Christians and Weapons.

Read James 4:1-2

The tears are still fresh, the painful memories will never disappear, the sorrow will be ever present, and the parents will always cry their children. The massacre at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL will be remembered for many years as one of the worst massacres at an educational institution. Seventeen people (three staff members and fourteen students) were murdered and another fourteen were wounded.

On Nov, 5th, 2017, 26 church members of First Baptist Church in Sutherland Spring, TX were murdered while they were at the worship service.

Another one happened recently in Las Vegas; and we cannot forget the ones in Columbine and Denver.

These crimes always renew the guns debate. Some argue that guns should not be sold or eliminated while others defend their constitutional right to own weapons. The second amendment of the Constitution says,

“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

This amendment points to the need of having an Army to protect the state and the right of citizens to keep arms, obviously to protect themselves.

Should a Christian keep and bear arms? Does the Christian fit into any of those two categories? Is he a soldier? Is he a part of the people? Does he have to keep arms? No, but no one can deny his right to have them!

How should we see this issue on the light of the Scriptures?

How should we see this issue on the light of the Scriptures?

What does the Bible says about guns? Nothing! They were not existent! But it talks about weapons: sword, arch, arrows, spears, shields, etc. Weapon have evolved throughout centuries: from mauls to machine guns, from horses to tanks, and from gauntlets to hand guns.

To analyze the issue, we must not forget three things:

Evil is present in the world.

“You lust… you commit murder. You are envious… you fight and quarrel.” 2

Why? Because man, by fallen nature, is evil and selfish.

We live in a selfish society.

Our society is so individualistic and selfish to the point that most people see a crime being committed, and they do nothing about it. Let’s say a man hitting a woman; or someone stealing something. What do you do? “They do not want to get involved, they do want problems” are the most common excuses.

The excuse of “they are not doing it to me, anyway” points to the problem of selfishness and that they do not have a sense of justice.

The thief murder when he lusts or envies for something, but doesn’t want to work for it. Criminals want to have what others have, but without earning it.

Without Christ, man does not respect life. Therefore,

Man must be able to protect himself.

The main responsible for the protection of my family and my life is neither of the police nor of the government. It is my responsibility!

We have two choices: assume the responsibility or surrender it to someone else who does not really care for me or my family.

If assuming it requires that I must have a gun, I will have one!

Remember that David, the shepherd, always carried a sling and a club; as a soldier/king, he carried a sword. Peter, the apostle, carried a sword; Simon, the Zealot, carried a dagger.

Would you be opposed to someone learning martial arts for personal protection? No! But you may kill a person with a karate shop!

Why would we oppose to someone having a gun or the famous AR-15 then?

If some of the “good” people at the crime scenes had been armed, there would not be so many victims.

Gun prohibitions only affect law-abiding citizens, but not criminals. Criminals will always find ways to be armed.

I agree that we do not need to own an arsenal for personal protection either; but some are gun collectors and I cannot judge them for that. Some collect stamps, others cars, etc. “Cada loco con su tema”.

The second thing we should not forget is that the teaching of Evolution excludes God from society.

Evolution excludes God from society.

“The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.”

Evolution has been taught in public schools for almost a hundred years (1927-2017). Before that, when Creationism was taught, you did not see crimes as those committed in these massacres.

In 1962, the Supreme Court forbade prayers in public schools arguing that prayer constituted an establishment of religion.

In 1963, the Court disallowed Bible reading in public schools for the same reasons.

Those fifty years (1962-2018) of education that excludes God have produced two generations without moral values. In Evolution there are no moral values.

There are no moral values.

And the psalmist continues saying:

“...They are corrupt, they have committed abominable deeds. There is no one who does good.”

Without moral values, there is no respect for private property, no respect for human beings, and no respect for life. Therefore, man do not see anything wrong with stealing (with the excuse that is to fulfill their needs), with abusing others who are usually weaker (according to Evolution, the stronger lives from the weaker), and with murdering a person (because they do not acknowledge God’s image and likeness in man).

No one can blame a lion for killing many gazelles! Why because animals have no moral values and killing is part of their nature.

If there is no God in society, Who determines what is right and wrong? The laws? What is the basis for any law? Were laws not based on the Ten Commandments? => Protection of life, property, and testimony.

Man without Christ acts like an animal.

Evolution teaches that all human are animals, mammals, more evolved animals, but still animals. If they are animals, they will acts as animals.

Imagine that you are camping with your family, enjoying God’s creation; and suddenly appears a ferocious and hungry bear or lion who wants to attack your child or wife to kill and devour them. You have two choices: One, you could try to convince the animal that what he is about to do is not right and that he would not want the same thing happen to him; and, Two, get your gun and kill the bear/lion before he kill your family and you.

The first one would be stupid because animals do not understand reasons. As I said before, killing is in their nature.

The second option would be taken by most people, even by those who are opposed to guns.

Although human being are no animals, according to the Bible, if man do not have Christ and there is no fear of God in their heart, they behave as animals.

2 Peter 2:10 NASB95

and especially those who indulge the flesh in its corrupt desires and despise authority. Daring, self-willed, they do not tremble when they revile angelic majesties,

2 Peter 2:12 NASB95

But these, like unreasoning animals, born as creatures of instinct to be captured and killed, reviling where they have no knowledge, will in the destruction of those creatures also be destroyed,

12

That’s the reason why police officers carry guns! To stop animal behavior of men.

Imagine that you are camping with your family, enjoying God’s creation; and suddenly appears a ferocious and hungry bear or lion who wants to attack your child or wife to kill and devour them. You have two choices: One, you could try to convince the animal that what he is about to do is not right and that he would not want the same thing happen to him; and, Two, get your gun and kill the bear/lion before he kill your family and you.

You might say, “Okay, let police carry them!” The problem is that there are situations of extreme danger when you cannot wait until police arrive.

The first one would be stupid because animals do not understand reasons. Killing is in their nature.

The third thing we need to consider is that weapons are not the problem.

Weapons are not the problem.

“Let’s forbid any sales of weapons” is the cry of those who have suffered a loss. But the problem is not in the weapons! Why? Because weapons are amoral.

Weapons are amoral.

They are just defensive or offensive objects. Objects are not bad in themselves. It depends on the use we make of them.

In my kitchen, I have many knives of different types. A knife is a weapon! My knives have not killed anyone yet and neither they will. We use them to cut the meat and vegetables. They are used for a good purpose. With a knife or a gun, you may kill an animal to feed your family. If you do not do it, someone else will do it for you. Or do you think that the cattle, pork, and chickens that you eat are killed by hugs and kisses?

Weapons are for protection! Protection of the country, the state, the city, and the individual.

Forbidding the purchase of guns is not the solution to the problem. Remember the woman that killed a man (Abimelec) by throwing him a millstone from a tower? Should be millstones forbidden then? No!

Shamgar killed 600 Philistines with an oxgoad! Should oxgoad forbidden? No!

The problem is not in the weapon, but in man’s heart!

Man’s heart is the problem.

“What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members?” 1

That’s why Jesus told that man’s problem is not external, but internal:

Matthew 15:19 NASB95

“For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders.

Mat 15:19

If authorities would do something to transform man’s heart and mind, we wouldn’t have those mass murders. We would not have many mentally disturbed people on the streets.

All those criminal had something is common, apart from the guns. They were mentally/emotionally disturbed and none of them was a Christian.

But if those in government “professing to be wise, became fools” have excluded God from public life, Why are they surprised with those evil crimes?

But if those in government “professing to be wise, became fools” have excluded God from public life, Why are they surprised with those evil crimes?

Only Jesus, through the power of the gospel can change man’s heart. That’s why the church should be active preaching it. Our message can make the difference in people’s hearts.

The intention of this sermon has not been to convince you to have a weapon, that’s your freedom, your right, and your decision, but giving you biblical and logical basis to be able to face the issue of weapons ownership with others.