May Christians Use Guns?
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· 153 viewsIs it a sin for a Christian to protect and defend with lethal force? Has God shown approval of people who use deadly force for self-protection? What did Jesus say about carrying a weapon?
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May Christians Use Guns?
May Christians Use Guns?
Caveat
Caveat
In this lesson, we are talking about the possibility of Christians using guns or other weapons for self-defense in countries where the laws allow for the use of guns or other weapons in self-defense.
Logical Answer
Logical Answer
There are different laws made by the government for living in society, but when it comes to sin, there is one law that applies to all men. If something is a sin for one man, it is a sin for another man.
Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
For there is no respect of persons with God.
For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
There is one law of God for all men.
If it is a sin for a Christian to protect and defend with lethal force, then it is a sin for any man to protect and defend with lethal force.
If this is the case, then police officers are sinning when they defend themselves against criminals trying to kill them, and soldiers are sinning when they fight and kill enemies invading their country.
However, if it is not a sin for men to protect and defend with lethal force, then it is not a sin for Christians to protect and defend with lethal force, again, provided the laws of the land also allow it.
Biblical Answer
Biblical Answer
Has God shown approval of people who use deadly force for self-protection?
Old Testament
Old Testament
The Old Testament gives us examples of Godly men taking up arms.
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.
And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus.
And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.
We remember that just because the Bible records something doesn’t mean it is approved by God. After all, the Bible records the lies of Satan, too. So, a further appropriate question would be, “How did God react to Abram using force against others who had taken his people and goods?”
And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king’s dale.
And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.
And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
Abram was blessed after having done this and God was described as having delivered the enemies of Abram into his hand.
New Testament
New Testament
During the Limited Commission, Jesus sent His disciples out to the Jews with the instructions NOT to take things, but rather to rely on others.
These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,
Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.
Later, Jesus would send His apostles on a worldwide campaign.
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Jesus had previously told the disciples not to take money in their bag, nor take a leather bag or “scrip” with them. But just before His arrest, His instructions are different.
And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing.
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.
For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end.
And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough.
The word for “sword” here is not simply a tool as some may claim. The Greek word used for “sword” here is also used in other instances translated “sword” where the word is obviously an instrument of death.
And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.
Even though Jesus gave them instructions to sell clothes and buy a sword if they didn’t have one, the apostles replied that they already carried two among them. Jesus apparently approved of this.
Shortly after this Jesus would be arrested.
At that time, Peter drew his sword and cut off the ear of one of the high priest’s servants.
And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest’s, and smote off his ear.
Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?
But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?
The phrase “all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword,” may be used as an argument against Christians using guns or weapons in self-defense. But hermeneutics demands that we examine the statement within its context and by comparing it to other verses.
The context is the occasion of the arrest of Jesus. Peter seems to rise to the defense of Jesus, but Jesus rejects Peter’s defense, stating that He already has a defense if He should need one.
Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?
John records that Jesus told Peter to put His sword away because if Peter were to fight, it would prevent Jesus from partaking of the cup of suffering given to Him by the Father.
Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?
In relation to other verses, we know that Jesus told His apostles to buy a sword and approved of carrying swords so Jesus would not have contradicted Himself by later forbidding anyone to carry and use a weapon of self-defense.
We also see that the kingdom of Christ is a spiritual kingdom, not a physical one. Therefore, His servants would not fight to prevent Him from being delivered to the Jews.
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.
Therefore, Jesus was not forbidding the use of weapons at any time, but He was forbidding the use of physical weapons to establish a spiritual kingdom.
Conclusion
Conclusion
There is one law of God for mankind. If men and women are allowed by God to use weapons for self-defense, then Christians are allowed by God to use weapons for self-defense.
The Old Testament has examples of Godly men taking up arms to protect family and property, with God’s approval.
In the New Testament, Jesus told His disciples to take a sword. He also approved of carrying swords within His group.
The phrase “all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword,” cannot be literal because not everyone who killed with a sword or gun will automatically die by the same method. By using hermeneutics and examining context and other verses, we see that Jesus was disallowing the use of physical weapons to establish a spiritual kingdom.
Men are to provide for their own household.
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.
God’s word lets us know that self-defense, including that of a lethal nature, is approved of by God.
Jesus used the idea of the strong man being armed in His teaching.
When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: