People love labels. There are labels on nearly everything you buy these days.
If you want to know what is in a product, all you have to do is read the label.
Of course, many of the ingredients have names that are unpronounceable,
but that doesn't keep us from reading the label!

People love labels so much that they even want to apply them to other people. For instance, people are labeled as liberal or conservative depending upon how they respond to the world around them. The problem with labeling a person or a group comes about when, as in nearly every case, that person or group are not 100% liberal or 100% conservative in their views. Most people have a mixture of liberal and conservative values.

The same problem occurs when ungodly people try to label those that literally obey every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4). It is a foreign concept to most people to literally follow the words of Jesus Christ and turn the other cheek. Because people believe in carnal warfare, those that believe and practice turning the other cheek are labeled as a pacifist.
 
Jesus Christ said in Matthew 5:38-39,
38        Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
39        But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

A pacifist is defined as:
1)        a person who believes in pacifism or is opposed to war or to violence of any kind.
2)        a person whose personal belief in pacifism causes him or her to refuse being drafted into military service.

Was Jesus Christ a pacifist? Did Jesus Christ practice pacifism, and set an example of pacifism for us to follow? Is that what is meant by "turn the other cheek?"


Paul addresses this issue in Romans 12:17-21.
17        Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
18        If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
19        Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
20        Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
21        Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

How are we to understand and apply Jesus Christ's statements in the Sermon on the Mount?  During Jesus' interrogation by Pilate, Jesus made His position very clear.
John 18:36 
Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
This leads us to believe that there will come a time when His kingdom is being set up that His true servants will fight! But at this time each of us His servants must "commit yourself to Him that judges righteously." This gives the world a skewed picture of what serving God is all about. It definitively needs to be pointed out that we do not oppose war or fighting, since we will do so with Christ against this system upon His return. We just oppose carnal warfare in this life.
1 Peter 2:19-23
19        For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
20        For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
21        For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
22        Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
23        Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:

To walk as Jesus Christ requires perseverance, patience, and trust in God.
Jesus was not a pacifist and neither are we! Jesus never sued anyone, or sought revenge. When He returns, it will not be as a baby in a manger, it will be as King of Kings and Lord of Lords and He will rule with a rod of iron!
Revelation 19:11-16
11        And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
12        His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
13        And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
14        And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
15        And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
16        And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

This world is Babylon and we must have nothing to with it just as Jesus did not! Even if we are defrauded! But, when Jesus returns and establishes His kingdom, we will follow His steps by helping Him put down all rebellion. Part of our job will be as judges of those in the 2nd resurrection.
1Cor 6:2-3
2  Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
3  Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

As judges we will determine those that go into the lake of fire!
Rev 20:12-15
12  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
13  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
14  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.


1 John 3:1-3
1        Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
2        Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
3        And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
  
If we let God fight our battles we will not retaliate because we depend on God in faith for protection. We are not pacifists; we are simply God's people doing His will in a satanic world that has no concept of Godliness!