We’ve all heard the cries of hypocrisy: You can’t be Christian and against gun control; you can’t be pro-life and pro-gun ownership; vengeance is God’s, so why do you need a gun?, etc.
Let us examine, in particular, the charge that being prepared for self-defense is vengeance.
The conversation goes something like this:
Gun Grabber: “Guns kill people! We need more gun control laws!”
Gun Owner: “People kill people. Gun control laws do nothing to stop criminals from committing crimes and just make it harder for law abiding citizens to protect themselves. Saying we need more gun control laws to keep people from being murdered is like saying we need to ban silverware so people won’t get fat.”
Gun Grabber (knowing he has no logical argument): “You hypocrite. You’re a Christian, and the Bible says Vengeance is God’s, so what right do you have to own a gun?”
We already know that gun laws don’t prevent gun crime. It was illegal for a student to carry a weapon on the Virginia Tech campus, and so the only student with a gun was the one shooting everyone in sight. Short of snapping magical fingers and disappearing all firearms, no law imaginable can prevent guns from being used by criminals. But we know all this already, and it’s all been completely documented.
We also know that as a matter of United States law, the right to own guns is recognized by the Constitution. All the hemming and hawing one can conjure up doesn’t change the fact that the very foundational document of our government says “A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” Some people try to argue that militia means government military, but it doesn’t, and the very wording of the amendment places the right of arms ownership with the people and not the state.
But now, what of the Christian? Can a Christian accept these facts and own guns without hypocrisy?
What is Vengeance?
The Bible says:
“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” -Romans 12:19
There can be no doubt that the Bible clearly directs the Christian not to take vengeance into his own hands. Vengeance is taken out by God himself, and according to 1st Peter 2:14, he does this through the institution of government. But is self-defense vengeance?
For an answer to this, we do not go to the gun-grabbing liberal who despises individual liberty and sees personal defense as an affront to the nanny-state. To see if the divine operation of vengeance is equated with self-defense, we need merely read more Scripture.
For example, if someone breaks into your home and you kill him while he is committing his crime, is that vengeance?
“If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for him.” -Exodus 22:2
Clearly, the answer is no: self-defense is not vengeance. But what if you wait a while, and go kill him after you found out what he did? Conveniently for us, the very next verse answers that:
“If the sun be risen upon him, there shall be blood shed for him; for he should make full restitution; if he have nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.” -Exodus 22:3
These two verses lay out quite clearly the difference between self-defense and vengeance. In the first case, the thief was killed while committing his crime, and there is no fault in the man who killed him. But if he waits until it is over (the sun be risen), it would be vengeance, because at that point the imminency is passed and the thief must be dealt with under the law.
So we see quite plainly that acting in self-defense is not taking vengeance.
“Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.” -Luke 22:36
There is a later scene where Jesus told Peter to put his sword away.
The reason He did so was that the sword was meant as a weapon to use against bandits and highwaymen, not Temple policemen. (The Jerusalem Temple had its own police force, and it is this police force that arrested Jesus.)
Christians should remember that Christ was Jewish, so what does Jewish Torah say about self-defense?
[The Torah is the biblical books of Genesis through Deuteronomy]
[no, I'm not Jewish]
Rabbi Mermelstein addresses that topic: http://www.gunownersalliance.com/Rabbi_0363.htm
Self-defense is not practiced anywhere in the New testament. Paul recieved 40 stripes – 1 not once,
but 5 time. I self-defense were an option surely
the Apostle would have used it. But he did not even mention it. Jesus said thos that take up the sword shall perish with the sword. Instead
hebrews 4:12 says ” the SWORD of the Spirit is move powerful than ANY two-edged sword”. Using
a carnal weapon would be not as effective as the word of GOD. Psalm 68 says “LET GOD ARISE, let
his enemies be scattered.”. Moses spoke the earth
beopened and ALL the rebels at KORAH were descended into it. Paul spoke and his enemy became blind. I thought that “the just shall live by faith”. As soon as you take up the sword any faith you had uis GONE. When Paul went to jail the angel brought an earthquake to open the prison doors in acts 17. Show me even 1 disciple who used carnal self sefense. We are living under grace not the law. We should follow the law of the SPIRIT, for to be carnally minded is DEATH.
When ananias and saphira lied, the apostles spoke
and they both dropped DEAD. I hope and pray we can follow these holy examples to make this world
a more peaceful place to live
I’ve found no New Testament prohibition against self-defense, or defense of one’s family. Such a statement would have to be researched to determine whether it was a translation error, because the scriptures tell us that God is constant & un-changing. Such a prohibition would be a complete 180-degree change from the instruction of the Old Testament.
I don’t know about your other readers, but I could not stay my hand and allow an intruder to savage my wife and children. I want and need the means to resist, because I know that the state is under no burden to defend me or mine. Property is of no consequence – beyond it’s worth to provide for my family’s needs as I am bound to do.
Here’s a link to a discussion of self-defense and the New Testament: http://www.lawandliberty.org/defense.htm
God’s blessings upon you.
Letting a criminal commit violence against my family is not loving him or having mercy upon him, nor is it protecting the helpless as we are commanded to do. If we do not provide for our families, we are “worse than infidels.”
The premise behind your post is interesting, but…
Besides that all I heard was a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
Do you think referring to people like that shows Christ’s work in our hearts or at least a modicum of respect?
Matt L. Since Jesus called people vipers and white washed tombs and whipped the hell out of the money changers in the temple I guess he didn’t have love in his heart and was a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal too. If you actually read the entire Gospel you’ll see that the real Jesus wasn’t always a nice guy. In fact he gave the Pharisees and the religious leaders some pretty brutal tongue lashings.
Right on Howard!
good job on this.
For the people who do not think self-defense is in the New Testament:
1 Timothy 5:8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
Compare that with Exodus 22:2-3 also look at what Paul says about fighting Beast in Ephesus in his debate with people at Corinth about whether Christ arose from the dead or not:
1 Corinthians 15: 32 If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.
We know from history that on occassion people were put into arenas to fight with beasts and gladiators. Paul FOUGHT with beasts. According to modern day interpretation of scripture…Paul should have laid down his arms and succumbed to death.
Also, if you take the time to read through Daniel and Revelation you will see that the Anti-Christ will make WAR with the saints. War takes two groups, I’m quite sure Daniel and John could have chosen other words if they simply meant persecution or holocaust. Well to better put it…God chose the word “WAR.”
No I’m not advocating Christians take up arms against anyone, I’m just recognizing it may come to the point where Christians have not choice but to defend their person, their family and their sisters and brothers in the Lord.
I’ve wrestled with this question myself. I don’t want to take a life…but how can I allow a life to be taken? Even the Angels warred in heaven…against the dragon (Rev 12:7) I figure they used different weapons, but they still warred and won. Are we expected to do less?
Pardon my brutality, but if a man broke into your home and raped one of your daughters, would you then hand him the other? In most cases of self defnce involving a fire arm no shot is ever fired, believe me if some one is pointing a gun at you you WILL stop doing what ever it is that you are doing.
LUK 22:35-36
BrotherRoy,
You forget that Paul explained to us that we, Christian saints, do not battle (war) against flesh and blood.
Eph. 6:10-14
10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we[a] are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness
———
We are told we wresthle/fight/battle not against flesh and blood… and to put on the full armor of God, which are all of them spiritual, to prepare us for war/battle, which is spiritual… not physical.
d4nnyb0y02, if we follow your logic through, what about other matters of the flesh? Eating? Working? Etc?
Understanding that we fight a spiritual battle does not mean you don’t take care of physical needs. This verse in particular comes to mind:
1 Timothy 5:8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
Ephesians 6 does not get you out of providing for your own. That includes defending the helpless of your house against assailants.
By standing by and not killing, stopping, the madman hurting your wife and kids, you become the murderer of your wife and kids and have committed suicide to yourself and the offender gets off scot-free.
I can see both sides of this argument. In my opinion, protecting/providing for one’s family supersedes any intruder’s right. My only question/concern is where do we draw the line before we decide to work with our elected government to limit/prohibit mass destruction firearms? Must we continue to one-up the enemy to the point of carnal destruction? I hope and pray that we come to our senses and agree on the need to defend our families/homes while at the same time working with our government that the defense of our families/home does not come the point of savagery.
Self defense is performed everyday by the pious, as they retain their position of safety under the governments protection and implied threat. Also, most of the pious make an attempt to compete to obtain a lively hood and not starve. They would do well to offer their spot to one who is starving, and not compete. Truly hyprocrisy. No wonder so many people have a bad view of Christ.
Kelly’s comment,
A christian should be in the mindset to win a war if it is worth fighting. On the small stuff we shoud “turn the other cheek”, let it go. Make issues small if possible. If it so happens that the weapons are so powerful that world anhilation occurs, that is the situation we cannot change. The alternative is to lose, which would be the incorrect answer. With that inherited situation, we can try to set rules of warfare and weapons strength if the “bad” opponent is in agreement. We should be sincere and honest but prudent that they might cheat. I do not necessarily subscribe to the view that the U.S. fits into the Christian side. The Christian side actually cross international borders. I do not have an answer about building weapons to point at another nation’s Christians. Probably that does cross the line to become sin.
“Show me even 1 disciple who used carnal self sefense.” What about a prophet? Elisha called an army of bears to kill teenagers who were simply DISRESPECTING him, a prophet of God. What do you think he would have done to someone in the active act of rape or murder? I don’t own a gun because I trust God can protect me, but if someone breaks into my house with intents to harm my family I’ll tear out his throat with all the christian love I can muster. Not because I hate him, but because his actions had easily foreseeable consequences. He gave up his right to life when he threatened another persons right ot life. You can be sure if I had an army of bears I would call them too.
Would Queen Esther Own An Assault Rifle?
Around Mother’s day of this year, the National Rifle Association at their annual banquet ceremony presented Sarah Palin, one of their life time members, with a custom made military style assault rifle. This . 50 caliber weapon has an effective range of 2,000 yards with ammo that can disable heavy vehicles and pierce any type of body armor.
The gun Palin received is not that good for hunting. A Caribou would be reduced to tiny bits of hamburger. Although not hardly designed for sportsmen, the assault rifle is a big hit among criminal elements. It often gives them a distinct advantage over the weaponry and protective vests of policemen. That’s why when the 10 year federal ban on assault weapons was set to expire in 2004, over 1,000 law officers and sheriffs signed a petition to renew a ban that had been supported not only by Democratic Presidents, Clinton and Carter, but also, Republicans George H.W. Bush, and Ronald Reagan.
Unfortunately, Congress and President Bush allowed the ban to expire.. Bush, who spent months looking for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, apparently ignored the fact that WMD’s can be found right here in America, namely, military style firearms readily available to the public. Could it be that our President, hailed by the evangelical community as a “pro-life” champion, was afraid to speak out against the gun industry and their lobbyists? The NRA embraces the practice of selling assault weapons in gun show parking lots-no questions asked. Few politicians seem to have a problem with that.
We deplore the gun massacres taking place along our Mexican border. However, the drug cartels have highly effective killers only because they have an arsenal of assault weapons manufactured and easily acquired within the United States.
Queen Esther stood in the gap and saved many of her own people. Armed with only her verbal skills and the favor of God, Esther refused to remain silent on behalf of innocent lives that were at stake. ( Esther 4:14)
Abortion is not the only shame of America. Over 30,000 firearm related deaths occur in this nation on an annual basis. Every nine minutes a teenager in this country dies from gun shot wounds. Does not their blood cry out to Heaven ? Who will stand in the gap to say, “ ENOUGH!” ? Will Sarah Palin? Will any Christian challenge the NRA and a gun lobby that has high jacked the Second Amendment and taken it out of its historical context? Or will evangelicals and so-called “pro-lifers” continue to remain silent?
I didn’t read all the posts, but you need to read Nehemiah 4:14. Yes, it’s old testament, and it is talking about the battle Nehemiah was facing, but it seems to be appliable to today.
We are permitted to defend and the victory will be given the faithful by God. We are not to attack, but Love our enemies, so much as it depends on us we are to be at peace with all men.
After our forefathers fought and paid for our liberties and comforts with their very lives, we find it necessary to discuss whether or not fighting for such things is justified. How does one stop a holocaust? How does one stop the slaughter of the innocent? How does one protect his family?
Just because you don’t want to have to fight does not make fighting wrong. We are to examine our hearts. God can and will lead us into battles. He has done so with His people throughout the ages.
Let’s not forget that David (”a man after God’s own heart”), was a man aquainted with battle and blood. Many of the heroes of the faith were likewise.
Allow me to add a verse to the ones already mentioned:
Pr 21:31 “The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the LORD.” (NIV)
Yes, we trust God for the victory at the same time we make ready for the fight. I don’t want to have to fight. It is terrifying but who are you trusting for the victory? God may keep the evil from your door or ordaine that you confront it and push it back. As scripture teaches we should be prepared.
So how does the presence of references to scripture on guns issued to the UK and US military bear on this discussion?
I blogged about it here: http://tinyurl.com/ye6acor
Would welcome your comments.
yes carlos, GOD will help you and defend you but you have to help yourself too, arm yourself