Grieved over today's events in Charlottesville

LOL, you don't see it because of the great privileges you receive in our racist system.
Just because we are Christians it doesn't mean we aren't culturally blind and in your case you seem blind to the systemic racism that gives you privileges.

 

If you had a biblical command to not arm ourselves you would have put it up already.

 

So, what if God's provision to protect my family is to give them a husband and father to be the first line of defense? God has given me this family and has charged me with providing for them. That includes providing for their safety and security, as well.

You talk a good game and pretend to be all noble and self righteous, but the fact is, what you call "trusting God" is actually tempting God.

God never told us to act foolishly or forego reasonable precautions in order to show our trust in Him. To the contrary, when the Devil tried to get Jesus to do this, Jesus rebuked him for it.

Wearing seat belts, owning smoke detectors and fire extinguishers, purchasing insurance, seeking medical treatment, and self defense are not a lack of trust in God for our protection. They are the recognition that these things so are common graces of God for our good.

If you want to be a pacifist, that's fine. There's nothing in scripture that expressly forbids that. But when you take it to the extreme that you say you're willing to allow your family to be harmed, that's not noble. It's selfish.

 

Oh please...I've given more for "liberty" than you'll ever know. Grandfather, father, father-in-law, husband, brother-in-law and son ALL have worn a military uniform. Not a single one every felt a need to carry a gun once they got home.

I live in Las Vegas, NV.. Known for "sin and debauchery"...yet, we have no security at church, nobody brings guns to church. Nobody feels AFRAID. Carrying a gun = afraid of something or someone or some nebulous idea of those who "hate liberty" as you accuse me of...which I rebuke you for right here and now. You sir, are the sad one, walking in such fear of those who may be different than you.

 

To say that carrying a gun means one is afraid only shows you own ignorance. I don't carry a gun because I'm afraid, but because I'm prudent.

 

I'm waiting for him to post the Biblical command to stand by while an innocent is harmed.

 

Again, you bring up what-if thinking.

What we know is that Jesus taught us in the sermon on the mount how to treat our enemies. Martin Luther King took it seriously. God changed a nations trajectory of injustice because MLK trusted God. Even a pagan like Gandhi obeyed Jesus teachings and changed a nation by obeying. What gives us the right to ignore the sermon on the mount and instead live in fear? How is fear honoring to God? Where does God tell us to return evil for evil?
So many seem to put their trust in guns. A gun is just a tool. It should never be considered as the means by which God will protect us. God may use the police to protect us through their weapons, but I see no biblical indication for Christians to be armed and see themselves as militiamen.

 

Fear is never from God.

 

Matthew 5:8-12,38-48
[8]God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.
[9]God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.
[10]God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
[11]“God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers.
[12]Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.


[38]“You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’
[39]But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also.
[40]If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too.
[41]If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles.
[42]Give to those who ask, and don’t turn away from those who want to borrow.
[43]“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy.
[44]But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!
[45]In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.
[46]If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much.
[47]If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that.
[48]But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.

 

I'm really not sure you want to use Martin Luther King as your example, as he sought a permit to carry a concealed weapon. He was denied his rights by the Democrats, but sought to exercise them nonetheless.

 

TC, you have lost the debate when you ignore scripture and resort to personal attack. You are better than this.

 

Did he fire any weapons while protesting or did he obey God’s word from the sermon on the mount?

 

Lovely verses, all, but irrelevant to the topic of self defense.

It's interesting, though, that you believe your "enemy" deserves love, while your own family does not.

 

God tells us that he ordains the government police to carry the weapons and address law breakers. God doesn't give any commands for self defense. That is something you have adopted that has no biblical support.

 

One has nothing to do with the other. And whether or not he was forced to defend himself is irrelevant.

 

Actually, He does. Other posters have already given you examples of this.

 

It is relevant. MLK never resorted to violence in order to combat violence. Read his speeches and sermons. Non-violence is biblical. The Jews were admonished to pray for the peace of the city in which they are exiles. We as Christians are exiles on earth. We are to pray for peace, not to add to the violence.

 

One verse out of context is not a solid argument for carrying a weapon because you fear other humans.