Tiffany Huet Class of 2008 Justifying Violence: A ... - Stetson University

examples that are held as bases for the doctrine of nonviolence and opposition to his advocacy of
the use of violence: (1) the “eye for eye, and tooth for tooth” example (Matt. 5:38); 54 and the
commands of Christ (2) to “love our enemies” (Matt. 6:27) and (3) to not judge others (Matt.
6:37). 55
The first example leads the reader into the famous “turn the other cheek” passage which
pacifists use as a cornerstone for the Biblical basis of nonviolence. Jesus, according to Bray, is
asserting that vengeance is God’s and that the Christian victim should respond to personal
injustice with humility and forgiveness. This is not to say, however, that this is the same reaction
that is expected when injustice is pressed upon another. 56 Bray argues that this principle of
turning the other cheek does not give Christians the right to ignore or tolerate injustice
committed to another. Jesus’ imperative to “do to others as you would have them do to you”
refers to every person, or rather every innocent person. Bray says that those in opposition to him
who quote Jesus’ commands to “love your enemies” and to not judge or condemn another are
torturing Scripture. Bray argues that one who looks past injustices in order to love the sinner has
a “misguided” notion of love and that his own defense of “true justice” is out of love for both
victim and perpetrator. 57 He claims that Jesus’ admonition not to judge or condemn others is in
response to believers who consider themselves righteous and others as below them. 58 There is a
time to peacefully protest and a time to use force. This nonviolent sentiment in the anti-abortion
movement, he feels, has provided “peace for abortion practitioners” and has infiltrated the anti-
abortion movement with immoral nonviolence.
54 Bray, 50.
55 Bray, 52.
56 Bray, 51.
57 Bray, 26, 52.
58 Bray, 52.
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