The left's relationship with Christianity is just like its relationship with everything else in this world. It's good as far as it is useful, but once it becomes oppositional, then it consistently needs to be destroyed and demolished.
The thing about Christianity is that even when the left is being "friendly" with it, or even self-identifying with it, it's still trying to destroy it. This is pretty evident in the way it consistently talks about Christianity and violence.
Case in point, in Matthew 5:39, Christ said, “If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.”
This verse is taken out of context quite a bit, especially by the left, who see this as Christ's finger wagging at Christian conservatives across time and space about self-defense. Even if they don't quote it, the principle is often thrown at Christians whenever they support the Second Amendment, or in extreme cases, are forced to practice it to save their own life, or the life of others.
You can see this infinitely on X, where these kinds of arguments pop up regularly, especially after a mass shooting, but you can also see it randomly pop up in politicians and media talking heads.
Sunny Hostin just did this on Thursday during an episode of "The View," where she said:
I'm at least consistent as a lifelong Catholic; I am against abortion. I'm also against the death penalty. I'm also against guns. I'm also against the starvation of children. I'm a humanitarian above all because I believe that all life is precious.
...
And that's why I find there is a hypocrisy with certain Christians who are 'pro-life' but they will pull that electric chair switch. They are 'pro-life' but they have their AR-15s in their cabinet...That is not pro-life.
Sunny Hostin says Christian gun owners are hypocrites and are not actually pro-life:
— Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) October 2, 2025
"I'm at least consistent as a lifelong Catholic, I am against abortion [she's not]. I'm also against the death penalty. I'm also against guns. I'm also against the starvation of children. I'm a… pic.twitter.com/ddARrN185j
Hostin and everyone who argues like her is muddying things up by mixing Christian pacifism with other issues like the "starvation of children," as if other Christians are somehow for this. Also, you can't be "humanitarian first," while flaunting your Christian bona fides, because you're either for God and His plan first or you're not being a proper Christian. It wrecks your argument when you're trying to virtue signal as one of the "good Christians."
But I digress.
I really want to address the left's notion that being Christian means you have to achieve a level of non-violence that Gandhi would approve of.
By the way, Gandhi is not the role model for Christians. Jesus is.
Besides, that's not the case at all. Christians are called to be peaceful and pacifist, but not helpless. In fact, we can be very deadly when the need arises.
First off, being a pacifist doesn't mean you're a wimp. It means you don't start fights, and you don't escalate situations to violent ends. Too often, people claim to be pacifists when, in reality, they are just helpless, and they dress their helplessness up as a noble choice. A true pacifist can harm and kill, but takes the peaceful route. A pacifist can still draw his weapon and fire it at someone if the person he's drawing on is presenting a clear and present danger to others. In that way, a pacifist keeps the peace he values.
Secondly, Christ's words in Matthew 5:39 were more about personal grievances through insult, and not escalating things, than a commentary about how Christians should react to violence.
In context, back in the time Jesus was conducting his Earthly ministry, a backhanded slap across the cheek was considered an insult, not an assault. It was classified as a humiliation, and Christ was saying that if someone insults or demeans you, offer them your other cheek, don't escalate the situation. Keep the peace. This would culturally evolve into "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me."
To be a bit more accurate, Christ was effectively urging not to let your pride get the best of you. Your own ego is ultimately far more dangerous to yourself than someone's insult.
What Christ was not saying was that Christians should allow evil and harm to be done to them in the name of being non-violent. If someone breaks into your home at night, Christians are not expected to sit by passively and allow the intruder to steal from them, or do something far worse. Self-defense is very much on the table for Christians.
In fact, Exodus 22:2 makes it clear that whatever happens to a burglar breaking into your home at night is on them, not you. His blood is on his own hands, not the resident protecting himself.
"If a thief is caught breaking in at night and is struck so that he dies, the defender is not guilty of bloodshed."
Christ himself told his followers who didn't have protection to sell their cloak to buy a "machaira," which was Greek for a short sword or knife, the usual sidearm for protection back in those days. Luke 22:36 reads, "He said to them, 'But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one.'"
Christians are called to defend life, not seek out bloodshed.
Arguments about the death penalty being wrong can be made, but the idea that Christians should just lay down their will to self-preservation because Jesus urged peace and non-violence is absurd. Christ said no such thing, and at the end of the day, this line of thinking too often seems to stem from a Democrat trying to get an American to give up their right to firearms.
