Objection 1: Impracticable till the millennium
Objection. Your doctrine may be true in its principles, and in its ultimate requirements; but it must be impracticable till the millennium. Then, when the whole human race shall have become regenerate, its sublime morality will be the spontaneous development of all hearts. Under existing circumstances, while there is so much depravity, and such multitudes of men are restlessly bent on aggression, it is obviously impracticable. The wicked would shortly exterminate the righteous, were the latter to act on non-resistant principles.
Answer. I affirm the exact contrary: viz. that the righteous would exterminate the wicked, in the best sense of the word, were they to act on strict non-resistant principles. They would immediately usher in the millennium, with all its blessings, were they to act on these principles in true and persevering fidelity. How else is it imaginable that any such state as the millennium should ever be developed among mankind? Is it to come arbitrarily and mechanically? Is it to come "with observation," the full grown production of some absolute miracle? Is not the kingdom of heaven "within" and "among" men, and thence, like leaven hid in three measures of meal, destined to ferment and rectify the whole mass? Ought not each true Christian's heart to be a germ of the millennium, and each Christian community a proximate miniature of it? If not, what is the evidence that men have been born again - that there is any such thing as regeneration? If professing to be disciples of Christ, they are unable, even by divine grace, to practice the precepts of their Lord and Master, merely because the unregenerate around them are so wicked; what is their religion, their profession, their regeneration worth?
The objection before us involves such extreme incongruities, that it can be entertained only for a moment. Let us examine it.
1. It presupposes that Jesus Christ enjoined on his disciples, duties for the whole period preceding the millennium, which he knew they could not perform until the arrival of the latter period, and yet gave them no intimation of that fact.
2. It presupposes that Jesus enjoined many particular duties for which there will be no possible occasion in the millennium, and which therefore can never be fulfilled.
3. It presupposes that the principles, dispositions and moral obligations of men in the millennium, will be essentially different from what the New Testament requires them to be now.
Is there any doubt in respect to these three statements? It is certain that Jesus apparently inculcates his non-resistant precepts as now binding and practicable, and that he gives no intimation of their impracticability till some remote future period. Was this design, chance or mistake! In either case it derogates from the honor of the Redeemer. It is not to be presumed.
It is equally certain, on the objector's theory, that Christ enjoined particular duties for which there can be no possible occasion in the millennium. In the millennium there will be no occasion to put in practice the precept "Resist not evil," for there will be no evil-doers to forbear with. In that day there will be no occasion for a man, when smitten on one cheek, to turn the other; when distrained of his coat, to give up his cloak; when persecuted and reviled, to bless; when trespassed upon, to forgive; and no occasion to love his enemy, do good to his hater, or pray for his injurer. For there will be none to harm or destroy in all God's holy mountain. There can be no occasion for non-resistance where there is no aggression, injury, or insult. So that the objector virtually makes the Son of God appear in the highest degree ludicrous and absurd. He makes him say, "Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth. for a tooth; but I say unto you that ye resist not evil," in the millennium, when there will be none. And if any man smite thee on thy right cheek - in the millennium, when all shall be love and kindness - turn unto him the other also. And whosoever will sue thee at the law - in the millennium, when the law of love shall be universally obeyed - and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. Love your enemies - in the millennium, when you have no enemies. Bless them which curse you, when there are none to curse; do good to them that hate you, when all love you; forgive offenses till seventy times seven, when offence shall be unknown; feed your foes, when all are friends; and overcome evil with good, when no evil remains!