Who do you think has supported the idea that folks should “keep and bear arms” more: Jesus or the NRA? In my view, Jesus.
I believe this view is supported by the Bible and especially the words of Jesus, but if you don’t accept the Bible as the basis of your Christian faith then you will likely have many issues with this blog. Those issues go beyond the scope of this post and will have to wait for another day.
Pope Francis doesn’t carry a pistol, but he does have security. Photo courtesy of Catholic Church England and Wales
As we all know, the National Rifle Association supports the Second Amendment Right to “keep and bear arms.” As far I know it has never been part of the gun control debate that each person or family is obliged to keep and bear arms. And I don’t believe the NRA has argued that military-grade weapons, such as machine guns and other automatic weapons, need to be available to the public or that people must keep weapons with themselves at all times.
On the other hand, Jesus told his disciples:
“But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.” — Luke 22:36
While I can’t imagine Pope Francis carrying a Glock, he does have security. And in the context of the time that the above Bible verse was written, a sword was a military-grade weapon. So I think my comparison is apt.
Most folks don’t realize that police forces are a relatively new development, starting mostly in the 1800s. Self-defense has always been a right and duty of the individual.
In our own history, the British first moved against ammunition supplies at the Battles of Lexington and Concord. The Second Amendment was specifically framed to allow the armed citizenry — the militias — to resist government oppression. President Lincoln attacked Fort Sumter to prevent the Confederates from getting control of its arms.
Mao Zedong said ‘All political power comes from the barrel of a gun.’ Photo courtesy of RasMarley/Creative Commons
While pacifism has a long and honorable tradition in Christianity, the majority view has always been to abide by the “Just War” doctrine as described by St. Augustine.
Chinese ruler Mao Zedong — no Christian apologist — said, “All political power comes from the barrel of a gun.” That’s no moral judgment, but rather a fact of life.
Prudence dictates that we should acknowledge Jesus’ admonition and deal with the world as it is.
Guns save lives. Just ask John Lott, author of “More Guns less Crime.”