Sometimes I hear the concern from critics that those who advocate for the non-violent nature of God are just projecting their own ideas and desires onto God.

But, here is the thing. Left to my own nature and personality, I definitely AM an eye-for-an-eye guy. I grew up wrestling in school and fighting in bars. I both drew blood and lost blood. So, my own natural bent toward reactionary violence is quite honed, hostile and ever-ready. And, engaging in the verbally violent cross-examinations that practicing law demands has done nothing but show me how to even more effectively shred people who are attacking my clients. 

But, when I first recognized 25 years ago that Jesus lives within me, and that He wanted to transform my heart, things changed. The God who turns the other cheek at my sin– bar none, has also called me to do the same toward all others– bar none. And by turning the other cheek, He doesn't ignore the sin at all. Rather, Jesus deals with it directly by overcoming all-evil with all-good.

"Turn the other cheek, walk the extra mile, give the extra garment, love your enemy, pray for those who despitefully use you, THAT you may be sons of your Father in Heaven, for our loving God sends bountiful rain and replenishing sunlight on both the good and the evil, the just and the unjust, THEREFORE be ye perfect AS as your Heavenly Father is perfect." Matthew 5:38-48.

My point is that it's counter-intuitive and contrary, at least in my case,  for my nature and personality to project non-violent attributes onto God. For me to advocate a non-violent image of God is not projection at all since I am not that way by inclination. Projection is a psychological transference of our OWN qualities or faults onto our image of another. In fact, in a way, its Jesus who is projecting His own divine qualities ONTO and INTO us. And that's a good thing.