All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness. (2 Timothy 3:16)
Guns have been in the news a lot lately. With special deals being struck with the NRA, the Heller vs. Washington D.C. case, and the more recent Otis McDonald vs. Chicago; but behind the news and deeper than court cases remains the deepest law in all of existence – the law of God.
You may not have realized, but the Bible actually has a few definitive verses on the subject that may surprise even the most well-versed Christian. In this two-part teaching, we will discuss God’s opinion on topics from self-defense to war and how God sees killing done by police officers and soldiers.
Self defense vs. Vengeance
The Bible, at the surface, seems to teach contradictions of pacifism and self defense. Beyond the surface, it becomes quickly apparent that God has a few rules about self defense and defines it accurately for us today.
Exodus 22:2, “If the thief is caught while breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there will be no bloodguiltiness on his account.”
The verse above makes it clear that self defense is fine with God. God sees the difference between defense and murder. There is a difference between defense and vengeance, which God brings up in the very next verse.
Exodus 22:3, “But if the sun has risen on him, there will be bloodguiltiness on his account. He shall surely make restitution; if he owns nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.”
If the sun rises after the theft has taken place and the thief is now gone, there is no threat to you, your family or your property any longer and any action that is taken place would be vengeance, not defense. Vengeance belongs to God, and punishment belongs to the governing bodies.
“He who lives by the sword dies by the sword”
Many today like to use the verse in Matthew to say that Jesus was against defending yourself, yet again, this is only the case at the surface level. Let’s dig deeper into God’s word.
Just a little while before the events transpired in which the above quote was stated, Jesus said, “But now, whoever has a money belt is to take it along, likewise also a bag, and whoever has no sword is to sell his coat and buy one.” (Luke 22:36)
Jesus told the disciples to arm themselves even if it meant that they had to have a rummage sale. So, what changed? Why did Jesus seemingly change His mind on the issue? The answer is simple. Peter was trying to defend Jesus from the will of God – the very reason Jesus came. In the same statement where Jesus tells Peter to put his sword away He adds,
"Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels? How then will the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say that it must happen this way?” Matthew 26:52-54
The scripture was being fulfilled in Jesus’ arrest and killing, but there was no reason for Peter to try and defend Jesus and die in the process. Peter had no chance of defending himself against the Roman soldiers who had been sent to arrest the Christ.
Put Your Trust in God
You ask, “I thought we were suppose to trust God to take care of us?” Yet we are told to obey God’s law. Very few people – in order to exemplify their trust in God – will fail to obey 1 Timothy 5:8 by refusing to work while asking God to put a meal on the table for themselves and their family. Such behavior is sinful, worldly, and foolish.
David said that God, "trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle." (Psalm 144:1)
Always trust God, but read God’s precepts and take them to heart in how you can align yourself with His provision.
Obey the Law of the Land
As always, obey the laws that the government has placed upon you. You can obey God and the law of the land, and depend on God’s guidance and protection in the areas where you are restricted by law – and in every area of life.
Much more needs to be said on this subject, like soldiers and police officers, the constitution in America and so forth. For these important reasons, I will be releasing a follow-up message very, very soon. Please come back to this page which will be updated with a link to the new article when it is available in August 2010.