Firearms played a major role in the founding of the republic. Had it not been for firearms of all kinds, the British would have prevented the founders from forming a new nation. In 1775, the British Army tried to stop the colonialists from possessing arms in an engagement known as Lexington and Concord, which proved to be the beginning of the Revolutionary War. Army General Thomas Gage sent the British troops on a mission to confiscate the weapons and a fire fight ensued; the Brits fled. It didn’t work then and it won’t work now.

Self-defense is ages old. God laid down rules for defense in the Old Testament and Jesus himself spoke of self defense. When he was preparing for his exit from this world, he told the apostles, after reminding them that he had provided for them, (Luke 22:35) that they would need to do things differently, verse 36. 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. Jesus knew that evil men were in the world, so he told them they needed a sword for protection; the sword being the Roman version of a firearm.  Were there sword control laws in the Roman Empire? Could anyone own a sword? Jesus said go by one so it is obvious that the answer to each question is no.

 Public servants have forgotten their duty to the citizens of the republic. But that isn’t unusual given the fact that they not only won’t follow the Constitution, they will not honor God and the many instructions that are in the Bible. The servants in Congress and elsewhere need a lesson that is found in Romans Chapter 13:1-13 Verse 1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities; for there is no authority except from God, and those authorities that exist have been instituted by God. (NRSV)  Note the words every person which includes government workers both elected and appointed; they are subject to God as are all other citizens.

Verse two is often misunderstood. Therefore whoever resists authority resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. Many believe that whatever the government demands it must be followed, but not when their edicts conflict with God’s laws. When Peter and the other apostles were told not to preach Jesus, Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. (Acts 5:29) (Ought to obey would be better translated we must obey using Strong’s definitions #G1163 & #G3980). That was civil disobedience on the part of the apostles and was common amongst the believers of that day.

Then in verses 3 and 4 Paul continued, 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you wish to have no fear of the authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive its approval; 4 for it is God's servant for your good. But if you do what is wrong, you should be afraid, for the authority does not bear the sword in vain! It is the servant of God to execute wrath on the wrongdoer. Everything in the scriptures is based on all citizens, public and private, following God’s principles for an orderly society. But no longer is the government punishing evil; instead the government is punishing citizens for not following the ungodly edicts pronounced by the ungodly people in official positions.

From the man in the Oval Office on down to the local level, government has become an enemy of freedom and liberty with micro management of our lives. Diane Feinstein speaks of banning assault weapons as if she knows something, which she doesn’t. To borrow a line from Goethe, “there is nothing more frightening than ignorance in action.” That describes Feinstein and the rest of the gun grabbers. In truth, the only assault weapons that need to be banned are the liberals in all levels of government.

© 12-29-2012 DEC