The Christian and Self-Defense Part 3

Luke 22:35-38 (ESV) 35  And he said to them, “When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “Nothing.” 36  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. 37  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.” 38  And they said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords.” And he said to them, “It is enough.”

 Exodus 22:2 (ESV) 2   If a thief is found breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no bloodguilt for him,

Self-defenseWhat we have seen thus far in our discussion, is that there are no passages that set forth a clear mandate for self-defense (“thou shalt defend thy self”).  Instead we have Old and New Testament passages where the use of self-defense was use and illustrated and in the case of Jesus and His disciples a clear illustration that permitted the carrying of a weapon for self-defense.

What we do need to remember, is that evil and the violence associated with evil is real.  We live in a fallen and dangerous world. It is the condition of the heart of fallen man.

Jeremiah 17:9 (ESV) 9  The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?

When man is left to his own devices, evil will always be the outcome (Romans 3:9-23).  Man is fallen, and his heart is in rebellion toward God (Romans 3:9-12) and he is a slave of sin (John 8:34; Roman 6:16-20; Titus 3:3). Evil will continue to exist until sin is ultimately done away with and Christ reigns in the “New Heaven and Earth.”  Until then, the “whole creation groans” waiting for the finishing of God’s redemptive work (Romans 8:18-24). Until that day arrives, self-defense as well as law-enforcement and military might, will be needed to prevent harm to oneself, others, and nations. 

The solution to violence cannot be pacifism or non-resistance as we see with, for example, “gun-free zones,” as they simply create greater space for the evildoer to do evil. At times it becomes absolutely necessary to use violence to stop violence. By definition this is self-defense

When we think of self-defense, we are talking about the use of violence to preserve life, either our own or others’. When we fail to see our moral obligation to preserve life, even if it requires us to act violently against evil, we place our lives and more importantly, others’ lives in grave danger by encouraging the escalation of violence by an attacker.

What this is not about is testosterone and manhood. Nor is this about a display of power or heroism. It is also not about correcting injustice or acting in place of law enforcement. The true defender of life is one who quietly and prayerful defends life because it is created in the “image and likeness of God,” and that God loves all human life and desires to protect the innocent (Exodus 23:7; Deuteronomy 19:10; Proverbs 6:16-17).

Nor is this about placing all our trust in a weapon. There must always be an ultimate trust in God. He is the one that we rely upon in the battle. For the Christian, to walk with God means to walk in faith and dependence.

Psalm 44:6-7 (NKJV) 6  For I will not trust in my bow, Nor shall my sword save me. 7  But You have saved us from our enemies, And have put to shame those who hated us.  (also: 1 Samuel 17:47)

Zechariah 4:6 (NKJV) 6  So he answered and said to me: “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the LORD of hosts.

Romans 1:17 (ESV) 17  For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” (also: Romans 14:23)

To act to preserve of life, especially another’s life, requires a moral underpinning, that for the Christian, is based solidly in the Scriptures, the love of life and our fellow man.  It means that we have taken the time to search the Scriptures, understand principles that give us a high view of life, and the solid reflexive conviction to act out of love in the preservation of life, even at great cost.

There is no question that we do not live in a perfect world. And while we may work for an improved social and political environment—and may achieve some measures of success at times—our hope must not be in earthly justice and peace. Nor can we look to any political party to ultimately solve the world’s problems or curb the violence that is so prevalent in our world today. And while we wait for the “blessed hope …. of His appearing,” (Titus 2:13), and while “evil men … grow worse and worse” (2 Tim. 3:13), we may well need to sell our cloak and buy a sword.

– Michael Holtzinger

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