi
who had improperly
imprisoned him,
when they heard
about it,
they were going to
just let him go
and hope he'd just
go off quietly.
Paul said,
no,
they've got to come
and let me out.
He made a big
deal about it,
big to do about it
because he was a
Roman citizen
and they had violated
his rights.
And then in Acts
chapter 25,
Paul's life is being
threatened.
If he stays where
he is,
he's probably going
to be assassinated.
There's a plot
to assassinate him.
The only way
that he sees
to get out of that
is to appeal
to Caesar
as a Roman citizen
and he does that.
That enables him
to be protected
and taken to Rome
where he'll stand trial
before Caesar himself.
We can use
the legal system
to defend ourselves.
That's not wrong.
That's not
not trusting God.
use the system
to demand justice,
to protect yourself
and your family,
your home.
We have biblical precedent
to do that.
Number three,
we can use lethal weapons
to defend ourselves.
Peter did
and so did
some of the other disciples.
Look with me
at Luke chapter 22
verse 35 and 6.
Jesus said to them,
when I sent you out
with no money bag
or knapsack
or sandals,
did you lack anything?
They said,
nothing.
Prior to the end,
near the end
of Jesus' ministry,
he sent his disciples
out to preach
and teach
and they were
so well received
at that time,
people took care of them.
people provide them
with a place to stay,
food to eat.
But now,
public opinion
has turned.
Jesus is about
to be arrested
and crucified.
It's a different world.
And so look
what he says.
He said to them,
but now,
let the one
who has
a money bag
take it
and likewise
a knapsack.
Let the one
who has no sword
sell his cloak
and buy one.
There's a lot
of controversy
among New Testament
scholars over
was Jesus
literally talking
about telling
his disciples
to go out
and buy a sword
or is he just
using that
as just sort
of a figure
of speech
to prepare
yourself
for coming
opposition.
The truth is,
it doesn't matter.
Look at what
Jesus said.
He used
a money bag,
a knapsack,
and a sword
in positive
ways
to describe
how they
needed to
prepare themselves
for the future
and how people
were going to
persecute them
and oppose them.
Jesus had no
problem using
that sword
along those
other items
in a positive
way.
Peter not only
kept the sword
on his side,
but Peter
used his sword
on one occasion.
Look at it.
And when those
who were around
him saw
what would
follow,
they said,
Lord,
shall we
strike with
the sword?
And one
of them
struck the
servant
of the
high priest
and cut
off his
right ear.
That was
Peter.
Other
gospels
tell that
same story.
They tell
more details.
That was
Peter.
But Peter
was wrong
to do that.
Peter
should not
have used
his sword
like that
on that
occasion.
Jesus
rebuked
him.
Jesus
restored
that
man's
ear.
See,
it was
God's
plan.
This
was the
time
when Jesus
was going
to be
arrested,
when he
was going
to be
condemned
and executed.
This
was God's
plan for
when Jesus
would die
on the
cross
in order
to save
us,
provide for
our salvation.
And so
it was not
going to be
stopped.
But the
point I
want to
make is,
I want you
to listen
to this.
Jesus did
not prohibit
his disciples
from carrying
swords.
And the
only reason
people would
carry the
sword was
for self-defense.
See, the
disciples were
with Jesus
for three
years.
He taught
them about
all the
things they
need to be
and do
as his
followers,
but he
never taught
them you
can't carry
a sword.
He never
taught them
to be
pacifists.
He never
taught them
they couldn't
be armed.
In today's
terms, he
would not
have prohibited
them from
having a
concealed
weapons
permit.
They didn't
need one
back then.
They carried
for self-defense.
Jesus never
said a word.
He even
spoke about
swords in a
positive way.
I really
believe that
what Jesus
and Paul
taught about
loving our
enemies and
overcoming evil
with good
was usually
directed at
people who
were persecuting
Christians.
They weren't
describing how
to deal with
evil people
who were out
to kill,
rape,
rob,
or terrorize
whoever crossed
their path.
Theologian
John Frame,
very respected
theologian,
writes a lot
about ethics.
He points out
this distinction.
Look at what
he says.
He says,
what Jesus
prohibits in
Matthew 5,
38-42,
is not
self-defense,
but vengeance.
Jesus was
talking about
our response
to an insult,
a lawsuit,
forced labor,
and a request
for a loan.
If someone
seeks to kill
you or a
family member
and there's no
help available,
it is right
for you to
ward off
the attack
by force
if necessary.
Individuals
may sometimes
fight or
even kill
to preserve
a life,
but they
should not
use more
force than
is necessary
in a given
situation.
Two other
respected theologians,
Norman Geisler
and J.P.
Moreland.
Geisler has
written a lot
about ethics
as well.
They're more
forceful in
emphasizing the
importance,
even the
necessity
of Christians
sometimes
using force
to stop
evil.
Look at what
they say.
To prevent
murder
when one
could have
prevented it
is morally
wrong.
To allow
a rape
when one
could have
hindered it
is an
evil.
To watch
an act
of cruelty
to children
without trying
to intervene
is morally
inexcusable.
In brief,
not resisting
evil is an
evil of
omission.
And an
evil of
omission can
be just as
evil as an
evil of
commission.
Any man
who refuses
to protect
his wife
and children
against a
violent
intruder
fails them
morally.
We,
as Christians,
we have
the moral
obligation
to oppose
evil
that we
can't
oppose,
intervene,
help
someone,
prevent the
act from
taking place.
We have a
moral
responsibility
to do
that.
If that
includes
using
lethal
force,
then so
be it.
You know,
today,
one of the
ways our
government
has chosen
to protect
us as
citizens
in addition
to law
enforcement
is to
allow
citizens
to own
and carry
guns.
Now,
I want to be
real fair
here.
Every Christian
does not agree
with this,
but a
logical
application
of what
Paul says
in Romans
chapter 13
verses 1
through 4
is that
owning and
carrying
guns
is a
morally
and legally
acceptable
option
for
Christians.
I've
always
believed
that.
I have
always
practiced
that
my
entire
life.
Now,
I know
accidents
happen.
Guns are
dangerous.
So are
automobiles.
So are
drugs.
So are
knives.
You've
got to be
very,
very careful
if you own
a gun,
if you carry
a gun.
You don't get
second chances
a lot of
times when
accidents
happen with
them.
That is a
fact.
The fact
that some
people use
guns to
commit sinful
acts does
not mean that
guns are the
problem in
this country.
The problem
in this country
is sin.
the problem
in this
country is
that sinful
people do
sinful
things.
The truth
is since
the beginning
of humanity
people have
been killing
one another
with and
without weapons.
From a
biblical
perspective,
the ownership
of guns for
protection,
that's your
option.
That's a
personal choice
you can make.
do what you
think is
right for
you.
Act on
conviction.
If you
think you
shouldn't have
a gun as a
Christian,
then you
shouldn't have
one.
You're not
acting in
faith.
If you
violate your
conscience on
that, that
in itself is
an act of
sin, James
tells us.
But I also
want you to
understand there
is absolutely
nothing unspiritual
or sinful
about owning
a gun
and if
necessary,
using it.
That should
be under
very few
extreme
circumstances.
But gun
or no gun,
it is morally
right to defend
other people,
to defend
yourself against
the actions of
evil people,
to refuse
to intervene
against a
would-be
murderer,
rapist,
or other
violent
attacker is
a morally
evil act
of omission.
I'll just be
real honest
with you,
I can't
understand a
pacifist who
would not
intervene to
save or
protect the
life of one
of his
loved ones.
To me,
it is contrary
to the way
God made us
as human
beings.
We are
called by
God to
be peaceful
people.
To not
have this
attitude,
I don't
take nothing
off nobody.
That's wrong.
We're
called by
God to
not be
vengeful,
to not
retaliate,
to not
always be
trying to
pay somebody
back.
Our goal
needs to
be that
we avoid
violence
when possible.
That we
try to find
ways to
overcome evil
with good.
That is our
calling as
Christians.
That's what I
want you to
remember as we
leave here today.
If we're going to
be known for
just one thing,
we don't need to
be known for
the guns we
have and the
way we conceal
them and all
that kind of
stuff.
We're going to
be known for
one thing.
Jesus said we
need to be
known for our
love for one
another.
And we need to
learn to do the
loving thing.
And sometimes that
may be to protect
someone.
To resort to
lethal means to
protect someone.
one.
But that will be a
rare case and
never happen in
most of our
lives.
So let's learn to
act in love,
even loving our
enemies.
Let's pray
together.
Dear God,
show us now how
we should respond
to you and your
message this
morning.
Father, help us
all to
understand that
we're not to
be spiteful,
vengeful,
unforgiving
people.
But help us to
see, Father, that
you do hold
high justice in
what is right and
opposing evil.
Help us just to
be able to do it
the right way.
Help us to trust
you.
Help us to look
to government
authority in a
positive way and
use that, rely
upon that.
Help us, Father,
to pray that there
won't ever be a
time that we have
to use deadly
force.
in protecting
someone.
But dear God,
help us to not
be inactive,
passive in the
face of evil.
Help us to act
where we need to
act.
Help us not to be
guilty of that sin
of omission.
And just in an
attitude of prayer,
let's listen to the
Lord and respond to
Him.
I'd be happy to pray
with you here at the
front.
If you want to
come during this
time.
I'd be happy to
pray with you now.
Let's pray with you now.