More on violence

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-7; ESV)

Echoing Solomon’s Ecclesiastes, the OT prophets clearly pointed to times that it was appropriate to arm (Joel 13:10) and other times when it was appropriate to disarm (Isa 2:4, Micah 4:3). Coming into the New Testament and our Lord and Head of the church, Jesus Christ, we see the same idea:

And he said to them, "When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?" They said, "Nothing." He said to them, "But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one. For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: 'And he was numbered with the transgressors.' For what is written about me has its fulfillment." And they said, "Look, Lord, here are two swords." And he said to them, "It is enough." (Luke 22:35-37; ESV)

And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Matthew 26:51-52; ESV; You also see this story told in Mark 14:43f and John 18:10-11)

The bottom line seems to be that there will come a day when weapons and violence are not needed and man will be at peace in the City of God, but until then we’d best build them, put them in their proper places, and train to use them properly.