On the same night, Jesus 1st told the disciples that they should buy swords, and then later told Peter that to draw the sword is to perish by the sword. Non-believers will say this conflicts, but rather I think it's an indication of what our temperament should be with regards to violence and recognizing that there are times when violence is appropriate and times when it is not.
Jesus not only told them to get swords (2 was enough, they weren't to become a standing army and influence/convert through show of force), but to now also start traveling with money, sandals, etc.
Combined with the Exodus 22 reference above, I think biblical self defense becomes a reasonable conclusion, but we aren't to convert others to Christ through force, and a temperament that leads you to cutting off the ear of an authority figure with a whole lot of other authority figures standing around will probably end bad for you. It's not the weapon, it's the temperament that should be regulated.
-rvb
Jesus not only told them to get swords (2 was enough, they weren't to become a standing army and influence/convert through show of force), but to now also start traveling with money, sandals, etc.
Combined with the Exodus 22 reference above, I think biblical self defense becomes a reasonable conclusion, but we aren't to convert others to Christ through force, and a temperament that leads you to cutting off the ear of an authority figure with a whole lot of other authority figures standing around will probably end bad for you. It's not the weapon, it's the temperament that should be regulated.
-rvb