Let’s focus for a moment on the error, that the right to keep and bare arms is a sacred right for believers; a blessing if you will.  We know our God and Father is equitable and fair.  If the right to self defense is a blessing from God, why has He not afforded it to all of His children, world over.  No offense to the families of those killed in Oregon, over the weekend, but Christians in the middle east are certainly in the midst of more persecution than us.  On August 28th 12 Syrian believers were martyred through rape, beheading, torture and crucifixion.  Sadly, these precious souls of God are only a small fraction of the tens of thousands that have perished from persecution in the middle east.  You would agree that our God supplies all our needs through the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus, and need protection more than us (in my mind). Why has He not provided arms for them?  Please understand this is not an attack on the second amendment, which is a legal right of American citizens, but a plea for followers of Jesus to live as He commands in the face of persecution. 

The point is, we must be careful to form our Christian practice from the Word of God, not secular documents that are good, but not from God.  The right to own a weapon for self defense is a matter of the word of God and Christian conscience, to be prayerfully considered.  In I Corinthians 6:12 we discover, that all things are lawful for us, but all things are not expedient, and we should not be brought under the power of anything. Although we have a civil right, it may not be good for the kingdom of God or our ourselves to exercise that right.  In  I Corinthians 10:23 Paul writes all things are lawful for me, but all things do not edify.  The word edify is generally used in reference to the body of Christ. Paul’s further instruction implies that though we may have a civil right, it may not be appropriate to exercise it if it will hinder building a brother or sister in Christ in their faith. We also must remember, that though we may have no objection to something in our conscience, if a brother or sister does and we lead them to violate there conscience, not only do they sin but so do we as well (Romans 14:21; I Corinthians 8:12). 

It is for these reasons we must be very careful in giving instructions as secular and church leaders.  Though Lt. Governor Dan Ramsey, is concerned for the plight of believers, his comments are irresponsible and could potentially damage the perception of the Kingdom of God.  In like manner, the other day, Ben Carson while expressing grief for the loss of Christian life in the Oregon shootings, declared he would not have just sat still and let them kill him.  Again this is an irresponsible statement, from a good man who has never been in that position.  If one were to muse a little past the sheen of his remarks, it would imply that these martyrs on Jesus behalf, were wrong for not defending their life to the utter most. Sadder yet, is that Franklin Graham suggested similarly, in an interview following Carson’s comments.  Once more, what does it say about those who were martyred, when the message of Christian leaders is not that they lived there faith as they should, but that they should have lived their faith as those leaders see fit.  As disturbing as the image on the left is, is not that what is suggested for those who do not fight back? The caption reads “Jesus Christ would probably still be here is he’d been packing heat instead of heart”.  Thank God He packed love of God inside of His divine heart.

Of course some would suggest that Jesus was speaking about our denying the life we lived before, and still seek to justify defending oneself with a weapon or the force of their flesh, but they would be in error.  Jesus was using words that He modeled for us and commands we walk in (I Peter 2:20-25).  What does this look like?  It looks like a Syrian Christian father and son. 

On August 28, when twelve Syrian Christians were martyred, a father and son were among the dead.  The father, a leader in Christian ministry, was forced to watch as Isis terrorists tortured his son.  They cut of the tips of his fingers, mutilated the boy and told the father if he simply returned to Islam, they would stop the torture.  The father refused to renounce Jesus. They tortured the boy further, then the father, then crucified them both to death in front of a large crowd.  I wonder what Dan Ramsey, Ben Carson, and Franklin Graham would say to them.  I know what Jesus said to them as He received them into His presence, “Well done, My good and faithful servant”.  My faith informs me of this further, for it is what is declared in James 1:12, “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive a crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 

I must admit, my emotions are mixed as I write the above account, and consider the blessed word of God.  I have a son the same age as the Syrian Christian son who was so brutally martyred.  I also have another son who was born this past may and three sweet and beautiful blessings in my daughters.  I have a wife who even before I knew Jesus, was a constant example of the goodness of God calling me to repentance.  I have placed myself inside the father’s shoes, and felt the utter helplessness to save my son from the evil wasting his life.  Yet in the midst I am reminded the boy did not turn from Jesus, his life was not wasted nor was his father’s or the millions of untold martyrs of the faith.  They have gained what is the hope of our Christian soul… Being forever with Jesus.  

It was once asked my wife and I, when my oldest son was dedicated, if we would support God’s call to ministry if it meant our son’s separation from us, or death in service of Jesus Christ.  The question brought instant tears to my eyes, and difficulty breathing, but with a joy deep within my soul, I said yes, for my firm belief is that all those who have died for Jesus will be awaiting our arrival in Jesus presence.  Though I do not pray for these things to come to pass, as I would much rather not experience this kind of human pain, it is not something to fear or to try to avoid at any cost. Therefore we are not to arm ourselves with guns, knives, clubs or swords, but we are to arm ourselves something much more powerful.