2024-07-24 Self-Defense & the 2nd Amendment

2 questions to consider biblically:

1. Is it right to defend ourselves from physical attacks?
2. Is it right to use a weapon to do it?

 

• We have a God-given right to life

Genesis 2:7 (NIV) The LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

Genesis 9:5–6 (NIV84) ⁵ And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting. I will demand an accounting from every animal. And from each man, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of his fellow man.

⁶ “Whoever sheds the blood of man,

by man shall his blood be shed;

for in the image of God

has God made man.”

 

Exodus 20:13 (NIV)  “You shall not murder.”

 

Is it right to defend ourselves and others from physical attacks when we are able to do so?

• In the Declaration of Independence the Founders appealed not only to the Laws of God but also to the Laws of Nature

When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitles them…

 

How has God equipped Nature to defend itself?

(MULTILINE)

 

Matthew 5:38–39 (NIV84) ³⁸ “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ ³⁹ But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.”

• The verb “strikes” (Gk: ῥαπίζω “rhapizō”) refers to a sharp slap given in .

Context: Leviticus 24:19-21 (NIV) If anyone injures his neighbor, whatever he has done must be done to him: ²⁰  fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth. As he has injured the other, so he is to be injured.

 

First possible method of self-defense: try to .

• David fled from Saul

1 Samuel 19:10 (NIV) ¹⁰  Saul tried to pin him to the wall with his spear, but David eluded him as Saul drove the spear into the wall. That night David made good his escape.

 

• Paul had to escape from the King over Damascus

2 Corinthians 11:32-33 (NLT2) ³²  When I was in Damascus, the governor under King Aretas kept guards at the city gates to catch me. ³³  I had to be lowered in a basket through a window in the city wall to escape from him.

 

• Jesus escaped several times

Luke 4:29-30 (NIV) ²⁹  They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him down the cliff. ³⁰  But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.

John 8:59 (NIV) ⁵⁹  At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.

John 10:39 (NLT2) ³⁹  Once again they tried to arrest him, but he got away and left them.

 

Old Testament Examples of Self-Defense

Exodus 22:2-3a (NLT2) ²  “If a thief is caught in the act of breaking into a house and is struck and killed in the process, the person who killed the thief is not guilty of murder. ³  But if it happens in daylight, the one who killed the thief is guilty of murder.”

• Principle: No one should be too quick to use deadly force against another, even someone who means to do him harm. 

 

As you read through Nehemiah’s account, note examples of self-defense.

Nehemiah 4:7–23 (NLT) ⁷ But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites heard that the work was going ahead and that the gaps in the wall of Jerusalem were being repaired, they were furious. ⁸ They all made plans to come and fight against Jerusalem and throw us into confusion.

¹¹  …Our enemies were saying, “Before they know what’s happening, we will swoop down on them and kill them and end their work.”

¹³ So I placed armed guards behind the lowest parts of the wall in the exposed areas. I stationed the people to stand guard by families, armed with swords, spears, and bows.

¹⁴ Then as I looked over the situation, I called together the nobles and the rest of the people and said to them, “Don’t be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes!”

¹⁵ When our enemies heard that we knew of their plans and that God had frustrated them, we all returned to our work on the wall. ¹⁶ But from then on, only half my men worked while the other half stood guard with spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail. The leaders stationed themselves behind the people of Judah ¹⁷ who were building the wall. The laborers carried on their work with one hand supporting their load and one hand holding a weapon. ¹⁸ All the builders had a sword belted to their side. The trumpeter stayed with me to sound the alarm.

¹⁹ Then I explained to the nobles and officials and all the people, “The work is very spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall. ²⁰ When you hear the blast of the trumpet, rush to wherever it is sounding. Then our God will fight for us!”

²¹ We worked early and late, from sunrise to sunset. And half the men were always on guard. ²² I also told everyone living outside the walls to stay in Jerusalem. That way they and their servants could help with guard duty at night and work during the day. ²³ During this time, none of us—not I, nor my relatives, nor my servants, nor the guards who were with me—ever took off our clothes. We carried our weapons with us at all times, even when we went for water.

 

List some of the examples of self-defense in the passage:

(MULTILINE)

 

In Esther, the Jews were given lawful permission to defend themselves against their enemies’ attacks:

Esther 8:11 (NIV84) ¹¹ The king’s edict granted the Jews in every city the right to 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; and to plunder the property of their enemies.

Were the Jews allowed to be the aggressor? .

 

• The response to the Edict:

Esther 8:16-17 (NIV) ¹⁶  For the Jews it was a time of happiness and joy, gladness and honor. ¹⁷  In every province and in every city, wherever the edict of the king went, there was joy and gladness among the Jews, with feasting and celebrating. And many people of other nationalities became Jews because fear of the Jews had seized them.

• Making self-defense legal provides some all by itself.

 

• Some of the people still did attack the Jews

Esther 9:5–10 (NIV84) ⁵ The Jews struck down all their enemies with the sword, killing and destroying them, and they did what they pleased to those who hated them. ¹⁰ …But they did not lay their hands on the plunder.

Why didn’t the Jews plunder their enemies? 

 

New Testament Examples of Self-Defense

• Jesus seemed to encourage his disciples to have swords for self-defense:

Luke 22:36–38 (NLT) ³⁶ “But now,” he said, “take your money and a traveler’s bag. And if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one! ³⁷ For the time has come for this prophecy about me to be fulfilled: ‘He was counted among the rebels.’ Yes, everything written about me by the prophets will come true.”

³⁸ “Look, Lord,” they replied, “we have two swords among us.”

“That’s enough,” he said.

 

Weapons (including swords) have benefits for self-defense:

• Deterrence
• Defend others
• Overcome inequalities
• No professional law enforcement required

 

BUT…If Jesus really encouraged carrying swords for self-defense, Why did none of his disciples in the New Testament (supposedly) ever do that — or commend that?

(MULTILINE REVEAL BIG)

 

• Later that evening, Judas shows up with the Temple guard, who seize Jesus to arrest him:

Matthew 26:51-54 (NIV) ⁵¹  With that, one of Jesus’ companions [Peter] reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. ⁵²  “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.”

What do we learn about self-defense here? 

 

• Jesus didn’t defend himself because it was prophesied he wouldn’t

Matthew 26:51-54 (NIV) ⁵³  “Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? ⁵⁴  But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”

• Jesus, when talking with Pilate

John 18:36 (NLT) ³⁶ Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world.”

• Jesus didn’t defend himself, and he is .

 

1 Peter 3:15 (NIV) ¹⁵  But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.

(MULTILINE REVEAL BIG)

 

• It appears Paul never carried a weapon in Self-Defense.

2 Corinthians 11:23b-26 (NIV) ²³  …[I have] been exposed to death again and again. ²⁴  Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. ²⁵  Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned… ²⁶ I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers.

Romans 8:35-37 (NLT2) ³⁵  Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? ³⁶  (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) ³⁷  No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

• Scripture seems to authorize but not the idea of self-defense.

 

Is it right for a person to use a gun for self-defense?

• If a sword is permissible, then it’s morally right for a person to be able to use other kinds of weapons for self-defense as well – including a spear, a rock, or a slingshot

1 Samuel 17:48-49 (NIV) ⁴⁸  As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. ⁴⁹  Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.

 

If you choose to defend yourself,

especially if you carry a weapon,

remember it is a dreadful thing

to take the life of another human being.

Choose wisely. Choose prayerfully. Choose humbly.

(MULTILINE REVEAL BIG)

 

• We are in a spiritual battle. Be ready to defend yourself spiritually and stand your ground.

Ephesians 6:10-13 (NIV) ¹⁰  Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹  Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹²  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³  Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

(MULTILINE REVEAL BIG)

 

Next Week: Choosing Between Flawed Candidates