Dear Valued
Friends and Peers,
Recently, on a very well respected
Conservative Christian law enforcement email list that I am subscribed to
(which will remain anonymous), the subject of gun control and weapons
confiscation by the government was addressed. Obviously it is still
a very controversial subject and one that is at the fore in law enforcement
and private gun owners' minds. What was interesting was the unfortunate
lack of Biblical understanding of the concepts of self defense and gun ownership
by a number of people involved. Very few had a scriptural basis for
the justification of self defense and gun ownershipor lack
thereof.
I have included in this
document a few of the more notable comments made during the discussion. A
few attempted to make the Biblical case; they are to be commended. Most
were wrought with emotionalism, personal bias, a lot of "ABUSIVE ARGUMENTUM
AD HOMINEM" and plain mushy-headed thinking. Note well that also there
were a few comments from overseas law enforcers, specifically Australia,
which has mandated full weapons confiscation in recent past. Their
responses speak for themselves. These writers will remain anonymous,
to protect their privacy.
The mind sets of the American Christian law enforcement community, as
contrasted against their overseas peers, is also intriguing and worth
noting.
Finally, at the end, I have included the final
response from an associate of mine, Tom Pardue, Sr. Lt.Col. US ARMY
(retired), whose aid I enlisted in this debate. One Aussie female officer
inferred that the American Christian community was holding unBiblical positions,
in sin concerning the issue, and challenged us "to put up or shut up." I
was totally amazed not only that this individual would model such a complete
lack of sense and propriety to purport to know more than the Christian founding
fathers of the American nation, but completely fail to support her claims
and accusations! Mr. Pardue's response to the challenge was
conclusive, irrefutable, Biblically based, and quickly ended the debate on
the subject. You may not agree with Mr. Pardue. You may not agree with the
other writers. You may not agree with anything laid out here. But, as Jesus
once said, "He that is able to receive it, let him receive it."
But the American Christian
community has definitely "put up."
The debate started
out with this innocent question by a Christian law enforcer on 29 May
2000:
Hey everyone! I've got a question for you:
Do you think the current trends toward "gun control" are really efforts
to make way for a one-world government, as foreseen in Revelation? I don't
want to turn this into a political debate, I'm just interested in reading
what other Christian cops have to say about this issue. Personally, I DO
feel that the "real" agenda is to make way for a one-world government. Be
safe and wear your vest.
31 May 2000:
Hats off to "Deputy *!" Sounds like he has it nailed down
...
My only son - a law enforcement officer trying to help someone he
thought was in an accident - was killed by a stolen weapon ... not one that
was registered. Bad guys don't register ... or purchase ... their terror
tools.
Don't let the "bad guys and guns" syndrome infect the good American
people's rights.
Like one officer said - he believed in "gun control" - "have a steady
hand... take good aim ... squeeze without shaking ...!"
31 May 2000:
I have no reason to love guns, my favorite cousin committed suicide
with a shotgun, a brother in law was murdered with a handgun. On the other
hand, I can name five instances right off the top of my head where innocent
people have been saved by the use of a firearm in a defensive
situation.
Folks, guns are nothing but a tool. I have never known of a firearm
to jump up off a counter and shoot someone. The fact that gun control is
debated so much is stubbornness on the part of all involved to stand by their
opinion. I have been involved in law enforcement for over 22 years and the
one thing I have come to realize is that the most logical step in gun control
is education. I believe that anyone who buys a firearm should have to go
through a class to learn the safe use of this article. I don' t care how
many guns you own, I don't care how much you have shot. Our dpt. has a safety
segment included in each qualification course. As we work with or around
a weapon we can become complacent. Safety is number one in the use of a
firearm.
31 May 2000
Taking guns away from honest citizens is not the solution to our
crime problem. People have been violent and murderous since the beginning
of time (remember Cain and Abel?). Guns are not the problem, people are.
The Bible tells us that the heart of man is exceedingly wicked and will be
the cause of all manner of evil, whether or not guns are around. Our job
in America should not be to strip honest citizens of their firearms, but
rather to fulfill the Great Commission and let God change their wicked hearts.
If Christians spent half as much time trying to convert the lost as they
do bickering over constitutional rights (or the lack thereof) we wouldn't
need to have a national debate on firearms, or any other type of weapon for
that matter.
In Him,
31 May 2000
Matthew 4:5-7 Then the devil took Him (Jesus) into the holy city;
and he stood Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, "If You
are the Son of God throw Yourself down; for it is written, 'He will give
His angels charge concerning You; and on their hands they will bear You up,
lest You strike Your foot against a stone.'" Jesus said to him, "On the other
hand, it is written, 'You shall not tempt the Lord your
God.'"
God gave us a brain, and common sense, we should use both. Whether
it be locking our doors, wearing a seatbelt, wearing a bullet proof vest
or making use of any of the other things mankind has developed to make our
world safer; we should make use of these things, and not tempt the
Lord.
Bottom line: I do believe that my God is big enough to protect me
until my purpose here on earth is complete. I also believe that I should
not tempt the Lord by ignoring tools that are available to make my life
safer.
31 May 2000
In response to comment from "Mike" (that's me) and others,
I forward this, just received from/forwarded by a Honolulu PD officer and
a closing comment.
BEGIN QUOTE:
Subj: AUSTRALIA GUN CONTROL... BIG FAILURE
It has now been 12 months since gun owners in Australia were forced
to surrender 640,381 personal firearms to be destroyed, a program costing
the government more than $500 million dollars. And now the results are
in:
Australia-wide, homicides are up 3.2 percent;
Australia-wide, assaults are up 8.6 percent;
Australia-wide, armed robberies are up 44 percent (yes, 44
percent).
In the state of Victoria, homicides with firearms are up 300
percent.
Figures over the previous 25 years showed a steady decrease in armed
robbery with firearms (but increased drastically in the past 12 months).
There has been a dramatic increase in break-ins and assaults of the elderly.
Australian politicians are on the spot and at a loss to explain how no
improvement in "safety" has been served after such monumental effort and
expense was successfully expended in "ridding society of
guns."
Bet you won't see this data on the evening news or hear your governor
or members of the state Assembly disseminating this
information.
It's time to state it plainly: Guns in the hands of honest citizens
save lives and property and, yes, gun-control laws only affect the law-abiding
citizens. Take note, Californians and other Americans, before it's too
late!
END QUOTE
What are links between religion (the Bible) and
firearms?
For one - only the individual will guarantee his liberty. I agree
the anti-God socialists are also anti-individual, and therefore anti-individual
rights. I firmly believe socialists exploit permissiveness to demonstrate
that the public at large is too irresponsible to possess firearms. ("If you
won't demonstrate internal discipline, we will provide external discipline.")
Policemen who are interested in the security of the individual (his brother)
must therefore have an interest in the individual being self-disciplined
enough to be responsible with (among other deadly things)
firearms.
Why? Against a civilized "foe" such as Britain or the U.S. of the
1960s, the peaceful resistance tactics of Gandhi or M.L King Jr. may function
- but against a Hitler or Stalin or Pol Pot or Idi Amin ... or a W. J. Clinton
& his ilk, only raw power will hold such socio-paths at bay. Such men
recognize and respect only raw power.
We cannot say we are our brother's keeper, or that we love him as
Christ would, and at the same time be inactive to our brother's self-destruction
through irresponsible lives (read life-styles) or his destroying our mutual
home (the U.S.A.) through destroying the foundations of that home (our civil
rights).
The evidence is clear, tyrants and despots must disarm those who
they are to oppress. From the article above, it is also clear that those
who cannot protect themselves will be left unprotected.
We cannot allow that.
31 May 2000 (From Canada)
The original question was asked in reference to world government
and the issue gun control played in it. An opinion was sought and it was
quickly responded to but, as with all passionate issues, we have gone into
a classic Judge Ito sidebar.
I too live in a country with ever increasing gun control laws. (Australia
is not alone) Will these laws stop the criminal in the gang from getting
hold of a gun. In the words of my dear aunt "not bloody likely!" But government
must respond in some fashion to the ever increasing 'spectacular' violence
and this type of response is a quick fix the visible public likes to see.
I say visible because if you go into northern Ontario (the less visible and
vocal population) you will find that much of the population owns guns and
hunts, and they are not shooting each other up. I agree with the registration
of guns and making access to them harder and making their possession lawful
for only specific sporting purposes. I also agree with making criminals pay
through work programs instead allowing them to sit in very modern hotels,
er.. I mean prisons, working if they want, and getting a free University
education. (that's another sidebar here in Canada...)
One point brought up has taken the context of a particular time related
in the Bible and disregards other very important episodes. The Lord Jesus
Christ did not use violence to make His point. He came to us as a man who
lived as a Jew in that time. He was schooled in and taught the scriptures
of the Old Testament. Some here have offered the suggestion that trust in
the Lord (making reference to the New Testament passages) is all that is
needed and the keeping of a gun is not trusting in the Lord. I trust the
same God who sent David out to kill. I trust the same God who sent the people
led by His prophet Moses into the land of milk and honey and to take that
land as their inheritance. Let's face it folks, some people got killed by
the weapons of the time. Were they wrong to have those weapons? Were they
not trusting in God? I don't think so.
Missionaries, very Godly people who trusted in God, have been killed
while on their missions. They prayed to God and their human lives were not
spared. The argument that trust in God and prayer will keep you safe from
attack must mean then that the dead missionaries did not pray or trust hard
enough. That of course is ludicrous. Weapons are tools used for good or evil,
it is all in the hands of the man, the sinner. (I think I first heard that
in the movie Shane, but I digress)
What is the answer? We each have and answer and it is the right one
to us. What is left is perspective. What works in Australia may not work
in the US, the mindset is different (and yes I have been to both countries).
What works in Canada doesn't necessarily work in the US but we are still
very closely tied through politics and blood (my wife and I have American
relatives). What does work for all of us jointly is faith in God and the
knowledge that Jesus is our saviour and that the Spirit of God is with us
at all times. That folks is Grace and we have been given it even though we
do not deserve it.
God Bless to all.
Greetings Everyone,
I think we ALL need to remember that this is a prayer chain and we
are an international organization and as such, we are going to hold different
views on political issues and we should not divide over these. As American
Christian policemen, we tend to be very patriotic and conservative. Our Aussie
brothers and sisters don't necessarily share our views and that's okay. On
issues where the scripture is silent, we are free unless the Spirit convicts
us. For the record, there is a scripture reference for the bearing of arms.
Its the very words of Jesus in Luke 22:36 where He says let the man who has
no sword, go out and buy one. They obviously didn't have guns then, but the
implication was obvious...the weapon was not evil, it was the man behind
it that is evil. We must remember that Jesus was not a wimp, but laid down
His life willingly for us. No one took it from Him. That took a lot of
courage.
Also, from the U.S. perspective, we have seen no evidence of Spirit
filled lives in the American politicians pushing for gun control (Bill Clinton,
Al Gore and Charles Shumer) . I see self serving politicians that need Jesus
Christ in their lives, but have no clue at this point.
Let's try and not make this stuff personal on the politics that don't
matter, but focus on our common Redeemer where we do agree.
31 May 2000
Anonymous
You said: "so nah, nah"
Very, very funny! ;-) LOL
My brother-in-law is from Australia. I'm going to share that with
him! I'm sure we'll both get a kick out of it. I woke up this morning and
turned on my computer to check my E-mail and I saw what you wrote to the
group. Your last sentence there kind of brightened my day.
On another note, though, one of your sentences really struck a chord
with me. It is one that I have rassled with for my whole Christian walk (17
years now): Since (not "if", mind you, but "since") the Lord loves me, why
do I need to protect myself in any way? Do I tempt His will by not providing
for my own safety? I was an electrician for 11 years. Should I have been
wearing the safety equipment that would protect my life, or was that tempting
God or a demonstration of my lack of faith in His word (lanyards, insulated
gloves, safety glasses)? Sometimes, when I worked on buildings in the
wilderness for the forestry department, I carried a gun while installing
the pipe and wire in the event that a rattle snake came upon me (which I
used twice). Did that constitute a lapse in faith? Does not His word say
"He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.
In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash you foot against a stone.
You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent
you shall trample under foot. Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore
I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble;
I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, and
show him My salvation." Now I ask all of you out there: Is the above scripture
true or not?
Re-read it carefully if you must.
When our valiant soldiers where using their guns to destroy the Nazi
(I am purposely not using the word "German" here because it was not only
Germans who made up the Nazi forces [there were other ethnicity's], and not
all Germans were a part of the Nazi regime) forces that were trying to enslave
the whole human race in W.W.II (whose sacrifice we just finished memorializing
here in America)...was that a lack of faith on our part as a nation or as
individuals? How about the good Christian people that we have known that
have had horrendous felonies committed against them? Violent, fatal crimes?
What about them? Where they fakers? Phonies who were only pretending to be
Christians? We who are on this forum list have seen or heard of such things
happening first hand. For us, it is not hearsay, but cold
reality.
Has anyone come up with a good way to reconcile these issues? Put
the guns aside for a moment and think about all the things that we do regularly
on a daily basis to provide for our protection and for the lives of our families.
Is it a demonstration of a lack of faith to do so?
I would really appreciate hearing from everyone about what they think
(including you, Anonymous!) to see what is right. The reason is as
follows: I am going to become a sworn police officer by the early December
(Lord willing) and I will need to go buy a gun for off duty. Is it showing
a lack of faith if I carry one? Will not the Lord protect
me??!?
I eagerly await all of your replies.
This, one of the more caustic postings, from the female Austrailian Police officer:
Dear All,
It pains me to say this, but I think a lot of you ought to wake up
to what being a Christian and walking with the Lord means. I am sorry but
I can't think of any verse in the Bible where the Lord picked up a weapon
to defend himself. In fact even in the Garden the night before he was crucified
he heal a soldiers ear that was cut off by one of his disciples trying to
defend him. To me this means that if you are NOT a law enforcement officer,
dealing with Satanic and criminally insane people (which all murderers and
felons are) you have no right as a Christian to "bear arms." Personally I
believe if you think you have some right that differs from scripture then
you need to be on your knees asking forgiveness and giving up your
gun...
When you are at home and you think you need a gun to defend your
home and family try calling upon the Lord for protection, or don't you trust
him to keep your family safe. You would rather rely upon a gun that our God
who can and would care for you if you asked. You have only to have the faith
of a mustard seed to move a mountain, how much faith do you think you need
to protect your home and family. Perhaps you have never
asked?
I am fed up with hearing all the American excuses about the right
to bear arms, it's rubbish. It may be in your constitution but its not the
Lord Jesus's will for you.
So either put up or shut up about Guns, THEY KILL INNOCENT PEOPLE (so do knives but oh please!) and guess what, I still love you guys. and I would still stop a speeder doing 35 klms over the limit even if he were a cop, so there nah nah!
Love, Anonymous.
After reading that little
emotional, superficial, and insulting tirade, I sought the input of Mr. Pardue,
Vice President of Americans For Constitutional Integrity:
Dear Mr. Pardue:
I thought you might assist me
on this, as I feel I can no longer remain my usual objective and restrained
self. A few overseas Christian law enforcers have felt comfortable these
last few days charging, not only me, but any others who have voiced their
opinions, with being "unBiblical" as well as being in need of "repentance"
because of our positions concerning private gun ownership as well as
self-defense, etc. I might be able to tolerate the insults against the American
Constitution, especially coming from another Christian (even though many,
many Christians died for the freedom it represents to the world). Especially
an overseas Christian. No use trying to describe the freedom the Lord has
Providentially granted that we should live under to someone without the
background to understand these principles. It's kind of like trying to describe
the clouds and blue sky to a blind man. You end up doing injustice to the
subject and it frustrates the blind man who will never see
it.
But being accused of sin is
insulting, does injustice to the clear working of the Lord in people's lives,
especially mine, slanders the Holy Spirit, and allows one of the main enemies
of freedomignoranceto flourish. Yet, you are a teacher of men
of the highest caliber.
Mr. Pardue, your forebears were
instrumental in the history of the American nation. Ms. Anonymous
challenges the American Christian community below to "put up or shut up."
I have attached your one article, posted on your site, concerning Biblical
self-defense below the writer's original letter. I would ask that you
would respond to this on my behalf, as well as the other accuser's letter
sent to me and the President of the Inland Police Officers Coalition just
recently, which I am forwarding you in private. True, Biblical Truth takes
precedence over American history and traditions, but it's clear that a
substantial amount of people in the Christian Church have simply given themselves
over to emotionalism and empiricism without researching the subject from
a Biblical perspective as you have.
I will make sure your valued
and eloquent response is forwarded to the proper channels and, as usual,
your time and wisdom is deeply appreciated.
My Deepest Respects and Regards,
Mike ~
God Protect the Protectors ~
God Bless the Cops
For the eyes of the LORD run
to and fro throughout the
whole earth, to shew Himself
strong in the behalf of them
whose heart is perfect toward
Him. Be one of "them." ~ Salem
"The Spiritual Realm is the Command
Sphere...If evil could have
won the day, it already would
have, but since it didn't, it can't.
This is merely a training universe
for us and hurdles will come.
However, consider it merely a
chance in which to excel" ~ R.D. Conner
Vice President ~ Inland Police
Officers' Coalition
[http://www.ipocministries.org/]
Salem the Soldier's Homepage
~ COPS
[http://www.salemthesoldier.us/Police_Support_03.html]
Mike,
I am pleased to assist you.
There is a really good article by Larry Pratt on the Chalcedon www
site, "What Does the Bible Say about Gun Control?"
http://web.archive.org/web/20010219100715/http://www.www.natreformassn.org/statesman/97/bibgunctrl.html
See the entire Chalcedon report on gun control at
http://www.chalcedon.edu/report/2000feb/index.htm.
Keeping and bearing arms in not just a right, it is a duty as I have
shown in the
article you
posted. It is just as much a duty as working for your bread. God has
commanded us to preserve life. He has commanded us to love our neighbor.
We don't love our neighbor if we don't anticipate the need to be prepared
to protect him from one who intends to take his life unjustly. He has told
us that if we love Him we will keep His commandments. These are propositions
too plain to be contested. To further support this I cite the Westminster
divines from the Westminster Confession of Faith and Westminster Larger
Catechism, concise statements of Reformed doctrine first published in 1646
by Scottish and British Calvinists.
Chapter 1 Section 6 of the Westminster Confession of Faith asserts
"The whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for his own glory,
man's salvation, faith and life, is either expressly set down in Scripture,
or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from Scripture: unto
which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelations of the
Spirit or traditions of men," cf. II Tim. 3:16-17; Gal. 1:8-9; II Thess.
2:2.
Consequently the WCF and Larger Catechism are an exercise in logical
deduction.
Question 135.
What Are the Duties Required In the Sixth Commandment?
Answer: The duties required in the sixth commandment are, all careful
studies, and lawful endeavors, to preserve the life of ourselves a and others
b by resisting all thoughts and purposes,c subduing all passions,d and avoiding,
all occasions,e temptations,f and practices, which tend to the unjust taking
away the life of any;g by just defense thereof against violence,h . . .
a. Eph. 5:2829.
b. 1 Ki. 18:4.
c. Jer. 26:1516; Acts 23:12, 1617, 21, 27.
d. Eph. 4:2627.
e. 2 Sam. 2:22; Deut. 22:8.
f. Matt. 4:67; Prov. 1:1011, 1516.
g. 1 Sam. 24:12; 26:911; Gen. 37:2122.
h. Ps. 82:4; Prov. 24:1112; 1 Sam. 14:45.
Note well that it says "The duties required in the sixth commandment
are, all careful studies, and lawful endeavors, to preserve the life of ourselves
and others . . .by just defense thereof against violence. . . " Note also
that this is not an exercise in Gnosticism, but of logical deduction from
Scripture as can be seen from the proof texts. Several verses are combined
to form a doctrinal statement..
Question 136.
What Are the Sins Forbidden In the Sixth Commandment?
Answer: The sins forbidden in the sixth commandment are, all taking
away the life of ourselves,a or of others,b except in case of public justice,c
lawful war,d or necessary defense;e the neglecting or withdrawing the lawful
and necessary means of preservation of life . . ."
a. Acts 16:28.
b. Gen 9:6.
c. Numb. 35:31,33.
d. Jer. 48:10; Deut. 20.
e. Exod. 22:23.
f. Matt. 25:4243; James 2:1516; Eccl. 6:12.
Morton H. Smith, The Larger Catechism of the Westminster Standards,
(Simpsonville, SC: Christian Classics Foundation) 1997.
Ms. Anonymous would unwittingly have men, not just Christians,
violate the sixth commandment, then condemn them as sinners in need of repentance
for not doing it. She is attempting to bind men's consciences without sufficient
Scriptural support. This equivalent to some of the S. Baptists around here
requiring people to pledge not to drink as a requirement for church membership.
If her conscience is bound that gun ownership is a sin, so be it, even
though it isn't supported by Scripture, but she should not attempt to bind
another's conscience. See Romans 14 for details of this sin.
The lady says that the account of Christ in the garden is an example
for Christians, that is, Christ laid down a rule of general application.
This is a logical fallacy, the naturalistic fallacy, as Hume described it
"an ought from an is." Christ's actions in the garden could not possibly
be a commandment to Christians to disarm for in LUK 22:36 He gave this command
"And He said to them, 'But now, let him who has a purse take it along, likewise
also a bag, and let him who has no sword sell his robe and buy one.'" Bear
in mind it was serious for one in that era to give up his robe. The robe
was necessary for survival. So much so that if one was taken as collateral
for a loan it was to be returned at night, cf, Ex 22:26.
Her claim violates the law of contradiction, a principle necessary
for any discourse. As Phillip Johnson describes it "[t]he law of contradiction
means that two antithetical propositions cannot both be true at the same
time and in the same sense. X cannot be non-X. A thing cannot be and not
be simultaneously. And nothing that is true can be self-contradictory or
inconsistent with any other truth."
Christ could not possibly command men to disarm and arm at the same
time "for God is not {a God} of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches
of the saints." 1CO 14:33
There is an explanation for Christ's actions in the garden. JOH 18:11
Jesus therefore said to Peter, "Put the sword into the sheath; the cup which
the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?"
LUK 24:27 And beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He
explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.
ACT 4:27 "For truly in this city there were gathered together against
Thy holy servant Jesus, whom Thou didst anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate,
along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel,
ACT 4:28 to do whatever Thy hand and Thy purpose predestined to
occur.
Christ was predestined before the foundation of the earth to die
for the sins of His people. Peter, likewise, was predestined to attempt to
thwart this, but Peter's will be thwarted and God's will be done or we perish
in hell for eternity.
The lady asserts "To me this means that if you are NOT a law
enforcement officer, dealing with Satanic and criminally insane people (which
all murderers and felons are) you have no right as a Christian to "bear
arms".
Then she must account for this: EXO 22:2 "If the thief is caught
while breaking in, and is struck so that he dies, there will be no
bloodguiltiness on his account.
It is not helpful to make the claim that this for the Jews only for
"All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof,
for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be
adequate, equipped for every good work." 2TI 3:16-17 When Paul gave this
instruction there was no NT.
As I pointed out in the article I wrote for Contra Mundum, the model
for a national military is the militia. This is the norm that God established
for the ancient Hebrew constitutional republic. Large standing armies such
as we have are not the norm. They are the tools of tyrants. The Hebrew militia
was manned by individuals who brought their own weapons. See
http://www.gunowners.org/op9804.htm
The lady says "[w]hen you are at home and you think you need a
gun to defend your home and family try calling upon the Lord for protection,
or don't you trust him to keep your family safe."
This is sophistry and unequivocally tempting God. God providentially
provides the means to the end to keep one and one's family safe. If she believes
this it necessarily follows that she should never lock her doors nor even
close them. As a peace officer, she should not even carry a gun. God will
provide the invisible Kevlar. By carrying this lady's principal to the logical
conclusion she doesn't even need a home. In fact if she practices what she
preaches, she should sell her home, quit her job and live in the bushes on
Smith Creek. After all, God will provide.
God has promised to protect His people. He provides the means to
this end. The means may be an opportunity to evade or it may be a Hillbilly
with a big bore handgun loaded with 230 gr. Hydrashocks, even in church.
"It may be in your constitution but its not the Lord Jesus's will
for you."
The Lord's will is found in His word. No where has he revealed to
us that we should disarm while living in the land of the Philistines. You
may find where He has revealed that weapons control is the practice of tyrants.
1SA 13:19 ¶ Now no blacksmith could be found in all the land of Israel,
for the Philistines said, "Lest the Hebrews make swords or spears." 1SA 13:20
So all Israel went down to the Philistines, each to sharpen his plowshare,
his mattock, his axe, and his hoe.1SA 13:22 So it came about on the day of
battle that neither sword nor spear was found in the hands of any of the
people who {were} with Saul and Jonathan, but they were found with Saul and
his son Jonathan.
BTW, the manner in which the lady answered the objection concerning
knife control is not valid: "THEY KILL INNOCENT PEOPLE (so do knives but
oh please!)." This reveals nothing more than a philosophical bias against
guns and an unwillingness to account for the absurdity of the argument when
carried to the logical conclusion.
I forgot about the most compelling passages in the Bible concerning
self defense, Neh 4.
NEH 4:9 But we prayed to our God, and because of them we set up a
guard against them day and night.
NEH 4:13 then I stationed {men} in the lowest parts of the space behind the
wall, the exposed places, and I stationed the people in families with their
swords, spears, and bows.
NEH 4:14 When I saw {their fear,} I rose and spoke to the nobles, the officials,
and the rest of the people: "Do not be afraid of them; remember the Lord
who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters,
your wives, and your houses."
NEH 4:15 ¶ And it happened when our enemies heard that it was known
to us, and that God had frustrated their plan, then all of us returned to
the wall, each one to his work.
NEH 4:16 And it came about from that day on, that half of my servants carried
on the work while half of them held the spears, the shields, the bows, and
the breastplates; and the captains {were} behind the whole house of Judah.
NEH 4:17 Those who were rebuilding the wall and those who carried burdens
took {their} load with one hand doing the work and the other holding a
weapon.
NEH 4:18 As for the builders, each {wore} his sword girded at his side as
he built, while the trumpeter {stood} near me.
NEH 4:20 "At whatever place you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us
there. Our God will fight for us."
NEH 4:21 ¶ So we carried on the work with half of them holding spears
from dawn until the stars appeared.
NEH 4:22 At that time I also said to the people, "Let each man with his servant
spend the night within Jerusalem so that they may be a guard for us by night
and a laborer by day."
NEH 4:23 So neither I, my brothers, my servants, nor the men of the guard
who followed me, none of us removed our clothes, each {took} his weapon {even
to} the water.
Note that the Jews prayed for God's protection, then were encouraged
to "remember the Lord who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers,
your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses."
Mike, I hope this is helpful. There are many more objections to bearing
arms. She (anonymous) hasn't presented them, so I won't deal with them, but
they can and have been answered using Scripture alone. Pratt presents them
and answers them.
Tom
And finally:
02 June 2000
Thanks for the link. That was one of the best written dissertations
on the subject that I have ever read. It cleared up a lot of question in
my mind...and from a scriptural basis, too.
---------------------------------
ForumModerator wrote:
> This article is worth reading.
>
http://web.archive.org/web/20010219100715/http://www.www.natreformassn.org/statesman/97/bibgunctrl.html
That was pretty much where
it publicly ended. Since then, I have only received one or two catty comments
from overseas LE people who, not able to challenge Mr. Pardue on his eloquent
and conclusive commentary, have been reduced to immature name calling, even
going so far as to call these things "drivel." I suppose that is to
be expected when people are thoroughly challenged on their biased and
unBiblical beliefs, especially concerning the "politically incorrect"
issue of gun control and self-defense.
In the opinion of this
writer, Mr. Pardue has, once again, prevailed in this forum. The Lord,
being faithful, always provides His people the answers to the most trying
questions of our times.
I am also very impressed
by the Christian law enforcers who had the guts to state their cases in public,
even though the issue is so provocative and intimidating. I am also
impressed by those who were not quick to sacrifice principle, truth, and
integrity, to maintain a "politically correct" peace amongst their overseas
peers. America and her institutions are a rare and endangered thing.
Not defending them on the pretext of maintaining "unity" amongst those
Christian people who don't even understand them is sheer folly.
Gun
Control: Myths and Realities
By: The Cato Institute.
Salem The Soldier's COPS Page supports Officer Leroy Pyle
and
the Second Amendment PD! Great organization. Top notch
cops.
The Pen is Mightier than The Sword....
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