O.K.
I am going to jump in here for a quick sec. The scripture Beldin is quoting has no bearing on when an enemy is attacking and thrusting war upon you... There are countless examples of the Jewish nation having to go to war and beat back people who would try to destroy them as a nation and as a people.
That scripture is referring to individual people who are snarky, or some who would try to use you or abuse you or bait you, or say some occasional bad things about you that are not true. Rather than seek REVENGE, we are given this lesson is meekness and showing the Love of God living thru us..
IT is NOT easy to do.. But it very limited in scope and practice. It is individual... Show kindness to others. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you..
Those commands were for individual people with individual circimstances.
When an entire segment of people is being assalted or a good portion of the nation, you are to defend yourselves.
You also should keep in mind the rest of scripture because it is still relevant daily and just because circumstances change, neither God nor HIS words change.
"I AM THE LORD. I CHANGE NOT".
That said, PUNISHMENT is not something GOD is against. He uses civil authority and in fact places them in position to govern and to rule and we are commanded to pray for those in authority over us...
We do not however, have to be sheep led to the slaughter.. We can civilly make our objections known and within the law we can peaceably resist and continue to live a Godly life , not seeking blood or vengeance.
Sin is still sin. Wrong is still wrong..
But let us not forget.
GOD said
I am the LORD. I change NOT". How is HE? HOLY, Loving, kind, patient, all knowing, omnipresent and omniscient, BUT he does not expect us to simply lay down and be fodder. We can let our voices be known but do it civilly and rightly.. We should stay "righteous" even when we are resisting our enemies. Otherwise we are no better than them..
As much as I have no use for these Liberal traitors to America, and if they were an enemy of another nation I would have no problem dealing withem in the correct manner as war. But that is not the case.. At least not yet..
Anyway, sorry to be lengthy. Just wanted to interject what my Bible teaches and has many passages to look at regarding this..
We can make our voices heard and lawfully vocaliaze those things. We cannot pretend to be judge, jury, and executioner. Even though we may feel like that.....
Just my penny's worth... sorry...