03Lightningrocks wrote:I wonder at times how the whole concealed carry thing ties in with the old proverb concerning living by the sword and dying by the sword.
Actually, this isn’t in Proverbs but is still a very good question. It’s one that I'm hit with all the time by armchair critics who try to use my religion and my Bible against my love of firearms and I know I can’t be the only one out there that faces this at least once per month.
Yes, I know this will touch on religion but the Bible has a WHOLE LOT TO SAY about war, weapons, self defense, violence, and so forth so I will restrict my comments to those areas.
Of course, not being a theologian makes me eminently qualified to answer. I will say that this is only a small sample, so here goes:
Exodus 22:2 - This verse makes it clear that we have a God given right to defend ourselves and will not be guilty of murder when defending our home or ourselves.
1 Samuel 13:19-22 - The Philistines instituted weapons control by getting rid of all the blacksmiths. No blacksmiths meant no weapons. A disarmed people meant an enslaved people.
Isaiah 2:1-5 - This is the famous “swords into plowshares” line that anti-gunners and anti-military types love to quote. Of course, when taken into context, these verses describe the end times when the Lord comes and cleans house and not until then. The United Nations isn’t mentioned.
Luke 22:35-38 – Jesus told His disciples that trouble is coming and that it was more important than anything to keep your money close and to be properly armed.
And now for the verse in which Lightning asks about,
Matthew 26:51-52 -
With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword."
Jesus didn’t tell Peter to get rid of the sword, he didn’t tell him to melt it down into a plow, He didn’t tell him to turn it in to the high priest and run away. He told Peter to “put it back in its place”. Other translations say “in its sheath”. He is clearly implying that there is a time and place and for a multitude of reasons, this was not the time or place for violence. The sword itself isn’t evil. The improper use is evil and those who use force for evil, will certainly die by the sword.
That's about it for now.
