Love for all people is the Christian, blessed way

Update: It was a failure of this 2017 text not to consider the Lord's warning that Christians need to own swords because they will be counted among the lawless, which may mean that Christians will be deprived of the protection of the local law enforcement institutions. See Luke 22.

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“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” (Matthew 7:43-48, NKJV)

“Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. Therefore
‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
If he is thirsty, give him a drink;
For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.’
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:17-21, NKJV)

Love for all people involves many things, examples of which are given in the speeches of Jesus and Paul (blessing others, doing good for others, praying for others, providing for others' needs). 

What about self-defense against the sinful, destructive actions of others? Here there are several important distinctions to be made. 

(1) The government is expected to defend effectively against evil actions.
“For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing.” (Romans 13:3-6, NKJV)

(2) Revenge and retaliation as a strategy or deterrent are ruled out. 

A translation challenge is important to consider here: when Christ teaches about what to do about “the evil [person]” (Matt. 5:39). The first thing that Christ does is to rule out a particular type of action, which in the Greek is described with the verb anthístēmi. Analyses of this verb by leading dictionaries like LSJ and DGE indicate that this verb had a strong connotation of “to do battle”. 

This is clearly consistent with what we learn elsewhere. Battling with someone clearly risks pulling a person into hatred and therefore disobedience to Christ's commands to love, bless, do good for and pray for people who are hostile to one. 

But translating Christ's teaching here as “do not resist the evil [person]” is probably wrong and certainly problematic. Are Christians not to offer any physical resistance to evil persons? An example would be having locks on doors to one's places of residence and work. Is it a mark and a goal of a Christian society not to have locks?

(3) Protecting material possessions is discouraged.

“If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.” (Matthew 5:40-41, NKJV)

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Notes

NKJV: Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.