38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 39 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.
Matthew 5:38-39 KJV
Guns in church?
Please pray and ask the Lord that you decrease and He increases before reading this devotional. This is a very TOUGH topic. We need to really DENY ourselves in order to accept the TRUTH.
(Please read the ENTIRE devotional before making a statement.) Or watch the video here:
13 He who answers a matter before he hears the facts—it is folly and shame to him.
Proverbs 18:13 AMPC
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; Matthew 5:43-44 KJV
⇒Jesus commands us to not resist or defend against evil. To resist someone is to defend. Jesus is talking about self-defense.
⇒The Greek word for resist is anthistēmi- to set one’s self against, to withstand, oppose.
⇒Jesus also commands that we love our enemies, bless them, do good to them, and pray for them. Where did the church get the idea that it is okay to bring guns or weapons into church to protect the congregants?
35 And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing. 36 Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. 37 For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end. 38 And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough.
Luke 22:36-38 KJV
Jesus sent them out with nothing before. Jesus was about to be arrested, and He told them to grab items that they would need. If Jesus told them to grab a sword to defend themselves, then He would be contradicting His own command. So, I looked up the Greek word for sword.
⇒Sword in the Greek is machaira- a large knife, used for killing animals and cutting up flesh; a small sword, as distinguished from a large sword: curved sword for a cutting stroke / a straight sword, for thrusting. Strongs G3162 Thayer’s Greek Lexicon from Blueletterbible.org
⇒In the English language, we have words that have multiple meanings. This sword was also used for killing animals and cutting up flesh for food. (Acts 10:12-13)
⇒Jesus rebuked Peter for using the sword in self-defense! 52 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. 53 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? Matthew 26:52-53 KJV
• Jesus says all who take or draw the sword will die by the sword.
• We can obviously see that Jesus did not mean for them to use it to protect themselves.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Ephesians 6:12 KJV
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 KJV
⇒Paul is saying we do NOT fight against flesh and blood, which is people. ⇒We do NOT war or fight with earthly weapons (guns, knives)!
There is NO Scripture in the New Testament, that talks about the church defending themselves against attacks. We can read the Didache of the Apostles, Early church history, and Polycarp and they all support what Jesus commands. Turn the other cheek or flee to escape.
I questioned a pastor who believed that we should have guns in church for our defense against attackers. I asked him, “Would you pick up a gun and shoot the attacker if Jesus was there kneeling in prayer?” He responded by saying, “If Jesus was standing there, I wouldn’t have to shoot the attacker (smiling emoji).”
I said to him, “The comfort that you would have if Jesus was there should be the same because we have the Holy Spirit. Why would you act different with the Holy Spirit?” Jesus said, “16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;”
John 14:16 KJV
The reason why people can't obey some commands is because they are breaking the first and greatest commandment. 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. Matthew 22:36-37 KJV
If we love God with ALL / 100% of our heart, we will desire to obey 100% of His commands.
⇒The rich young ruler could not follow Jesus because he did not love God with ALL of his heart. He loved God with some of his heart because he obeyed some of the commands. He lacked the first and greatest commandment. (Matthew 19:16-27)
Many believers in America have a hard time with turning the other cheek. If you obey it, many will call you a coward for not defending your family.
⇒I see why they cannot obey what Jesus says. They love their own life and family more than they love Jesus and His commands.
37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
Matthew 10:37 KJV 25
He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
John 12:25 KJV 24
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
Luke 9:24 KJV
⇒I love Jesus and His commands more than my own life and family. I put His commands above all! There are many Christians overseas who are tortured, beaten, raped, and killed. They do not defend themselves or resist their attackers. Are they cowards?
The courageous Christians are the ones who are willing to suffer and die. The cowards fight back to defend themselves out of fear. In the early church, many men, women, and children died in the coliseum. The apostles died horrible deaths. Peter was crucified upside down. He saw his wife die before him. His last words to her was, “Remember the Lord.” That’s real faith! This is one reason why I pray for and support ministries like Open Doors and Voice of the Martyrs. The stories of the boldness of these Christians is very inspiring. What can we do if attackers come in the church? We can pray for them or escape. Jesus did command that we can flee from our attackers.
23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.
Matthew 10:23 KJV
I used to fight every day my junior year in college. I am physically fit and could easily fight back. What is holding me back? What is leading me to be obedient to my Lord’s command?
My love for Jesus. “15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.” John 14:15 KJV
Yes it would be very difficult if my family was attacked. What helps me to endure is the Holy Spirit and knowing its only temporary. My family and I will be in the Celestial City with Jesus, where there is no more pain and suffering. Death is good for us because we follow Jesus! (Philippians 1:21)
There are Christians who teach other Christians to purchase guns to shoot their attackers. They do not realize that they are teaching Christians to break multiple commands of our Lord Jesus.
Commands that are broken:
1. Do not resist the evil person, turn the other cheek. Recompense to no man, evil for evil. Vengeance belongs to the Lord. Avenge not ourselves (Matthew 5:39 / Romans 12:17-21).
How is shooting our attacker leaving vengeance to the Lord?
2. Love them, bless them, do good to them, and pray for your enemies (Matthew 5:43-48).
How is shooting our attacker loving them, blessing them, doing good to them, and praying for them?
3. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. (Luke 6:31)
4. Fear not those who kill the body, but fear Him who after kills has the power to cast soul and body in Hell (Luke 12:4-5).
People fear for their lives and they defend out of fear.
5. Be merciful as God is merciful (Luke 6:36)
How is shooting our attacker being merciful to them?
6.We shall not murder (Matthew 19:18).
Is it Holy Spirit led to shoot an attacker and take their life?
7. Forgive those who sin against us (Matthew 6:14-15 / Acts 7:60).
How is shooting our attacker showing an act of forgiveness towards them?
Taking the attacker’s life, who is living in wickedness, will perish. Taking their life cannot be Holy Spirit led because it is not God’s will for the wicked man to perish, but to give him time to repent. (2 Peter 3:9)
Jesus explains what these believers are doing who teach away His commands.
9 And He said to them, You have a fine way of rejecting [thus thwarting and nullifying and doing away with] the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition (your own human regulations)!
10 For Moses said, Honor (revere with tenderness of feeling and deference) your father and your mother, and, He who curses or reviles or speaks evil of or abuses or treats improperly his father or mother, let him surely die.
11 But [as for you] you say, A man is exempt if he tells [his] father or [his] mother, What you would otherwise have gained from me [everything I have that would have been of use to you] is Corban, that is, is a gift [already given as an offering to God],
12 Then you no longer are permitting him to do anything for [his] father or mother [but are letting him off from helping them]. 13 Thus you are nullifying and making void and of no effect [the authority of] the Word of God through your tradition, which you [in turn] hand on. And many things of this kind you are doing.
Mark 7:9-13 AMPC
In order to follow the commands of Jesus we MUST DENY OURSELVES. We shouldn't respond like the world does. We are called to be like Christ. Those who believe in Jesus have the Holy Spirit. Would Jesus, or the Holy Spirit lead you to shoot your attacker?
Jesus said that we also must be READY to stand before Him any day. Many people are not ready to stand before God everyday.
“You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour and a moment when you do not anticipate it.”
Luke 12:40 AMPC
Video:https://youtu.be/9YOyz5OAYmQ