The Insanity of the "right" to have guns! II

Self defense is entirely Biblical. Note:

God is the One who gives strength to fight evil: "Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight" (Ps. 144:1).

Abraham trained his servants to fight, then gave them weapons so that they could rescue his family members who were taken by evil men: "And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan" (Gen. 14:14).

Paul enjoyed the martial arts of the day: "For we wrestle [Greek pale, παλη, like modern freestyle] not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places" (Eph 6:12). "I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air" (1 Cor. 9:26--a training method of either the ancient Olympic boxing style, or the pankration--παγκράτιον--style, similar to modern MMA).

Jesus endorsed violently defending one's kingdom (the family of the OP): "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" (John 18:36).

In fact, Jesus used a makeshift weapon to violently drive criminals from His Father's house: "And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise" (John 2:15-16).

 

And a dozen years later, look what God's man Nehemiah did: "Therefore set I in the lower places behind the wall, and on the higher places, I even set the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows" (Neh. 4:13).

The question is not, "Is God able?" Of course He is, that goes without saying. The question is, does God want us to take care of and defend our families and homes. The answer is a resounding "Yes" according to the Scriptures I've given.

 

I pack heat all the time. I and all who are around me are safer for it.

 

Ditto.

 

Just thought I would throw this out there. I was a missionary to Japan for 33 years, and that country forbids gun ownership to ordinary citizens, a few are allowed to own them: farmers, hunters, competition shooters. I had a friend who was a competition shooter and had several weapons. The police came around occasionally and required accountability for every single bullet!

Here's the thing, though. Japan is an island nation with very secure borders. There is no way the US would be able to keep guns out of the hands of the criminals; its just the way our country is set up.

 

Actually, this is verse 52.

Greek great A. T. Robertson about this verse, from Robertson's NT Word Pictures): "Put up again thy sword (apostrepson tên machairan sou). Turn back thy sword into its place. It was a stern rebuke for Peter who had misunderstood the teaching of Jesus in Lu 22:38 as well as in Mt 5:39 (cf. Joh 18:36). The reason given by Jesus has had innumerable illustrations in human history. The sword calls for the sword. Offensive war is here given flat condemnation. The Paris Pact of 1928 (the Kellogg Treaty) is certainly in harmony with the mind of Christ. The will to peace is the first step towards peace, the outlawing of war. Our American cities are often ruled by gangsters who kill each other off."

Again, that is not the question. No one here on this thread believes that God is unable to protect us. In fact, in my pamphlet on "A Christian Philosophy of Self Defense" I give several examples of people who witnessed to the bad guy and were let go.

This passage is talking about salvation, since it says specifically "eternal life." It is not being physically attacked. That should be obvious.

That's true. And there were millions of swords and spears in ancient Israel, but God did not tell David (or any other king) to take the weapons from the citizens. They were needed in case of defensive war.

 

I'm sure there are, but that is outside of my purview.

 

The Holy Spirit is our helper in spiritual warfare. In fact, in the context we have angel activity, putting the verse squarely in the spiritual arena. I've heard this verse preached many times as referring to power to serve the Lord, and I think that is the obvious and correct interpretation.

I've never thought of that verse as condemning self defense, and am surprised that you do.

 

Well, absolutely. Anyone who draws a weapon while witnessing for Christ and serving Him is a spiritual idiot! When I witnessed to yakuza gangsters in Japan, I did not take along my pair of sai (a karate weapon).

However, if an intruder comes in my home and threatens my wife and me, I'm not going to stop to try to reason with him. I'll grab my sharpest sword (I have 3, but no guns) and defend us.

 

This verse is hardly condemning self defense. You have not dealt with the Scriptures I gave endorsing self defense.