SO... YOU'RE GOING TO BUY A GUN???
Given what is happening in the USA today and the actions of the Democrat Party, as soon as I'm able to move into my own place, I'm planning to purchase a pistol in case I should ever have occasion or need to protect myself from others intent on showering violence upon my person.
In preparation for that day (if and when it should come) today I have begun to educated myself regarding the particulars of firearms.
"But wait!" I tell myself. "You need to consider whether you, as a Christian, can even
own a weapon—let alone
fire one."
To answer that question, I began by meditating on
Matthew 5:39, where the Messiah says…
"But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also."
However, I don't think this is necessarily meant to be taken literally. Rather, the Messiah is dealing with
attitude. He is addressing the disposition of one's
heart.
According to the commentary by Adam Clarke…
That is, rather than avenge thyself, be ready to suffer patiently a repetition of the same injury. But these exhortations belong to those principally who are persecuted for righteousness' sake. Let such leave the judgment of their cause to Him for whose sake they suffer. The Jews always thought that every outrage should be resented; and thus the spirit of hatred and strife was fostered.
So then, it is wrong to harbor an attitude of hatred and bitterness—especially if one is on the receiving end of hostility due to the act of advancing the cause of God’s Kingdom. Nonetheless, this should not necessarily be interpreted to mean that one should act as a doormat in any and all circumstances.
Yet and still, in his
Commentaries on the Bible, Coffman gives an example of how this CAN apply when serving as an ambassador for Christ…
Illustration: Colin Byrne Smith of Australia told of a missionary who called on a tribe of cannibals. Taking his life in his hands, he crossed the inlet in a small boat, and when confronted by the tribe, meekly endured every insult. Long afterwards, when he had succeeded in converting many and establishing a church among them, he asked, "Why did you not eat me when I came to preach to you?" The old chief, then a Christian, said, "You see, none of us wanted to eat you, because the reason we eat people is to acquire their skills and bravery; but nobody wanted to be like you, taking all those insults, and patiently bearing every blow against you!"
When one strives honestly and faithfully to live up to Jesus' teaching in this matter, or any other, forces far beyond the knowledge of any man are working for the success of the obedient follower of the Lord.
"Turning the other cheek" has taken the sport out of many an evil attack against the defenseless.
But on the other hand, it
could be argued that
Luke 22:36 lends support to the principle of protecting one's self:
Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Whole Bible
And he that hath no sword - There has been much difficulty in understanding why Jesus directed his disciples to arm themselves, as if it was his purpose to make a defense. It is certain that the spirit of his religion is against the use of the sword, and that it was not his purpose to defend himself against Judas.
But it should be remembered that these directions about the purse, the scrip, and the sword were not made with reference to his "being taken" in the garden, but with reference "to their future life." The time of the trial in Gethsemane was just at hand; nor was there "time" then, if no other reason existed, to go and make the purchase. It altogether refers to their future life. They were going into the midst of dangers.
The country was infested with robbers and wild beasts. It was customary to go armed. He tells them of those dangers - of the necessity of being prepared in the usual way to meet them. This, then, is not to be considered as a specific, positive "command" to procure a sword, but an intimation that great dangers were before them; that their manner of life would be changed, and that they would need the provisions "appropriate to that kind of life."
The "common" preparation for that manner of life consisted in money, provisions, and arms; and he foretells them of that manner of life by giving them directions commonly understood to be appropriate to it. It amounts, then, to a "prediction" that they would soon leave the places which they had been accustomed to, and go into scenes of poverty, want, and danger, where they would feel the necessity of money, provisions, and the means of defense. All, therefore, that the passage justifies is:
- That it is proper for people to provide beforehand for their wants, and for ministers and missionaries as well as any others.
- That self-defense is lawful.
Men encompassed with danger may lawfully "defend" their lives. It does not prove that it is lawful to make "offensive" war on a nation or an individual.
But, doesn't Jesus say that those who live by the sword shall die by the sword in
Matthew 26:52?
Yes, but I would not equate readiness to defend one's self with a lifestyle of violence. Moreover, according to the
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary, though the general meaning of this verse is that they who contend in battle are likely, on both sides, to become the sacrifices of their mutual animosities, it is
also probably a prophetic declaration of the Jewish and Roman states...
The Jews put the Messiah to death under the sanction of the Romans. Hence, both took the sword against Christ, and both perished by it—the Jews by the sword of the Romans, and the Romans by that of the Goths, Vandals, etc. The event has verified the prediction - the Jewish government has been destroyed upwards of 1700 years, and the Roman upwards of 1000.
Yeah, but as a Christian, shouldn't I be content to let the Democrats do whatever they want to do—especially in light of the 13th chapter of Romans?
Romans 13:1-5
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad.
Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval,for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath, but also for the sake of conscience.
On the other hand, it was based on
Scripture that the USA was established on the contention that governments are instituted among a people—deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed—for the purpose of securing the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness (among others); and that therefore, whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it.
So then, yes, Romans 13:1-5 does say what it says…BUT…what is to happen when rulers ARE a terror to good conduct? What happens when the one who is in authority carries out the wrath of HELL, and one is afraid for doing what is RIGHT—when, for doing what is GOOD, one receives DISAPPROVAL?
What happens when your child is forcibly taken from you because you educate him or her regarding deviant and depraved notions of human behavior? What happens when the authorities let criminals and murderers back on the street at the same time they confiscate the arms of law-abiding citizens and abolish departments of law enforcement? What happens when those in power alter the government so that it becomes a one-party system controlling every aspect of the lives of its citizens—WITHOUT their consent?
In my opinion, at that point rulers—the ones who are in authority—become the devil’s servants for evil! So, to be in subjection to such would be tantamount to utter foolishness. The founders of the United States established the Second Amendment for good reason. And God blessed me with good sense, to whatever degree I have it, for good reason as well. So, for as long as I am able, I am NOT going to forsake either.
