I see some of the reasoning you have presented as a false dichotomy between the teaching of Christ, and the teaching of the Old Testament (although granted that there are differences between the situations). God commanded countless wars and killings in the Old Covenant, and the death penalty goes back (explicitly) at least as far back as Noah. As one who believes in the continuity of the Covenant of Grace, I see no dichotomy between loving your enemies, and a time for war/defense of one's self. Part of the sixth commandment includes the duty of

(WLC Q135) all careful studies, and lawful endeavors, to preserve the life of ourselves [1] and others [2]...by just defense thereof against violence,[8]

1. Eph. 5:28-29
2. I Kings 18:4
8. Psa. 82:4; Prov. 24:11-12; I Sam. 14:45

also the duty of

(WLC Q136) lawful war,[4] or necessary defense;[5]

4. Jer. 48:10; Deut. ch. 20
5. Exod. 22:2-3

Anything else is breaking the sixth commandment and should be avoided. We should love our neighbors as ourselves, but is it loving ourselves/countrymen if we do not take up arms to defend ourselves? We should love our enemies to be sure, but this does not mean that we should become door mats.

Also, the church is not one that should wage war against enemies in just situations. That is the job/role of the civil magistrate.

__________________
Jeff Bartel
Mechanical Engineer
Member - Trinity Reformed Church - RPCNA

"To believe in the power of man in the work of regeneration is the great heresy of Rome, and from that error has come the ruin of the Church. Conversion proceeds from the grace of God alone, and the system which ascribes it partly to man and partly to God is worse than Pelagianism" (The Reformation in England (London, 1962), Vol. 1, p. 98)

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