The bible on self defense.

God Is Immortal

The Truth Does Not Argue With The Truth
Apr 4, 2014
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Many of you believe that God has given us the right to own weapons of this world to use as a form of self defense. However, there are others who believe in meekness. Others who believe in martyrdom and pacifism. They believe that true love would treat others the way it wants to be treated and it would lay down its life for its loved ones. Question is, are you willing to drink from the same cup? For it is enough to be like ones teacher but not greater. Please, discuss what you believe with proof from the new covenant. As for me, I believe what Jesus said. Condemn not lest ye be condemned. Let he who is without sin, cast the first stone. Now I shall provide scripture to prove why I believe such things. For a true disciple would drink of the same cup.

John 18:10-11
King James Version (KJV)
Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?

Matthew 20:20-23
King James Version
Then came to him the mother of Zebedees children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom. But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.

Matthew 26:52-54 ESV
Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?”

2 Corinthians 10:4
New International Version
The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

2 Corinthians 10:6 ESV
Being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.

John 18:36
King James Version
Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

Matthew 10:16
King James Bible
Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

Matthew 5:39
King James Bible
But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

Matthew 5:44King James Version (KJV)
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.

John 15:13
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Ephesians 6:12 ESV
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Luke 6:37
King James Bible
Condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned.

Romans 12:17-21King James Version
Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.


Luke 22:35-39 ESV
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.” And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him.


Many people mention the verse above, but what they fail to mention is the rest of the context. When Peter chopped off an ear, Jesus rebuked him. Not only that, before this happened, Jesus asked Peter to pray. Pray for what? Do you remember? Wasn't it about temptation? Why would Jesus say that? Was Peter about to be tempted to sin? Did Jesus not say he could ask for angels? Isn't that a weapon not of this world as the scriptures state? Did he not say live by the sword, die by the sword? I don't know about you guys but there are many people who have lived by the sword but have not died by the sword of mankind. God doesn't lie, right? What if he was talking about the sword of God? Not only that, why only two swords? Another thing, where in the new testament did a Christian use a worldly weapon? Peter is the only one and has got rebuked for it. However, I do see them using weapons not of this world. Remember the couple who died in the book of acts? Some people have even went blind.
 

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The Truth Does Not Argue With The Truth
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Are you prepared to defend your argument?

Why do so many disagree with this verse?

2 Corinthians 10:4
New International Version
The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
 
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God has established rulers and authorities that function to fulfill the first function of the Law -- to provide for societies that function well enough that their people may live, work, raise families, and serve their neighbors. The most basic unit of society is the family, and the family is the source for all the other authorities a society may enact. As such, it is the duty of the head of the family to serve them and protect them to the best of his (or her, if there is no husband) ability. This responsibility to protect extends even to the point of using deadly force if necessary to protect them.

An argument can be made from an individualistic standpoint of whether or not one has the right or duty to protect one's own life to the point of using deadly force, and you have presented a good argument from one side.

However, for most of history the individual is almost never considered apart from their position in the family, clan, village, kingdom, etc. An individual was not necessarily free in the modern sense of freedom with individual rights and full autonomy. An individual lived under obligation to the various levels of society to which he belonged, and within the many facets of that obligation was included the defense of the various groups if they came under deadly attack from outside, and the responsibility to resist that attack with deadly force if necessary.

If one is speaking individually, especially of one living in service of the Gospel, then perhaps you are right. But collectively, God has established authorities that may require an individual to subsume their individuality for the good of society.
 
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