Many people have a confused view about what the Bible says in regards to self-defense. The law given in Exodus 22:2-3 says that if a man breaks into a home to steal at night, the home-owner has the right defend himself and his family, even to the point of killing. In daylight, when the home-owner can see that he is there to steal and not to kill, he cannot kill the thief in defense of his person or property.
In Luke 22:37-39, Jesus acknowledged the necessity to be appropriately armed. In Proverbs 25:21-22 and Romans 12:17, Scriptures say to not repay evil with evil, but to bless your enemies. And in Matthew 5:39, Jesus said if someone slaps your right cheek, offer them your left as well.
The Bible offers very few laws regarding self-defense, but plenty of examples. When Lot and his people were captured, Abraham had no problem rescuing him with force (Genesis 14:13-16). All such engagements are marked by aggressive action, violence and result in death. In Luke 22:36, Jesus advised His disciples to possess a self-defense weapon – a sword, along with their other provisions. Then again, David refused to harm Saul, even though Saul was trying to kill him. And Jesus scolded Peter for using a sword to fight off the guards that were taking Jesus away (John 18:10-11).
What's the difference? The timing and the situation. In a situation with an unknown aggressor with unknown intent, as in Exodus 22:2, it is appropriate to use self-defense. If the offense has already occurred, as in Proverbs 25 and Romans 12, we should not take the law into our own hands, but seek justice through the civil authorities. David refused to kill Saul because Saul was God's anointed king with granted authority. Jesus condemned Peter's action not because of his intent to defend Christ, but because Peter was getting in the way of God's plan for the guards to take Jesus. The Matthew 5 passage is stickiest. It appears to say that we are to take whatever abuse comes our way quietly. But a "slap on the cheek" didn't mean physical violence. It refers to an insult against one’s honor. We are not to defend our honor with physical violence, but shrug it off.
America is a country that loves the right of self-defense, the essence of the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The estimated total number of guns held by civilians in the United States is 290,000,000 to 330,000,000 – more than any other country on earth.
According to conservative scholars, the original intent of the Founding Fathers when writing the Second Amendment was to guarantee citizens "the biblical right of self-defense.”
Richard Henry Lee (1732–1794), a signer of the Declaration of Independence who helped frame the Second Amendment in the First Congress, wrote, "... to preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms, and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them..."
The Founding Fathers of America recognized that "the ultimate goal of the Second Amendment is to make sure a citizen can defend against any kind of illegal force that comes against you, whether that is from a neighbor, whether that is from an outsider or whether that is from your own government."
Obviously, the Bible does not specifically address such rights as granted in the Second Amendment or the many issues of gun control, since firearms like we use today were not available in ancient times. But accounts of warfare and the use of weaponry, such as swords, spears, bows and arrows, darts and slings are well-documented in the pages of the Bible.
An important question emerges... what is the biblical perspective on the right to bear arms... and use them?
Let’s start in the Old Testament and the men of Israel. How did the army of Israel work? In terms of weapons, was there a central armory where men called to defend the nation, or carryout God’s commands against a hostile people would report and be equipped for battle? No, there was no central repository for checking-in and checking-out weapons. The Israelites were expected to have their own personal weapons. Every man would be summoned to arms when the nation was confronted by an enemy. God didn't send in a special force, or select group... the people defended themselves and were armed at all times. We see this clearly in passages like 1 Samuel 25:13... And David said to his men, "Every man strap on his sword!" And every man of them strapped on his sword. David also strapped on his sword. And about four hundred men went up after David, while two hundred remained with the baggage. So, each man had a sword ready to be strapped on and used when required. And in Psalm 144:1, David wrote... "Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle..."
Besides instruments of warfare, weapons were used in the Bible for the purpose of self-defense. Nowhere in Scripture is this forbidden. In the Old Testament, we find this example of God sanctioning self-defense... "If a thief is caught in the act of breaking into a house and is struck and killed in the process, the person who killed the thief is not guilty of murder." (Exodus 22:2)
In the New Testament, Jesus sanctioned the use of weapons for self-defense. While giving his farewell discourse to the disciples before going to the cross, he instructed the apostles to purchase side arms to carry for self-protection. He was preparing them for the extreme opposition and persecution they would face in future missions... And he said to them, "When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?" They said, "Nothing." He said to them, "But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one. For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: 'And he was numbered with the transgressors.' For what is written about me has its fulfillment." And they said, "Look, Lord, here are two swords." And he said to them, "It is enough." (Luke 22:35-38)
Conversely, as soldiers seized Jesus at his arrest, our Lord warned Peter (in Matthew 26:52-54 and John 18:11) to put away his sword: "For all who take the sword will perish by the sword." Some scholars believe this statement was a call to Christian pacifism, while others understand it simply to mean in a general sense that "violence breeds more violence."
Pacifist? Is that what Christians are to be? What about gun-control laws and personal gun ownership by a Christian? Can a person support the second amendment, own a gun or many guns and be a sincere Christian?
NEXT TIME... we will probe these questions.
