Morality

It is lawful for a Christian in certain cases to kill a human being

The Roman Catholic Church teaches that a Christian in certain cases can kill a human being. Here is what the Catholic Encyclopedia states: ‘For the protection of one's own or another's life, limb, chastity, or valuables of some moment, it is agreed on all sides that it is lawful for anyone to repel violence with violence, even to the point of taking away the life of the unjust assailant, provided always that in so doing the limits of a blameless defence be not exceeded.’

Confutation

Jesus Christ said to His disciples: “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two” (Matthew 5:38-41 – NKJV). Therefore, we as disciples of Christ cannot resort to violence against those who intend to harm us, for such a behaviour opposes the words of Jesus Christ as well as the example He left us (for Jesus did the things He commanded His disciples to do). For the Scripture says that “He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth” (Isaiah 53:7 – NKJV). Jesus did not resort to violence against those who assailed and persecuted Him. When one of the officers struck Jesus with the palm of his hand (cf. John 18:22), He did not render violence for violence to his enemy; nor did He render violence for violence when the soldiers of the governor struck Him on the head (cf. Matthew 27:27-31). In addition to this, He did not allow His disciples to fight for Him, for in the Gethsemane, after Peter drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, He said to Peter: “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword” (Matthew 26:52 – NKJV).

Therefore, let us keep the words of Jesus Christ and follow His example in order to honor His words and that Noble Name by which we are called.

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