Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition (or not)

So folks, Christian or otherwise, is there a possible strong argument in favor of postentially fatal or permanantly damaging voilence from a New Testament perspective? If so, what is it? If not, why not? Oh, and please don't bring the Old Testament into this except in cases where the New Testament referrs directly to it.

There is for example, an argument for property destruction and frightening but not really damaging personal voilence. Case in point John 2 13-16. Wherein Christ drives the money changers and merchants out of the temple. This should certainly not be taken as an endorsement of just any old kind of violence that one wants.

 

Well, Jesus says when asked what the greatest commandement in the Law is

"'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." (Matthew 22:37-40)

So we are to love our neighbor as ourselves and treat them the way we want to be treated. There are however cases in which violence is justified and necessary. Take for example what Hitler was doing. For us to allow that because to stop it would result in violence would be immoral. If one of my family members, or a complete stranger for that matter, is being violently attacked by a criminal on the street it is my obligation to defend them, even if it means using violence.

Now, in certain cases certain levels of violence are justified and some are not.

"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." (Matthew 5:43-45)

 

The Temple was meant to be a place of worship. "It is written my Fathers house shall be called a house of prayer but you have mad it into a den of thieves".


Jesus kicked the bankers and merchants out because they were using the Temple to make money by ripping people off. Kinda like those televanglists that use to Gospel to makle a buck eh?

 

Well that Jesus Camp thing is just plain sick. Also completely off topic.