Getting a Gun

yellowMan said:

Apparently your friends are not familiar with the phrase "when seconds count, police are minutes away". They've obviously never been in a dangerous situation before. When a bad person enters your house at night to come for your wife or kids, you think your baseball bat or calling 911 will be sufficient against an armed intruder?

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This is where we disagree, brother.

Do you honestly think that the Israelites who won battles against great odds did so because of their own power and might?

genez said:

God's Word says? ... DON'T LISTEN TO THE COWARDS...

"Then the officers shall speak further to the people and say, ‘Who is the man that is afraid and fainthearted? Let him depart and return to his house, so that he might not make his brothers’ hearts melt like his heart.’ Deut 20:8​

In Moses day some men that were drafted feared taking up a sword.

The Law stated, that if someone admitted he would be a coward in battle? That he is to be discharged, unless he run away in battle and cause others to follow him.

Those who tell you not to defend yourself?

Let them stay in their homes afraid to make themselves to not be afraid.

grace and peace........

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We are not under the Old Covenant anymore. Hebrews 7:12 says the Law has changed. If this was not the case, then do you still sacrifice animals to a priest?

Introverted1293 said:

This is helpful. Thank you

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Fathers have shot their own sons breaking into their own homes. A man who used to be a part of something like SWAT was about to fire at one of his targets. Something held him back from firing. He later got to talk with his target (in whom he was going to kill), and this person shared the gospel with him that led him to his accepting Christ.

God's ways are not man's ways.

“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” (Proverbs 14:12).

New Testament Scripture That Supports Nonresistance:

John 18:36 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 26:52-53
52 Then Jesus told him, "Put your sword back in its place because all who take up a sword will perish by a sword.
53 Or do you think that I cannot call on My Father, and He will provide Me at once with more than 12 legions of angels?

Matthew 5:44-45
44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

Luke 6:27-29
27 But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.
29 If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also;

Luke 6:35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.

Matthew 5:39 But I say to you, Do not make use of force against an evil man; but to him who gives you a blow on the right side of your face let the left be turned. -Bible in Basic English

Luke 12:22 And he said to his disciples, "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat, nor about your body, what you shall put on.

Matthew 7:12 In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.

1 Peter 3:8-9
8 Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love of the brethren, a tender heart and a humble mind.
9 Do not return evil for evil or reviling for reviling; but on the contrary bless, for to this you have been called, that you may obtain a blessing.

Romans 12:17-21
17 Never repay anyone evil for evil. Take thought for what is right and gracious and proper in the sight of everyone. - AMP
18 and do your best to live at peace with everyone. - CEV
19 Christian brothers, never pay back someone for the bad he has done to you. Let the anger of God take care of the other person. - NLV for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
20 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.
21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. - KJV

1 Thessalonians 5:15 See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all.

1 Peter 2:21-23
21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
22 He committed no sin; no guile was found on his lips.
23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he trusted to him who judges justly.

Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

2 Corinthians 10:4 We do not use those things to fight with that the world uses. We use the things God gives to fight with and they have power. Those things God gives to fight with destroy the strong-places of the devil.

Luke 3:14 Do violence to no man,

John 8:7 But when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

Matthew 10:28-31
28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father’s will.
30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.
31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

Luke 2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called sons of God.

James 3:18 The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for them that make peace.

Romans 10:15. How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace.

Ephesians 6:14 Stand therefore . . . having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace.

Ephesians 4:1-3
1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Hebrews 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord

Romans 16:20 The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly.

2 Corinthians 13:11 Finally, brethren ... be perfected; be comforted; be of the same mind; live in peace: and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus

Galatians 1:13 - For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it.

2 Timothy 3:12 - Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution

1 Peter 4:12-16
12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.
16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

1 Peter 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind...

Matthew 5:10 - Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

1 Corinthians 13:3 - and though I give my body to be burned, and have not love, it profits me nothing.

Philippians 1:21 - For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Revelation 13:10 - He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

So it really just comes down to believing your Bible.
If you believe your Bible, and you are a New Testament or New Covenant believer, then you are for Non-Resistance. It's that simple. If you want to live your faith based on your own experiences and feelings then you are free to do so. Just know it is not biblical.

Introverted1293 said:

I live in a small town. I am planning on moving to Minnesota due to climate change in my town. I am a winter lover, and the winters have not been as cold as they used to, and we don't get much snow like we used (not the point, but I am coming to the point) So, I am moving to a place that has really cold winters. And the place that I am moving to has a high crime rate. And so, that is why I started to think about getting a gun.

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If you follow the New Testament as your guide for Christian living, then you won't buy a gun (See post #92). Not one place in the New Testament condones the use of lethal force. We are told to imitate Christ. Jesus never harmed anyone. He was actually killed by others.

Also, who says that you have to live in a bad area? Can you not live a little farther out where there is no high crime rate? Usually a half hour drive changes a lot.

My guess is that you are not looking to what the Bible says here, but you are looking for confirmation from others that it is okay to buy a gun. If I am wrong, then what do you make of the verses I posted here?

Introverted1293 said:

You are not wrong. I was looking for confirmation. But I still wanted to know the truth. I was shocked when there were different responses. I thought conservatives were okay with people owning guns. But I am glad you tell me whether I was looking for confirmation or not.

Those are a lot of verses. I will read through them and give you my response.

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I am glad you will check out the verses.

Keep in mind that Jesus rebuked Peter for chopping off Malchus' ear. Jesus said, “Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.” (Matthew 26:52).

Jesus also rebuked Peter by saying to him: “Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matthew 26:53).

So obviously Jesus telling the disciples to buy a sword (Luke 22:36), and their buying two physical swords was yet another one of those misunderstandings again (on what Jesus really meant) by His disciples.

Jesus was talking about the spiritual sword (i.e. the Scriptures) (Ephesians 6:17).
Note: Granted, they did not have printed Bibles back then, but I imagine they could purchase portions of copied manuscripts of Scripture (that were in scroll form).

Anyways, Jesus did not act in return with violence when others tried to hurt Him. We are told to follow His example.

“He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” (1 John 2:6).

“For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:” (1 Peter 1:21).

While there are many verses that support Non-Resistance in the New Testament, 1 Peter 1:21 is all a believer should need. If I am to believe this verse, and there are no other verses in the New Testament showing how God approved of Jesus and or the other disciples used lethal force in return to violence done against them, then the matter is clear. We are to follow the example of Christ and follow in his steps and not our own.

Side Note:

Many will try and quote the Old Testament whereby God commanded the Israelites (Not Gentiles) to go to battle against enemy nations, but we are not Israel, and we are not under the Old Covenant anymore. We do not sacrifice animals to a priest anymore. That was the Old Covenant.

Others will point out Christ's 2nd coming in how He will return down from out of Heaven to destroy the nations that come up against Him. The saints follow Jesus by which He appears to fight the battle alone. But these are disembodied saints (who have immortal angel like bodies) who have already lived out their faith. So this is not a good case to make for buying a gun to defend yourself.

Daniel Marsh said:

Between 2016 and 2017, the number of homicide victims across Australia decreased from 453 victims to 414 victims (down 39 victims or 9%). The murder victimisation rate was 0.8%. Between the 1989-1990 and 2013-2014 statistical years, the national homicide rate decreased from 1.8 per 100,000 people to 1 per 100,000.

Australia Murder/Homicide Rate 1990-2020

If they are not using guns to kill, what are they using? What of those items can be banned?

Thanks,
Daniel

PS Note US in the link is 5.3 per 100K, so here we need to protect ourselves.

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The only way to stop everyone needing guns is strict gun control like we did here. Once the 'bad guys' don't have guns you won't feel a need to own a gun. I think this culture of guns plays a part in your police having trigger fingers because the bad guy is more likely to have a gun so they have to be quick to pull a trigger. It's a vicious circle.

Swimming pools and road accidents like you said(?) are much greater threats to us than a potential 'bad person' with a gun. But top of the list isn't accidents, it's Coronary heart disease. So we should probably be more scared of Macca's and Krispy Kreme.