The Bible and Guns

An interesting article from Bible Baptist Church.

The Bible and Guns

There is a saying-"God, Guns, and Guts Made America Great." Some think it strange that you can use the word "God" and "guns" in the same sentence in a positive sense. Yet, I believe history confirms that statement to be absolutely true.

With the rise of violence and crime involving gun related incidents, there is a movement to register guns and gun owners (e.g. The Brady Bill; waiting periods; etc.). Many would like to see guns banned altogether. How does God feel about Christians owning weapons? Does God disapprove of gun ownership?

Consider the following quote: "This year will go down in history. For the first time, a civilized nation has full gun registration! Our streets will be safer, our police more efficient, and the world will follow our lead into the future!" Adolph Hitler said that in 1935 as the Nazi's gained control of Germany. WW2 started four years later!

Gun control? Gun control is using two hands while shooting! Any other gun control will eventually lead to gun confiscation!

In 1 Samuel 13:19-22 we see what happens when the people of God have no weapons to either defend their families or their land. They are vulnerable to attack (Judges 5:8). A disarmed people will soon become an enslaved people. This truth was the basis of the Second Amendment of our Constitution.

Interestingly enough, when Germany was bombing England in the early days of WW2 and threatening to invade them, the citizens of England were faced with a dilemma-their government had disarmed them during the 1930's and they had nothing but clubs, hoes, and pitchforks with which to fight! It was the United States that sent them shiploads of guns and ammo that enabled them to arm their citizens and make Hitler think twice about his invasion plans!

It is a fact that Switzerland requires every able-bodied citizen, as a potential member of their army, to own and keep assault weapons at home and be able to use them proficiently. The entire citizenry is armed to the teeth, yet statistically they are among the most law-abiding people on earth.

DAVID'S POLICY-After King Saul was killed in battle by a Philistine archer, David initiated a policy to arm and train the populace (2 Sam. 1:18). David was a man after God's own heart (1 Sam. 13:14). It appears that God approved of David's defense policy (cf. Num. 31:3; 1 Sam. 25:13). What about the sixth commandment, "Thou shalt not kill" (Ex. 20:13). First, Jesus interpreted this to mean murder (Mt. 19:16-18).

1. 21:12-16-God authorizes capital punishment
2. 22:2-God authorizes self-defense.
3. 23:20-33-God approves of the fighting of wars.

JESUS AND WEAPONS-God never said it was wrong to own a weapon. Jesus advocated arming yourself (Luke 22:35-36, 38). But, didn't Jesus later tell Peter to put up his sword? Yes, but that was because Peter was trying to prevent Jesus' arrest and eventual crucifixion. Jesus came for this purpose. And, Jesus never told Peter to get rid of his sword altogether.

DOES OWNING A GUN MEAN YOU ARE NOT TRUSTING GOD? Some may object saying, "Shouldn't we trust God to protect us?" Of course. However, we should also do whatever is necessary to be prepared against attack (see Neh. 4:7-9, 15-22). The same reasoning could be said concerning our provisions. "Shouldn't we trust God to provide for us?" Yes, but that does not mean we don't have to work to earn the money to bring home the bacon!

GUNS ARE NOT EVIL. As the oft-repeated phrase goes: "Guns don't kill people-people kill people." Murder is in the heart, and the choice of weapon is an incidental matter when a man decides to murder another. When Cain murdered Abel, God did not condemn the murder weapon (rock; stick; knife), but the man who committed the crime.

Recently, Paul Harvey was discussing the tragic shooting in Littleton, Colo. Here's what he had to say: "If only the parents had kept their children away from those guns, we wouldn't have had such a tragedy. Yeah, it must have been those guns. It couldn't have been because half of our children are being raised in broken homes. It couldn't have been because we place our children in day care centers where they learn their socialization skills among their peers, while employees who have no vested interest in the children look on and make sure no blood gets spilled. It couldn't have been because we allow our children to watch, on average, seven hours of television a day filled with the glorification of sex and violence that isn't fit for adult consumption. It couldn't have been because our nation is the world leader in developing a culture of death in which 20 to 30 million babies have been killed by abortion. It couldn't have been because we give out two-year prison sentences to people who kill their own young. It couldn't have been because our school systems teach the children that they are nothing but glorified apes who have evolved out of some primal soup by teaching evolution as fact and by handing out condoms as if they were candy. It couldn't be because we teach our children that there are no laws of morality that transcend us, that everything is relative and that actions don't have consequences. Nah, it must have been the guns."

The problem is in the human heart (Mt. 15:19-"For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, MURDERS, adulteries, fornications, thefts…").

Taking guns out of the homes is not the answer to a violent society. Taking sin out of the hearts is!