“To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven” – Ecclesiastes 3:1
Today I watched a video of a pastor having a physical altercation with a neighbor of his. Pastor Tony Spell, 48 years old, of Life Tabernacle Church in Central Louisiana has a history of being at odds with the locals, including the police. This conflict traces back to 2020 when he kept his church open for services during the COVID pandemic, (or as some would say, “Plandemic”). According to Pastor Small the 20-year-old son of the neighboring Sherwin family has persistently been threatening Pastor Tony, his wife, grandchildren, and congregation for quite some time. Reports are the neighbor’s son at various times exposed himself to the pastor, his wife, grandchildren, and congregation, as well as brandished a weapon, and made threats. Though repeatedly informed of this situation local police have chosen a nonintervention nonresponsiveness. They let the pot boil. Now the pressure cooker has exploded. Both parties have their own account of the facts. What the facts actually are will come out hopefully in court.
The immediate incident that resulted in Pastor Tony’s response was the neighbor’s threat to “rape” his wife and grand children and to kill them next time the pastor was away. The video shows Pastor Tony walking toward the screaming twenty-year-old neighbor and physically taking him down and beating him. Whether the beat down was excessive I’ll leave that up to the reader to decide. But this situation raises an important question. Is it ever right to fight?
Pastor Tony was arrested. He is out on bail and has been charged with Second Degree Battery. At the time of this writing no charges or police action had been taken against the neighbor’s son. It would be easy for us to critique the actions of the pastor. It was a beat down of the twenty-year-old by the pastor. But sometimes what isn’t done is just as important as what is done. The pastor didn’t shoot the neighbor. The pastor didn’t use a weapon of any kind against a man who was screaming at him. So, I ask again, is it ever right to fight? What does the Bible have to say?
The Bible says, “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1). This is truth and this should be our first response to someone who is attacking us angrily. But what happens if your soft answers do nothing to turn away someone’s persistent wrath and threats? Pastor Tony, his family, and congregation patiently put up with the threats of this belligerent neighbor. When do words cross the line and become threats demanding more than a vocal response? Is a physical response to words ever acceptable? Is it ever right to fight?
Jesus said, “But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also” (Matthew 5:39). Jesus advises us to be generous, loving, and to pray for our neighbors (Matthew 5:40-47). All of this falls under the “But I say to you. . .” elevations where Jesus calls disciples to go above what is normally expected to live extraordinary lives. Certainly, a pastor would be disciple material and expected to live extraordinarily as one.
But a little bit of cultural context provides some added insight necessary to evaluate what Jesus is saying in Matthew 5:39. Historically and culturally in first century Jewish society to be struck on the right cheek or backhanded across the right cheek was how a person of higher social standing would humiliate someone of lower social standing. Striking the right cheek was a way to put one down, to lower the victim beneath the attacker. It was disrespectful and belittling.
That information brings pride into the picture. Jesus is advising against reacting out of pride. We should not react to someone who has offended us, or hurt our pride. That is clear. God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble (1Peter 5:5-6). Having said that, it would be more of a stretch to interpret Jesus’ words as prohibiting self-defense of either ourselves or to protect a loved one.
Jesus modeled that there are times where it’s right to fight. Jesus turned over the tables of the money changers (Matthew 21:12-13; Mark 11:15-17; Luke 19:45-46; John 2:13-16). All four gospels include this incident, and some commentators believe Jesus did this on more than one occasion. Jesus was not wholly passive but demonstrated physical force was appropriate in certain situations. But Jesus turned over tables, He didn’t wrestle anyone to the ground or punch anyone. So again, is it ever right to fight?
In answering this question, it is essential we begin with keeping in mind and heart that God is our Defender. In His word God told the Israelites that He would fight for them (Exodus 14:14). God is impartial (Romans 2:11). He will fight for us too. The Lord said He would be with Israel, and He will be with us too (Deuteronomy 31:6). God is our refuge and covering (Psalm 91:1-2, and 4). He will send His angels to protect us (Psalm 34:7). When it comes to protection we need to first turn to God (2 Chronicles 32:8). God is with us (Isaiah 41:10). When we understand God is for us then we can confidently face anything or anyone against us (Romans 8:31). That’s because God promises to strengthen us and protect us from the evil one who is behind all attacks (2 Thessalonians 3:3).
God very often includes us in our own protection or His protection of others. The Patriarchs, David and many kings, were used by God to protect people. God as our Shepherd wards off enemies with His rod but also instructs us in the way to proceed through His staff (Psalm 23). We need to look to God for direction. We need to walk hand in hand with Him to know what He would have us do in dangerous situations. This is where we really must begin in answering the question of is it ever right to fight. God is our Shepard and He will lead us.
In Ecclesiastes it states there is a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to love and a time to hate (Ecclesiastes 3:3 and 8). In Jesus’ first coming He allowed Himself to be taken, falsely accused, crucified, and executed. Jesus willingly submitted Himself and gave Himself to be sacrificed for the sins of the world. He endured the cross because it was the necessary Divine redemptive plan (Hebrews 12:1-2; 9:11-14, 22; Luke 24:26). He did this even though He could have called on legions of angels to rescue and fight for Him (Matthew 26:53). Sometimes it’s not right to fight.
Jesus willingly suffered and shed His blood because the eternal redemption of humanity was the priority (Romans 3:24-25; 1 Peter 1:18-19). There are some things more important than protecting ourselves. But that’s not the end of the story. Jesus is coming back. When Jesus returns He’s coming with a sword and an army to defeat the devil, his demons, and those who have rejected the gospel of Jesus Christ. He’s coming back to set up His Kingdom and enforce justice with an iron rod (Psalm 2; Revelation 19). So, there does indeed appear to be a time to fight. But when is it right to fight?
When God first gave the Law through Moses, He made allowances for homeowners to defend themselves and their loved ones from intruders (Exodus 22:2-3). If a thief broke into a house and was killed by the homeowner in self defense, “there shall be no guilt for his bloodshed.” God made provision to protect yourself, your home, and property. There is a time when it is right to fight.
After God’s people returned from exile to Jerusalem, they found the walls of defense torn down. As they began the rebuilding project Nehemiah instructed the people to keep a sword in hand to protect themselves and their family from enemy attack (Nehemiah 4:13-14). Self defense against an enemy is a situation when it is right to fight. “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses.” Nehemiah states of those working that they, “loaded themselves so that with one hand they worked at construction, and with the other held a weapon” (Nehemiah 4:17). There are situations where it is right to fight. Could we draw a parallel with our homes and churches? Perhaps.
Jesus advised His disciples, “. . . he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one” (Luke 22:36). Why would Jesus say this unless He was preparing His disciples for self defense in some way. In the immediate context Peter is rebuked by Jesus for drawing his sword and cutting off Malchus’ ear (Matthew 26:51; Mark 14:47; Luke 22:51; John 18:10). Jesus puts Malchus’ ear back in place. We have Jesus instructing the disciples to get a sword and then Him rebuking a disciple for using it. What can we conclude from this apparent contradiction? There is no contradiction. This tells us we should prepare to use the sword but to do so cautiously so as not to hinder Jesus’ redemptive work. Even if there are times when it is right to fight, we should do so with great caution always keeping the priority of God’s redemptive plan in mind. “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for a soul?” (Matthew 16:26). We need to defend with the priority of souls in mind.
Pastor Spell didn’t use a weapon against the troubling neighbor. He did respond with his fists. He personally was threatened but more importantly the neighbor threatened the pastor’s wife, family, and the sheep of his flock. Was the pastor acting in pride? His patience in enduring months, years of threats, accusations, and vulgarities is evidence he was not acting pridefully. Personally, being insulted and threatened is one thing, but for your wife and grandchildren to be so vulgarly and extremely threatened is quite another thing. There was a time where such threats might be brushed off. But with the assassination of Charlie Kirk and the ever-increasing attacks both verbal and physical becoming more common toward Christians, it makes Pastor Spell’s response more understandable.
There are other factors we’re not privy to in this incident. Thankfully, no life was lost. But it’s likely we will be hearing more not less of such situations. Our nation is growing more divided each day. Historians are drawing parallels betrween the societal atmosphere today and to an earlier time in our history leading up to the Civil War. Jesus warned that conflict would increase in the world just before His return.
Jesus said, “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold” (Matthew 24:12). One wonders how cold a person’s heart must be to have such an absence of love that they threaten to rape women and young children. It’s one more sign of the “perilous times” upon us, times of self-love, pride, blasphemy, unholiness, unloving, slanderers, no self-control, brutality, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong and haughty, and too much more (2 Timothy 3:1-5). Yes, we live in perilous times.
Perilous times require powerful character and Spirit enabled discernment, gifting, and dynamis. I don’t want to endorse Pastor Spell’s actions, but being a pastor, a husband, a father and grandfather and knowing how precious such people are in my life, I can understand his response. Unfortunately, pastors and Christians are going to be increasingly called upon to decide when and if it’s right to fight. I don’t envy any one in that situation. It’s a sign of the times and all the more reason to pray for a Holy Spirit Heaven sent revival that will get to the root of our problems, the heart. Only God can change a heart. That is what we truly need, a heart change for our nation and all the inhabitants of this fallen world.
My hope is that what the enemy meant for evil, God can use for good (Genesis 50:20). I pray we are not overcome by evil but overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21). I pray somehow this young twenty-year-old soul, and his family can be saved from their sins. I pray they would repent and respond to the gospel of Jesus Christ. I pray Pastor Spell would not be overcome with fear, guilt or self justification but would be open to the Spirit’s provision and leading in what is truly right in all of this. I pray we’d all remember not merely the right or wrong but to be kind and tender hearted, forgiving one another just as God has forgiven us by grace through faith in Jesus (Ephesians 4:32).
“To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven. . . A time for war, and a time for peace” (Ecclesiastes 3:1 and 8). I pray God helps us to discern the times we are in and what the proper response is. We absolutely MUST walk in the Spirit and not fall into fulfilling the lusts of our flesh (Galatians 5). The Holy Spirit will help us decide when and if it is right to fight.
Join me in praying:
Father, we come to You in Jesus’ name. Help us discern the best course of action in our daily lives, especially as we encounter and are confronted by evil in this world. Shepherd us. Help us to overcome evil with Your good. Help us to remember Your love is the greatest and You give it to us by the indwelling Holy Spirit. Protect us and our loved ones and empower us when it is Your Will to be instruments to that end. Father, please make us what we need to be, to do what You call us to do, for Your glory, until Jesus’ return. In Jesus’ name. Amen.