Why does a Christian need a gun?

[solid_core]

I am from Europe, I have never had a gun, I have never shot from any and I do not know of anybody who did. Its not a thing here.

But as I understand it, most Christians see "turn other cheek" to be either not literal or to be for the period of time when Jesus was in His earthly service.
He later said, before He died "now who does not have a sword, sell your shirt and buy one".

To a specific Christianity in the USA - the history of the USA is a little "wild" and people, to live in some kind of order and peace, needed to have guns. As somebody in this thread said, its quite related to the political/societal structure of the USA and to its history.

I personally despise hunting animals for sport and similar killing too.

BTW "do not kill" is not the right translation of the Old Testament commandment, its "do not murder", which is a specific kind of killing, a subset.

 

[t4inted-]

Christians need a gun to hunt to prepare for winter..

 

[St_Worm2]

Jesus said to love everyone, which means you are not to harm even your enemy. If they kill you first, you get to be with Jesus. Why delay your meeting with Jesus?

Hi Jezabella, I know that we can be annoying at times, but is it really so bad that you're hoping to get rid of some of us before our due time

You've been posting some Scripture verses for us to make your point(s), which I commend you for Since you are doing so however, I thought you might want to consider something else that Jesus had to say to His disciples in regard to this.

Luke 22
35 Jesus said to them, “When I sent you out without money belt and bag and sandals, you did not lack anything, did you?” They said, “No, nothing.”
36 And He said to them, “But now, whoever has a money belt is to take it along, likewise also a bag, and whoever has no sword is to sell his coat and buy one.”
​

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

--David

 

[Jezabella]

Wow, this thread is disappointing, disingenuous and just plain silly.

Why? Can you give a reason?

I put careful thought into it.

If a non-believer asks you these questions in a social situation, would you be able to answer without getting angry? Can you defend your faith?

 

[topher694]

Why? Can you give a reason?

I put careful thought into it.

If a non-believer asks you these questions in a social situation, would you be able to answer without getting angry? Can you defend your faith?

Yes, I can defend my faith from anything thrown at it. But there's a difference between sincere inquiry and spiteful interrogation.

Why? Here is one reason. You have quoted a bunch of scripture, yet managed to say nothing scriptural.

 

[Jezabella]

Hi Jezabella, I know that we can be annoying at times, but is it really so bad that you're hoping to get rid of some of us before our due time

You've been posting some Scripture verses for us to make your point(s), which I commend you for Since you are doing so however, I thought you might want to consider something else that Jesus had to say to His disciples in regard to this.

Luke 22
35 Jesus said to them, “When I sent you out without money belt and bag and sandals, you did not lack anything, did you?” They said, “No, nothing.”
36 And He said to them, “But now, whoever has a money belt is to take it along, likewise also a bag, and whoever has no sword is to sell his coat and buy one.”
​

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

--David

FOOD FOR THOUGHT.
I've been told that without religion, I have no moral compass. Can you question my morals against those who scream PRO-LIFE over a zygote's right to make it to the next stage, yet own guns to kill a human life who may have simply looked at them the wrong way?


Which one is YOUR Jesus?

Luke 22
35 Jesus said to them, “When I sent you out without money belt and bag and sandals, you did not lack anything, did you?” They said, “No, nothing.”
36 And He said to them, “But now, whoever has a money belt is to take it along, likewise also a bag, and whoever has no sword is to sell his coat and buy one.”



"Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword" Matthew 10:34



Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword.
Matthew 26:52

 

[Jezabella]

Yes, I can defend my faith from anything thrown at it. But there's a difference between sincere inquiry and spiteful interrogation.

Why? Here is one reason. You have quoted a bunch of scripture, yet managed to say nothing scriptural.

See, you judge me without knowing my reasons.

Spiteful interrogation? What am I spiteful about? I am PRO the sanctity of human life. How is that spiteful? I am not responsible for how you perceive my genuine questions - I am told people without religion have no moral compass. The irony.

You still haven't defended a faith that isn't clear about whether it condones or condemns the killing of human life.

 

[Steve97]

This is a genuine question. Please do not see any kind of goading just because I am not a Christian. This is a question I have asked a lot but have never received any kind of response that even makes sense.

My understanding is that our life on earth is but a blink of the eye.

My understanding is that our only purpose is to praise and worship god/Jesus and to share his message in preparation of meeting him when we die.

My understanding of the purpose of a gun is to protect ourselves from a potential killer by shooting them before they shoot us. (I understand this is also the reasoning behind military action as opposed to military defence).

My understanding is that the NRA is HUGELY supported by conservative Christians.



QUESTION:

With this in mind:
The SIXTH commandment from god via Moses is THOU SHALT NOT KILL.

Why does a Christian need a gun when:

His purpose on life is merely in preparation to meet Jesus?

Shouldn't he "turn the other cheek" because if he is killed, it would mean he has obeyed god's commandment AND he will meet Jesus sooner rather than later?

I mean, what does a Christian need on earth more than his need of Jesus?

Furthermore, in John 14:14, Jesus promises to grant you anything you ask for in his name. If there is a genuine reason you don't want to die YET, why not just ask Jesus to protect you so you do not have to risk killing anyone and ending up in prison?

But seriously, I thought nothing mattered except to be with Jesus.

Can someone answer the question?​

John 14: 14
"If you will ask anything
in my name, I will do it."
- Jesus​

 

[Steve97]

Although your questions are valid, beware of caricatures. Please do not assume that all Christians are gun-toting pro-NRA robots.

 

[Jezabella]

It's my experience that people that say that no one has given them an answer, usually mean "no one has given an answer that is acceptable to them."

I NEVER SAID THAT.

I said no one has given me an answer that makes sense to me. PLEASE be more vigilant about reading a post if you intend to respond. What you said is MISLEADING.

This is a genuine question. Please do not see any kind of goading just because I am not a Christian. This is a question I have asked a lot but have never received any kind of response that even makes sense.

 

[Jezabella]

Although your questions are valid, beware of caricatures. Please do not assume that all Christians are gun-toting pro-NRA robots.

I do not use absolutes, I am not a black/white thinker.

However, the NRA is hugely supported by conservative Christians, and so it the military. Both involve messing around with weapons invented to kill human beings.

The NRA and the military are well supported in the Bible Belt.

 

[Jezabella]

BTW "do not kill" is not the right translation of the Old Testament commandment, its "do not murder", which is a specific kind of killing, a subset.

According to the most widely used version, it still says THOU SHALT NOT KILL.
It's just disturbing to me that people with gods are so desperate to justify killing.

But if you want to call it murder, then when the US military under George W Bush went to Iraq and caused devastation to the lives of millions of innocent civilians, the lives lost were MURDERED by a Christian military. Why hasn't there been a trial for war crimes committed by GW Bush?


King James Version (KJV)
Exodus 20:13 Context
10But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: 11For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. 12Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. 13Thou shalt not kill. 14Thou shalt not commit adultery. 15Thou shalt not steal. 16Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

 

[Jezabella]

Christians need a gun to hunt to prepare for winter..

And the millions of Christians that live in major cities, what do they need a gun for?
Don't they trust Jesus to keep his promise if they ask him to protect them? Genuine question.
John 14:14
If you ask anything in my name, I will do it. Jesus.

 

[solid_core]

According to the most widely used version, it still says THOU SHALT NOT KILL.
It's just disturbing to me that people with gods are so desperate to justify killing.

But if you want to call it murder, then when the US military under George W Bush went to Iraq and caused devastation to the lives of millions of innocent civilians, the lives lost were MURDERED by a Christian military. Why hasn't there been a trial for war crimes committed by GW Bush?


King James Version (KJV)
Exodus 20:13 Context
10But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: 11For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. 12Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. 13Thou shalt not kill. 14Thou shalt not commit adultery. 15Thou shalt not steal. 16Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

I am not KJV only, so I do not care that the some translation from medieval England has something in it. What I care about is what is in original.

I think that military actions of the USA in last decate or two were mostly wrong, it destabilized many countries or even whole regions. Which might be the "real" goal, but who knows. I am not idealist.

 

[Jezabella]

I am not KJV only, so I do not care that the some translation from medieval England has something in it.

I think that military actions of the USA in last decate or two were mostly wrong, it destabilized many countries or even whole regions.

It wasn't just wrong in terms of the damage it caused, it was wrong in terms of crimes against humanity, and it was the Bible that inspired the Christian president to commit these crimes.

How Dubya Used the Book of Ezekiel as a Blueprint for the Iraq War

 

[solid_core]

It wasn't just wrong in terms of the damage it caused, it was wrong in terms of crimes against humanity, and it was the Bible that inspired the Christian president to commit these crimes.

Bible can be used for anything. Its just a tool, it can be used in a wrong way or in a right way.

 

[Jezabella]

Bible can be used for anything. Its just a tool, it can be used in a wrong way or in a right way.

I'm sorry, that is not an acceptable excuse for such HORRIFIC crimes against millions of people, inspired by the Bible and committed by those who are easily deluded from indoctrination.

 

[solid_core]

I'm sorry, that is not an acceptable excuse for crimes inspired by the Bible by those who are easily deluded from indoctrination.

And what do you expect? To ban kitchen knives because there are crimes commited with them?

Bible is just a tool, its of course misused every day worldwide by various people, politicians or pastors.

 

[Jezabella]

And what do you expect? To ban kitchen knives because there are crimes commited with them?

Bible is just a tool, its of course misused every day worldwide by various people, politicians or pastors.

The President takes an oath on the Bible, and this president then decides to have the biggest military machine in the world, raining absolute terror on innocent civilians.
.
Witnesses in court take an oath on the Bible.

If it is a book that inspires so much evil, why call it a holy book? Why are so many people defending it, preaching from it? Children are taught stories from it.

What kind of TOOL as you suggesting it is?

 

[solid_core]

The President takesain oath on the Bible, and this president then decides to have the biggest military machine in the world
.
Witnesses in court take an oath on the Bible.

If it is a book that inspires so much evil, why call it a holy book? Why are so many people defending it, preaching from it? Children are taught stories from it.

What kind of TOOL as you suggesting it is?

Do you realize that your reasoning is not solid? What do I have to do with American presidents or Bush?

I am answering your questions from my Christian perspective, I am not here to defend USA, their politicians, culture or actions.