In case you havent noticed, we dont live in the Garden of Eden, this is reality, theres a real world out there where satans only goal is to kill and destroy. He doesnt care whether its the Christian or the one who brings it upon themself for trying to kill the Christian.
God provided for Christians to defend themselves with HIM backing them.
I as well have not seen anybody getting "emotional" about guns but instead having a "Well Informed & Educated" Stance regarding the proper, lawful and well trained use of firearms for the PRESERVATION of life which is what self-defense is.
If some misled person goes out on a rampage to Murder (which is different than killing) several people then several people die
Which is better
Instead justly the murderer gets shot legally and justifiably one dies instead of several.
That is preservation. If that person gets told to throw down their weapon or else be shot for still remaining a deadly threat to others and that person did not heed the warning, it is the perpetrators mistake not the mistake of the well trained individual who is called to neutralize the threat of oppression. (death of the innocent being the act of oppression)
While certain others have taken uneducted and uninformed stances which are actually the definitiion of "an Emotional decision" based upon fear, and the fear of firearms.
And as we are told by scripture is that anything based on fear is "Sin". As opposed to Faith.
While not everybody has the same type of calling as David, or Samson, or Moses, or Abraham, to protect or defend the oppressed when needed, there are enough instances in the bible which tell us that there a few called upon by God who are.
Not everybody is a defender, not everybody is equipped with that God given and well trained, honed instinct.
Those who arent should be of the understanding mind that while "THEY" in particular may not be callled for that purpose, each has their own different calling under Gods plan.
I must agree with Barlygurl in her last post.
God in HIS infinite wisdom and understand equipped the citizens of the United states with a very special form of God ordained authority written in our laws.
Every citizen who arms themself is acting according to law and is not acting outside of the laws of the land nor the laws written and instituted by God himself.
If anyone whishes to argue they may try to reconcile the fact that David, who acting in accordance with Gods leading killed Goliath with justifiable reason.
David said both this in Psalm 46:1
1God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
and later to also say in Psalm 144:1
1Blessed be the LORD my strength which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:
Those who advocate no reason for self defense in the eyes of fighting against oppression and tyranny seem to be new Christians who are getting the basics right for now but still have much to learn in understanding Gods full Character.
As well as Ive mentioned before some are still feeding on Milk when others have progressed to meat.
I kinda like meat, and I fully understand God made all the animals clean and suitable for us to eat.
I also understand that we do not live on bread alone but by the very word of God.
And it is therefore we must eat of the meat of scripture he provides
So whos going to call David a hypocrite for advocating that God is both a refuge but later say God calls some of his elect with the training and skills for war in the defense of others.
Some of those others lives defended may have not come to the Lord yet and it is those who really need to be protected, not so much the ones already saved.
Thats what so many of us are trying to help others understand.
And for those who keep suggesting why Jesus never lifted a hand to anybody may want to use proper discernment within the scriptures to understand the reason why Jesus chose not to get people to follow him out of fear when his goal was to get people to follow him out of Love and respect in order to show the other side of his character not fully understood or seen up until that point.
His merciful and meek side.
Meek is not to be confused with weak
Meek is not to lay down and take undeserved punishment
Jesus in his own life clearly exhibited that the death penalty is still in effect otherwsie he would have spoken against his own death, the death of the murderer and the thief on the crosses with him.
Jesus showed that the wages for sin is precisely
Death
And is the very reason WHY he chose to become sin in order to pay that penalty for those who choose to follow him.
God is the same yesterday today and forever
He outlined the punishment for certain transgressions against him as well as his followers.
Those who choose their fluffy bunny version of Jesus taking from scripture what they like and throwing out what they dont arent consuming the full word of God with proper discernment.
When it is said, "live at peace with one another IF THAT BE POSSIBLE"
the last part if that be possible indicates in and of itself that there are times when it may not be possible.
In such times when it is not possible after trying over and over, The Lord leads....Not man.
Those who choose to follow him or use his word improperly, well to put it lightly,
Jesus never said they were pardoned.
No, instead he said he will say to them, "I never knew you"
Try and get to know him better, his full character, that theres many facets and sides to the Lords personality, peace, wrath, war, wisdom, just punishment and discipline, a father, a teacher, a counsellor, a leader a brother, and more. And all these aspects of Him who leads us are all wrapped up in a being of Love.
Just the same as a parent teaches guides and disciplines their own child, yet God doesnt stop once we become an adult, and for that I am thankful that he continues where our own parents may have stopped for nobly giving us our wings to fly out on our own.
We're not in the Garden of Eden
Look around. We're also not in heaven yet and things are going to become much worse.
Prepare yourself for it, let God speak to you and dont speak from within yourself.
