I’ve heard some say that for a Christian to carry a gun is unbiblical and that Jesus would condemn it.
“Turn the other cheek”, they say. The actual verse itself in Matthew says “
But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.”
If someone were to walk up to me and slap me, I would be tempted to slap them back…but if I did, I believe I would be in disobedience to God.
However, a slap to the face is entirely different than a loaded gun or other lethal weapon being brandished against me or someone defenseless. Jesus did not say,”… whosever shall stab you with a sword, turn to him the other side also.”
I also hear from these same people
that Jesus reprimanded Peter for drawing his sword in the garden of Gethsemane.
“And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear. Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?” Matthew 26:51-54
Read it again. Peter was not reprimanded because of what he did. He was reprimanded because of WHEN he did it. Mark does not even record the reprimand. In Luke’s account in chapter 22, he mentions that several of Jesus’s followers were armed. “When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword?”
Jesus's reply, after Peter hastily cut of the ear of one of the high priest’s servants, was “Suffer ye thus far,” and then He healed the man’s ear. In other words, “Now is not the time.”
Jesus was in command. He said if He desired, His heavenly Father would supply legions of angels to protect Him. But this was not the time and place for Peter to defend, because Jesus was on a mission…and that mission was the cross.
Peter carried a sword with him everywhere he went…including the time he spent with Jesus over a period of about 3 years. Never once does Scripture record Jesus reprimanding Peter for carrying the sword. The other followers carried as well…and again – no reprimand from Jesus, Who is God Himself.
Should Christians carry weapons?
That sword by Peter’s side in today’s world would most likely be a 9mm.
Labels: Guns, Scripture