It didn’t take too long after sin entered the world for people to start harboring grievances. Cain killed his brother Abel because Cain was brooding over God’s acceptance of Abel’s offering and rejection of his own. Cain could’ve prayed to God to search his heart and help him be more sincere. He could’ve asked Abel to teach him how to be more devoted. Instead, Cain murdered his brother in an act of violence. Violence escalated. Cain became a fugitive. One of his descendants, Lamech, became a gangster. He sang a song bragging that he killed a man for wounding him. For some social deviants, it is easier to kill someone than it is to talk to them.

We see violence increasing in this land we love. The instances vary from domestic disturbances to drug deals gone bad to payback for being bullied to random home invasions. People disagree on what to do about it.  

In the Garden of Gethsemane, Peter thought he was justified in resorting to violence to protect Jesus. But Jesus told him, “Put your sword back in its place … for all who draw the sword will die by the sword” (Matthew 26:52). It was time for Jesus to redeem the world. And whoever lives by the sword will eventually die by it. The Bible gives us strategies for blunting others aggression toward us: Turn the other cheek. A soft answer turns away wrath. We walk in danger, but God will give his angels charge over us to protect us.