What does the Bible say about protecting life?

My pacifist Pastor friend
I used to live next door to a fellow Pastor: He was one of the relatively few Pastors that I have enjoyed a good relationship with over an extended period of time. We were involved in several conversations. I don’t remember ever not enjoying talking with him.

One of the things that I appreciated about him most is that he was secure in his faith and his relationship with Yeshua. Accordingly, He didn’t become offended if I disagreed with him about something. In fact, we came from very different backgrounds and so we actually did disagree on quite a few Biblical issues.

Nevertheless, I knew that he was sincere in his relationship with Yeshua. To me, that takes priority above almost everything else. I believe, and it has been my experience, that if Yeshua TRULY is first and foremost in someone’s life, everything else will fall into place (eventually).

By that, I don’t mean that people will theologically agree with each other on every issue. Rather, by ” everything else will fall into place” I mean that they will begin to walk in love and forbearance and that, in time, God will mold and shape them into His image.

One of the differences that this Pastor and I had is he is a pacifist and I am not. I wholly believe that the Bible teaches that Christians should do their best to preserve life.

So, one day this Pastor and I were talking. I could tell that there was something on his mind that he was anxious to talk to me about. So at first opportunity, he asked his question.

This is what it was: He had some traveling on his schedule. So because we were neighbors he asked me if, while he was away, if his wife and children needed assistance, would I help protect them until the police arrived.

A Christian pacifist asking a non-pacifist Christian to help defend himself and his family.
Remember, my Pastor friend was a pacificist. So in response, I looked at him wondering exactly how I was going to word my reply. I knew his wife and children and I liked them too. I certainly would have no problem helping them but as I was looking at him I could see that he could tell that something was on my mind.

I told him that I would always help them however I could but I said: “isn’t that a bit contradictory”? He had asked me to do something that He himself wouldn’t. Once he understood that he honorably withdrew the request.

As soon as I responded as I did, he realized what he had done and it was obvious that he would have preferred that the ground opened and swallowed him up at that point.

We remained good friends after that and the incident just became another chapter in our history. We even had a laugh or two about it afterward.

There is no doubt in my mind that my pacifist Pastor friend is sincere. Still, I simply do not understand how a person can call themselves a Christian pacifist and then recruit the aid of others (police, military, security, or anyone else) when threatened. It seems nonsensical, contradictory, and cowardly to me.

If a Christian pacifist were attacked, they should either not request assistance at all, or they should understand that if anyone does show up to help them, they will be an ungodly person with ungodly values. In fact, if a pacifist were to be attacked it seems very hypocritical for them to desire or even ask anyone for assistance. Pacificism is nonBiblical and nonsensical.

Yahweh God is a God of life. He is a life-giver and a life preserver. We see this beginning with the first man and woman when God placed a “hedge” of protection around the garden and then told Adam to guard it. When Adam failed to guard the garden he paid the price as the rest of us are doing even now.

Shortly after that was the flood. In this instance, God provided the ark to preserve the life of Noah’s family and the animals. Soon after that amid much resistance, He led Israel out of bondage and into the land of milk and honey. And then there was David….

The concept that God is a God of life is ALL through the Bible.

I am come that they might have LIFE,
and that they might have it more abundantly.

John 10:10

As we are made in the image of God we likewise should be life-givers and life preservers just as He is.

Force on force
The other side of the life preserver coin is force. Sometimes in order to preserve righteousness, there must be offensive action taken. This is what we see when Abraham retrieved Lot, when Yahweh God battled all of the “ites”, when Yeshua cleared the Temple, and other places all through the Bible including the battles referenced in the book of Revelation.

If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for him.

Exodus 22:2

Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.

Psalm 82:4 

Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Philippians 2:4 

Both Yeshua and Apostle Paul showed us how our primary battlefield is the spirit realm. At the same time, as referenced above, we see God Himself fighting for life in the natural realm. We also see Him showing others how to fight physically for life. We even see Yeshua telling His disciples that if they don’t have a sword to fight with then they should sell their coat and go buy one.

Choose life
Those who sacrificed and fought in the war for American independence understood these principles when they boldly declared “I’ll have no king but King Jesus!

As a part of the Remnant, these are some of the many issues that you need to solidify in your spirit right now because it very well may be that when the time comes that you need to make a decision, it will probably be too late to think about.

Blessings in Yeshua, 
Parson Rayphe
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