In the February issue of the NRA’s America’s First Freedom magazine, there is an interesting article about the Bible and self defense. It deals with the Christian actively engaging in self defense as opposed to being passive against violence directed at one’s person. It presents a compelling argument using appropriate verses in their context to show that when a Christian engages in self defense it isn’t wrong as some claim, erroneously using scripture twisting to prove their false conclusions. The scripture twisting adherents of passivity leave out one verse that refutes their notion that Christians can’t defend themselves and twist the one preceding it. Paul wrote in Romans 12:17-18: Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.  The passive crowd twists verse 17 to imply that self defense is evil. It refers to not seeking vengeance on injustices done by the oppressors in order to prove that God is right.  Verse 18 plainly reveals that there are times when peace isn’t possible for the Christian. That there will be those who will commit acts that can and will endanger others is a given.

Christians are never to upset the peace, but it must be recognized that there are times when others prevent peaceful existence. Paul’s statement teaches both, if it teaches anything. While he doesn’t tell us what to do when peace isn’t possible nor are there any verses that give an answer, there are numerous verses that imply that self defense is the answer against those who attack. The self defense weapon of the time was a sword.

The passive crowd argues that Jesus didn’t attempt to stave off his execution on the cross. It is true that he didn’t, but it isn’t because he didn’t believe in self defense when attacked. The fact that he didn’t resist evil (death at the hands of vile men) isn’t a pattern for us to follow as the passivity crowd alleges. He could have called legions of angels down on the heads of the oppressors but there is a good reason he didn’t. If he had done so, he wouldn’t have been following God’s plan for him. Death on the cross was God’s plan to save mankind. 

Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane the following: Matthew 26:39, And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. Jesus knew what he faced and even so he went to the cross to do his father’s will. His willingness to die wasn’t because he was against retaliating in self defense; it was about his death bringing salvation to mankind. Had he not died, the people of the world would be mired in sin with no escape. There would be no defense against immorality.

In the book of Hebrews Chapter 10:10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.  Through the will of God and his Son, mankind can be saved if they so believe it. It is a false argument to use Jesus as the model for not defending oneself against aggression. And those who try to do so miss the fact that the death of Jesus was a one time event, the sacrifice once for all men to take away sin, John 1:29:  The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. The act will never be and cannot be duplicated by anyone; and those who think that resisting is somehow sacrificing for a greater good, and is somehow following Christ on the cross as the model for passivity, are seriously deluded; and as Jesus said, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. (Matthew 22:29)

© 02-01-2007 DEC

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