In Chaotic Times, Is Self Defense Biblical? admin for Shane Idleman
Civil unrest is everywhere and lawmakers are being pressured to restrict guns. But what we are seeing today is not a gun problem; it’s a moral problem called sin. We are witnessing the rapid deterioration of a nation. We have lost our moral compass…we have lost the fear of the Lord. When the fear of the Lord decreases, evil increases. “A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both” (Dwight D. Eisenhower).
One of the Scriptures often used to support banning weapons is found in Proverbs 20:22, “Do not say, ‘I will recompense evil’; wait for the Lord, and He will save you.” This scripture is dealing with vengeance and vigilantism, not self defense.
According to Romans 13:4 one of the purposes of the authorities is to “execute wrath on him who practices evil.” They are God’s avengers: “Men, in a word, must necessarily be controlled, either by a power within them, or by a power without them; either by the Word of God, or by the strong arm of man; either by the Bible, or by the bayonet” (Robert Winthrop; 1809 – 1894).
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Please don’t misunderstand…as Christians, I believe that we are to seek peace at every turn and not drape the cross with the flag. But what about self-defense as a last resort and biblical mandates to protect? The Old Testament offers a plethora of examples, but what about the New Testament? It does as well. In Matthew 26:52 Jesus says to Peter, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword.” Jesus didn’t denounce the sword, but clarified its place. When we take premature emotionally charged action, it may cost us our life.
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Later Jesus adds, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me?” If He was a thief and a robber, the clubs and swords would have been justified. In my opinion, these Scriptures imply that weapons do have a place in society. Albeit we must be careful.
