The Christian’s Attitude Against Threats on His Life

In this message, we desire to look at what the bible says when the life of a Christian is being threatened by infidels, unbelievers and false brethren. Should such a Christian just pray and afterwards fold his hands without taking further actions? Or on the other hand, should that Christian pray and in addition take concrete actions to defend himself, his wife, his children, and the household of faith?

Let me state that threats to the lives of believers by ungodly people is not new. It has been existing from time immemorial. It has been from ages past and it will always be until CHRIST’s second coming. In the book of Genesis 14, Lot a man the bible describes in 2 Peter 3:7-8 as a righteous man was taken captive during the battle of the kings. In the book of Exodus, chapter 17 we read about the Amalekites rise from nowhere to fight against Israel, a nation that had just escaped more than 400 years of captivity and bondage in Egypt and had also just crossed the Red Sea in what can be rightly described as one of the most outstanding miracles of all time.

In the book of Nehemiah during the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem, there arose adversaries like Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem, the Arabians, the Ammonites and the Ashdodites. These were enemies of GOD who withstood the people of GOD in order to prevent them from rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. As we move further up to the book of Esther, we see a man named Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite of the seed of the Amalekites [1 Samuel 15:8] manipulate king Ahasuerus to issue a decree that the entire Jewish people in over 127 provinces stretching from India to Ethiopia be destroyed, terminated and extinguished.

It is noteworthy that threats to lives of believers were not limited to Old Testament believers alone, those in the New Testament do have shares of adversaries that confronted them with attempts to cut short their sojourn here on earth and hasten their nunc dimittis before their GOD-ordained dates. Paul’s life was threatened on several occasions by both the Jews and Gentiles. He was stoned by the Jews in Acts 14:19. He was beaten with stripes and cast into prison in Macedonia by the Gentiles in Acts 16:22-24. He was beaten by the Jews and was almost martyred by them in Jerusalem but for the timely intervention of the Roman soldiers and centurions [Acts 21:27-32].

Having reminded us, with examples that threats to lives of believers is not new, we have to look at how these old believers dealt with such threats. But before that, it is necessary for us to differentiate between a person who is defending himself or herself from a person who is seeking vengeance. Vengeance means “punishment inflicted or retribution exacted for an injury or wrong.” It is the “tit for tat, measure for measure, you do me - I do you” actions of ours. For example, if I am to help somebody in need and fail to do that because of the wrong that person did to me in the past, then I am being vengeful. One of the reasons GOD removed the Edomites, the descendants of Esau from off the surface of the earth was because they revengeful [Ezekiel 35:2-5, 15; Obadiah 1-14]. GOD hates it when we take vengeance against those who have wronged us because vengeance is His to mete out appropriately to those who have done evil against us [Romans 12:18-21; Psalm 94:1; Proverbs 20:22; Matthew 5:38-48].

To Defend, on the other hand means to resist an attack made on someone or somebody; protect someone from harm or danger; keep secure from danger or against attack etc. Every human being for example, as a right to life. This GOD-given life must be preserved and kept safe. It is our responsibility to ensure that it is not terminated and also ensure that necessary actions are consistently taken to guard against its termination. This act of defending our lives against its wrongful termination is consistent with the teachings of Scriptures. Someone who is defending himself or herself cannot with all intents and purposes be said to be retaliating because defending is proactive, vengeance or retaliation or reprisal attacks are reactive.

Like I earlier said, it is scriptural for a Christian to defend himself against forces that threaten to cut short his life. This is because life is sacrosanct. Its preservation must therefore be defended. We will now look at the how some of those who ran the race before us handled such threats to their lives, their loved ones and by extension their nation.
1 Lot versus the four (4) kings [Genesis 14]
There came a time when Lot separated from Abraham to go into the land of Sodom and Gomorrah to sojourn [Genesis 13:8-11]. Not long after this relocation, there arose four (4) kings who rose up against five (5) other kings which included the king of Sodom and the king of Gomorrah. These four kings defeated the five kings. The bible says in Genesis 14:11 that “they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way.” In addition, they took Lot, Abraham’s nephew and his entire household away as captives.

When Abraham heard about this, did he just pray, after which he folded his arms believing as a man of faith that GOD will rescue Lot from captivity? No! He did not. He knew that doing that will not be wise. It would be suicidal. What did Abraham do? Let us read Genesis 14:14-17
14 And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan.
15 And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus.
16 And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.

If Abraham did not take such a laudable action, Lot and his entire household would have possibly been wipe out completely.

2. Israel versus the Amalekites [Exodus 17]
In Exodus 17, we read of the Amalekites coming up to fight against Israel just after Israel had crossed the Red Sea after more than 400 years of captivity in Egypt. Did Moses whom the bible describes as the meekest man on earth fold his arms before these wicked and evil people? Of course not! To do that would have been preposterous. Moses took action immediately.
Exodus 17:9-10, 13
And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand.
10 So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.
13 And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.

If Moses had held his peace and not taken appropriate necessary actions, lives would have been cut short, destinies destroyed, evil people increasing and the righteous decreasing. GOD forbid!

3. The Jews versus Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem and others [Nehemiah chapter 4]
In a situation whereby those who are supposed to provide security and a safe haven for their citizens, but have instead become agents of hate and instruments of annihilation of the people that they are supposed to defend and protect, then people being destroyed will naturally look for ways to defend themselves against such wicked leaders. We see this happening in the book of Nehemiah.

Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem were regional governors serving under the king of Persia. This trio with the Ammonites, Arabians, and the Ashdodites conspired together to come and fight the Jews whom they were supposed to protect. They made themselves enemies of GOD’s people in order to hinder the Jews, who are GOD’s people from rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem [Nehemiah 4:7].

Did the Jewish people fold their hands against these aggressors and enemies of GOD? No. They did not. The bible says in Nehemiah 4:9 “we prayed unto our GOD” the next part of that verse says that they went beyond just praying. They acted. Just listen to what they did. They “set a watch against them day and night.” That wasn’t the end of their defensive mechanism. Verse 16 of that same chapter of Nehemiah says
And it came to pass from that time forth, that the half of my servants wrought in the work, and the other half of them held spears, the shields and the bows, and the habergeons; and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah. They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens with those that laded, everyone with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon. For the builders, everyone had his sword girded by his side and so builded. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me.

If the children of Israel just folded their hands after they prayed, and not put proper structures in place to defend themselves, they would have made themselves endangered species to their enemies. Their enemies would have made a minced meat of them. The walls of Jerusalem would not have been rebuilt and the enemies of GOD would have triumphed. GOD forbid!

4. The Jews versus Haman
Esther the Jewess and Queen of Media – Persia and cousin of Mordecai the Jew risked her life to defend her people and put to nought the counsel and evil plans of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite (Amalekite). Please read more about how this happened from the book of Esther.

5. Paul versus the Jews and the Gentiles
Although Paul the apostle, history has it that he was beheaded by the wicked emperor Nero, however Paul never shied from defending himself when his life is being threatened and requesting for his rights as the occasion demands. Let us see some of them.
i. He defended himself and the gospel before his fellow Jews in Jerusalem [Acts 21:37-49; Acts 22:1-21]
ii. When he was to be examined by scourging by a Roman officer, that is whipping to make him confess his ‘crimes’, he resisted it. He quickly called that officer to order by asking him if it was lawful for him to whip a Roman citizen who has not been tried. This question made the soldiers who were to interrogate him withdraw when they realised that Paul was a Roman citizen [Acts 22:24-29].
iii. He defended himself before the Jewish council, comprising the Pharisees and Sadducees. Paul used the composition of this group to his advantage in Acts 23:6-10
But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.
7 And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.
8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.
9 And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees' part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.
10 And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle.


iv Paul in the course of his apostolic ministry defended himself before Felix, Festus and king Agrippa. At a point he appealed unto Caesar [Acts 26:32].

Conclusion
Brethren, while the bible condemns and frowns at believers taking vengeance on their own for the evil done against them by others, it however supports believers to defend themselves if their lives and rights to existence are threatened. It is not out of place for believers living in hostile environments, to take necessary steps to defend themselves and their households against infidels whose utmost aim is to destroy them because of their faith. This becomes imperative in places when the governments in their places of domicile cannot provide adequate security for such believers.

Believers in governments where Christians are being persecuted, killed and maimed should not be quiet against these evil deeds done their fellow believers. They should speak up. Pastors, Bishops and other ministers of the gospel should speak up against the killings of their fellow believers. They should be reminded of what Mordecai the Jew told his cousin Esther the Queen in Esther 4:13-14
13Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews. 14For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

Esther took up the challenge at the risk of her life and position to fight for her people. Her good deeds were never forgotten. Today, we all celebrate this great woman. We have one of the books of the bible named after her because she stood up to be counted.
Brethren, our position does not in any way like we have already mentioned prevent us from praying effectively for GOD’s divine intervention. These steps posited are however necessary safeguarding measures.

I pray GOD to heal our countries in JESUS’ name, Amen.