I have written about this before, but it bears repeating, given the current state of the world.

Christians do not kill people. Not ever. Not under any circumstances. Not for any reason, including self-defense or defense of property or loved ones.

There are no asterisks (*) on the commandment that tells us not to kill. If there were an asterisk with fine print explaining that it’s OK to kill under certain circumstances, then that would be different. But there are no asterisks on any of the commandments.

Anyone who claims the right to kill people is not a Christian. It doesn’t matter what the circumstances are: Jesus told us that the Ten Commandments still stand, and that anyone who teaches people to break the commandments will suffer accordingly.

When Jesus told his followers to sell everything and buy a sword, he was not giving them the go-ahead to kill people. If that were the case, he would not have healed the severed ear of the Roman soldier after one of his followers attacked the soldier in self-defense. Instead of lauding the follower for using his sword, Jesus warned him:

THOSE WHO LIVE BY THE SWORD, DIE BY THE SWORD.

There is no glory in killing, not as a state-sanctioned thug (police, military, etc.) or as a private citizen. There is no glory in killing and there is no approval from God.

Jesus tells us that when we fear for our lives, we’re to run, not fight.

Bless, not curse.

Pray, not kill.

I write this as a reminder, so that you don’t get caught up in the war hype. Any person or nation that sanctions and counsels murder is not Christian.