Session 26: What Does the Bible Teach About Personal Self Defense?

Question for Today: What Does the Bible Teach About Personal Self Defense?

First off, this is not about war or just war theory. It also isn’t about the government and what type of authority they have to take a life. Those are conversations for another day.

Our question for today is a personal question. It is a question that I have been asked many times by others. And it is a question that is relevant to all of us.

We live in a world of extremes. We have one extreme that flies flags that say don’t tread on me. It is an extreme of hostility that can be vengeful. Then we have on the other side an extreme of pacifism and absolute nonviolence. As believers, what is the right answer to this question? When, if ever, is self-defense Biblically permissible?

We are going to seek to Biblically address this question which will require some diligence. Although the Scriptures do not provide a simple and easy answer on this question, many principles are given so that we can understand how to answer it. I pray that this is a helpful lesson for all of those listening today.

First off, we see an important overarching theme in Scripture…

The Bible Encourages Us To Be Peacemakers

In Matthew 5:9, Jesus says that peacemakers are blessed. Romans 12:18 encourages us to live peaceable with all as far as it depends on us. And Romans 12:19-21 tells us not avenge ourselves as it is the Lord’s to avenge.

This teaching clearly goes against revenge. We are not to offensively go after someone else to ‘get back at them.’ We are not to, with premeditation, plan an attack on someone in revenge.

In these cases, we are to turn the other cheek as Jesus teaches in Matthew 5:38-40. We are to overlook the offense and move forward (Proverbs 19:11).

Our first attitude should be one of peace. However, peacemaking is not the same as pacifism.

Just because we are to seek peace, does not mean that the right to defend oneself is un-Biblical.

One overarching lesson asserted throughout the pages of Scripture is the following:

The Bible Is Pro Innocent Life

Although this understanding is usually applied to abortion, we see throughout the Scriptures that the Bible is pro innocent life.

This concept provides us a few important teaching points that pertain to the topic of self-defense.

1. The Scriptures assert that the government is given the sword - which is notably a deadly weapon - in Romans 13 in order to take the lives of lawbreakers. This is for the defense of the surrounding society for protection.

Although this teaching is not clearly showing self-defense, it teaches that human life is valuable and that the government is able to take life in order to protect innocent lives.

2. Psalm 82:4 asserts that we are to rescue the weak and needy.

We are to deliver them out of the hand of the wicked. In order to deliver the weak and needy, we must be able to overpower and overcome the wicked.

This can apply in the macro level with the government which is restrain evil. But it can also apply to us as well. We are to protect those under our care. As a father, my job is to protect my children. Should one attempt to harm my wife or children, it would be evil for me to not seek to deliver my family. The Bible is pro-innocent life, and thus I am to protect the innocent by using force if necessary to deter a hostile enemy.

The goal would be to do this peacefully, however, force may be necessary in these circumstances.

3. The Scriptures assert that man is made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27).

Because of this, God holds those who murder as guilty of a capital offense deserving death. We see thou shall not murder as the sixth of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:13). Note the word, murder, used here. It means to slay. Genesis 9:6, written before the Mosaic Law was even given, states that whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed. And note that this Scripture goes back and gives the reasoning that capital punishment is deserved because God made man in his own image.

With this in mind, we are to protect those who are made in the image of God - including ourselves. Because of the high view of man being made in God’s image, we are to seek to protect innocent life.

4. Not All Killing Is Wrong and Deserving of Punishment. Note the word killing here and not murder.

I have already delineated the difference between killing and murder. Killing, Scripturally speaking, refers to the taking of a life for just causes or by accident while murder is a premeditated and/or sinful taking of another life.

In Numbers 35:9-34, we are introduced to cities of refuge for those who are involved in an accidental killing in which there was no fault of the one who killed. There are very detailed guidelines given here, but those who accidentally kill someone are not to be punished.

Throughout the Bible we see that those who fought in wars were not treated as murderers. Thus we see that fighting in self-defense as a soldier is definitely not seen as sinful looking at the Scriptures.

Perhaps one of the best passages for us to study in this discussion about self defense is found in Exodus 22:2-3

Exodus 22:2–3 ESV

If a thief is found breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no bloodguilt for him, but if the sun has risen on him, there shall be bloodguilt for him. He shall surely pay. If he has nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.

Here we see an obvious case of self-defense. We are told that if the thief breaks in during the night - the defender has no bloodguilt. Now, if the sun has risen on him, meaning that there was a chance for a peaceful end to this without death, then there is a fine on the defender. Note, either way, this is not considered a capital offense for killing the intruder. It is clear that the homeowner had the right to defend himself. However, it is encouraged to attempt to do so peacefully if at all possible.

This case obviously seems to assume an unarmed thief. Today, we have guns and so one must be more ready to provide a defense than even in these Biblical time periods. But this account clearly illustrates the ability to stand one’s ground in self defense.

Another clear illustration comes from Nehemiah 4:17-23 where we see Nehemiah tell all of the workers rebuilding the wall to carry a sword as they worked. Self defense is encouraged and approved during this rebuilding time because of the threat from their enemies.

Finally, Esther 9:1-5 provides another great example of self-defense. After Haman had tricked the king into passing a decree to destroy all of the Jews, Esther exposed the plan. The king then issued a decree that allowed all of Israel to defend themselves against any attacks from their enemies.

What Did Jesus Say?

First off, Jesus is the Word that became flesh as we see in John 1. The entire Scripture is the Word of God. We are to obey the entire Scripture and read it as if it was full of red letters throughout!

However, even Jesus gives us a word on self-defense.

In Luke 22:35-39, Jesus encourages His disciples to be ready for the coming persecution. Specifically listen to verse 36…

Luke 22:36 ESV

He said to them, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one.

Although the time to defend had not come yet - as seen in Christ’s rebuke to Peter offensively cutting the ear off of a temple servant named Malchus shortly after this interchange - Jesus does assert that the disciples should be prepared to defend themselves in verse 36. After His crucifixion, persecution was about ramp up. They were to be prepared. This preparation was, first and foremost, to be ready to rely on the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. But it also had a practical component of being prepared for bodily defense as well.

It is important to address a final question before finishing today. I get asked this a lot as well…

What About Guns or Other Weapons?

It appears clear in Luke 22:36 that Jesus did not have a problem with the disciples carrying defensive weapons.

One must be extremely wise and discerning if one is to carry a dangerous weapon. It would be very important to be thoroughly trained in order to carry a weapon and to seek to obey government laws in doing so.

However, there appears to be nothing prohibiting one from carrying a weapon for self defense.

Some Closing Thoughts

The Scriptures are clear that we are to be slow to become angry and to be peacemakers. We should not be too quick to react. We should do our best to avoid violence.

Ultimately, we also are to seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit in each and every situation. Just because we can defend ourselves does not always mean that we should. There are many examples in the Bible, such as Stephen, where one dies as a martyr. Paul was persecuted by stoning, imprisonments, and lashings and did not fight back other than with his words. He did fight back with his Roman citizenship at times though!

We should seek the Lord’s guidance personally and follow His Word. There are some that might have conscience issues with using weapons or fighting in general. We should show grace to our brothers and sisters that might have these personal convictions.

May we seek to live at peace with all. God bless!

(Slide Closing 1)

This presentation has been put together to strengthen the faith of believers and to challenge the unbelief of others. I pray that you have found this presentation helpful.

Also, please note that this 10-15 minute presentation cannot exhaustively address most issues. My prayer is that it stimulates you to personally research further, and I am assured that you will find the Word of God proven time and time again.

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Feel free to email any ideas you would like to see addressed by emailing me at crosspointewv@gmail.com. There are slides prepared for each of these presentations which can be accessed at our church website at crosspointefamily.church and select ATG. God bless and have a blessed week.