"You have heard that it was said, 'AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.' But I say to you, do not resist him who is evil; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone wants to sue you, and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. And whoever shall force you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you."

"You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR, and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax-gatherers do the same?And if you greet your brothers only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." (Matthew 5:38-48 NAS)

It is a mistake and misinterpretation of Scripture to equate the command of Jesus to not resist evil with pacifism, or passivity in the face of evil. First of all, nonresistance is not about peace making; it's about war making, spiritual war making.

Peacemaking is often about compromise, both sides giving a little and seeking to see things from the other's perspective. Though Christians are called to be peacemakers, this has little to do with nonresistance. Turning the other cheek is no guaranty that you will not be struck again. In fact, such an act will often provoke a violent response. We are not called to make peace with evil or the Devil. We make war against him and his armies! We just don't use his kind of weapons.

Nonresistance is about obeying the Lord Jesus, remembering that our citizenship is in heaven and the kingdoms of the world are at war with the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Nonresistance is remembering that we are sent into the world as sheep in the midst of wolves, ambassadors carrying an offer of pardon from our King to a world of rebels, and a warning of the consequence of pardon refused.

Nor does Jesus call us to respond to evil with passivity, simply absorbing the evil without response. Rather Christ commands us to respond actively, powerfully, divinely: returning good for evil, returning blessing for curse, and praying for those who wrong us.

This is true spiritual warfare, not the childish games of the charismatics who spend their efforts on prayer walks, spiritual mapping, and "binding the strong man." This is meeting the enemy with the weapons of the Lord Jesus Christ, walking as He walked, suffering wrong as He suffered, and overcoming through the word of our testimony, the blood of the Lamb, and not loving our lives even unto death. This is the way of the cross. This is the way of Christ.

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds (2 Corinthians 10:4 KJV))

see also Military Service