Biblical Responses to a Faux Christian Group

Biblical Responses to a Faux Christian Group:

Understand that different translations of the bible may word some of these slightly differently, and that the exact verse listed may well differ by one or two in either direction. The authors of much of the following, who have been credited (except where my comments appear in italics) used the New International Version. Anything below that I looked up myself, normally comes from ‘The Comparative Study Bible” which has the 4 primary translations side by side.

In regards to ‘Jesus would not want us to have weapons:’

“…if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one” (Luke 22:36)

I should think this is pretty obvious. The sword was the ultimate portable protection item of the time, and Christ himself advocated his followers arming themselves for protection when he perceived the time was at hand.

As regards the occasional necessity for violence:

Ecclesiastes 3:1,3,8 states “there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven…a time to kill and a time to heal…a time for war and a time for peace”

In response to Haman’s law (which was essentially a call to exterminate the Jews):

“…assemble and protect themselves; to destroy, kill, and annihilate any armed force of any nationality or province that might attack them and their women and children…” (Esther 8:11) “[they] struck down all their enemies with the sword, killing and destroying them…” (Esther 9:5) “…[celebrated] annually the 14th and 15th days of the month of Adar as the time when the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month when their sorrow was turned into joy and their mourning into a day of celebration” (Esther 9:21-22).

These two days of remembrance are known as Purim, and are still celebrated to this day.

Another verse of scripture misquoted by many Liberal theologians as proof that guns are bad goes something like “the Bible tells us we should beat our swords (or in our case, guns) into plow shares.” The actual verse from Isaiah is written in the context of the second coming of Christ at which time “they will beat their swords into plow shares and their spears into pruning hooks” (Isaiah 2:4)

The prophet Micah, depicting the coming Millennial Age when the Messiah will reign and personally administer justice also gives this prophecy: “Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore” (Micah 4:3).

Regarding the commandment ‘Thou shall not kill.’

Any accurate translation of the Hebrew text would clearly read the sixth commandment as, “thou shalt not murder.” Deuteronomy 9:11 defines the parameters of murder as when “a man hates his neighbor and lies in wait for him, assaults and kills him…” The Bible also defines instances where someone who kills another is innocent and ”…not deserving of death since he…[killed]… his neighbor without malice or aforethought” (Deut. 19:6).

In fact, we see in the book of Nehemiah that God is very much a part of assisting His followers when they take up arms to defend themselves. When Nehemiah returns to Jerusalem to rebuild its fallen walls, he and his fellow Jews do not meet with light opposition. When the Jews hear of the plots of others to kill them in order to stop the rebuilding, they “…prayed to [their] God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat” (Nehemiah 4:9). God is put first in their actions to protect themselves, but they do much more than just post a watchman.

Nehemiah posts entire families “…with their swords, spears, and bows [at the weakest points in the wall]” (Nehemiah 4:13). He then speaks to them saying, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and daughters, your wives and your homes” (Nehemiah 4:14).

Nehemiah goes on to explain that “from that day on, half of [his] men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows, and armor” (Nehemiah 4:16). Not leaving their well-being up to chance, Nehemiah concludes that “neither [he] nor [his] brothers nor [his] men nor the guards with [him] took off [their] clothes; each had his weapon, even when he went for water” (Nehemiah 4:23).

If all of this evidence is still not enough to open our eyes to this question of guns and self -defense, then let us examine the very first murder. From the book of Genesis we know that “…while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him” (Genesis 4:8). Cain did this because he was jealous of the favor God showed to Abel and angry with God for rejecting the offering that Cain himself gave. Now, an interesting fact: the Hebrew word used in this passage for “killed him” is used elsewhere in the Bible for “sliced the throat.” We have a pretty good idea that Cain used a knife or other cutting tool to murder his brother. Prior to this act, God warned Cain, “but if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it” (Genesis 4:7). It is interesting to see here that God did not warn Cain that he had cutting tools laying around and their evil influence might cause him to sin. Instead, He warned Cain of the evil brooding in his own heart that would cause him to sin if gone unchecked. In defiance, Cain cut his brother’s throat in cold blood.

“When a strong man, fully armed, guards his palace, his possessions are safe.” (Luke 11:21)

I have to thank and credit Johnathan R. Marshall, whose article on the subject has been essentially paraphrased above with some of my own commentary (Purely for clarity under this specific circumstance). His article can be found: http://www.2ampd.net/Articles/Marshall/god_and_M-60.htm Further bible versus and information supporting self-defense in general:

Perhaps the likes of Heeding God’s Call and the like should take another look at the bible they do purport to follow:

“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” (Romans 12:19)

“If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for him.” (Exodus 22:2)

The above has also been translated from the Hebrew more accurately as: "If a thief is found breaking in, and is killed, no liability is incurred."

“If the sun be risen upon him, there shall be blood shed for him; for he should make full restitution; if he have nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.” (Exodus 22:3)

Now I realize that slavery is no longer acceptable to society, but the concept of loosing your rights and/or your life is clear here regardless of context.

From ‘Weapons and Self Defense in Jewish Law’ by Rabbi R. Mermelstein:

Maimonides (Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon, often referred to as the RAMBAM-1135-1204 CE), in Hilchos G'neiva (Laws Pertaining to Theft), Chapter 9, explains further.

Sub-chapter 7: "A burglar, whether by day or night, has neither blood nor soul with regard to anyone killing him. It does not fall solely to the homeowner to kill him. Anyone may do so. The burglar may be killed on an ordinary weekday or on the Sabbath (during which time even the killing of an insect is prohibited). Any means available may be used to kill the burglar, since by his exercise of free choice his life has lost all value."

And that is JUST in regards to someone who breaks into your house with the intent to BURGLE you.

Again From ‘Weapons and Self Defense in Jewish Law’ by Rabbi R. Mermelstein:

Fact: Equating murder with the taking of a life to defend a life is comparing apples and oranges. Hebrew, the language of the Bible, uses two distinctly different words for murder and killing. Hunting for sport is prohibited (Rabbi Yehuda Landau [1713-1793], Noda B'Yehuda, Yoreh Deah, Madura Tinyana, 10). Owning, and using, a firearm for self defense is neither murder nor hunting. If a firearm in the hands of a trained person is the most efficient tool to defend life, simple logic would dictate that owning a firearm is not merely permissible but an obligation according to Jewish law. Of course, in many major American cities where Jews reside obtaining the necessary permission to have a firearm is either very difficult or impossible. In that case it would be advisable to master the art of aimed knife throwing and keeping a pointy one handy. The police have no obligation to save you; the unarmed and scared witless neighbors are ignoring your screams and burglar alarm, and your watchdog is busy munching a piece of tasty steak thrown at it by the intruder.

I think we all realize the police (per the Supreme Court in the Gonzales case June 27 of 2005) have absolutely no duty to protect you, even if you have the thin paper shield of a protection from abuse/restraining order. It becomes obvious, given this information, that since only YOU are responsible for the safety of you and your loved ones, the argument to simply call the police becomes irrelevant, and some means of protection a critical priority.

I hope this information proves useful to those who choose to engage in activism in general, but specifically against these so-called ‘Christian’ movements with agendas that simply boggle the mind of the informed person.