Is it permissible to defend oneself, one’s family, and one’s homeland?

In order for a Christian to live in society successfully, adhering to its laws and customs, he must be well acquainted with them, submitting to them according to God’s commandment: “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s” (Mark 12:17). We must also keep in mind that most of the laws that govern our lives are consistent with the teachings of the Holy Bible and the Church, as St. Paul says, “For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God” (Rom. 13:1). Christianity invites us not only to love and forgive, but also to be lawful. It urges the Christian to resort to the law to manage matters, so that whoever has been wronged or deprived of his rights should seek redress through the legal channels of society.

The filing of lawsuits was stipulated in ancient times in Jewish Law (Deut. 17:8–9). Roman law permitted its subjects to appeal their cases to the emperor if they were not satisfied with a ruling of the governors of the provinces and colonies. Therefore, St. Paul appealed his case to Caesar (Acts 25:11).

The Christian sometimes finds himself in a position that obligates him to defend himself, his family, or his homeland where he is confronted with a certain danger, and where if he waits for state agencies to take action, he might lose his own life or the life of a loved one. For this reason, some statutory laws follow the teaching of the heavenly Bible in recognizing certain situations in which a person is allowed to repel danger without incurring legal or religious blame. In the spirit of godliness, St. Paul tells his disciple, “Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work” (Titus 3:1).