Pistol-Packin’ Pastors

David R. Brockman, adjunct lecturer in religion at Texas Christian University, recently published an article in the Texas Observer entitled, Pistol-Packin’ Christians in which I am cited. This is a reply to his article. (To read Brockman’s article in its entirely click on the link at the end of this article.)

Brockman laments recent statements of Jerry Falwell Jr. to the students of Liberty University encouraging them to carry guns on campus in case of a terrorist attack. It’s incongruent for Brockman to link lethal weapons to the “gospel of peace.” The peace the gospel brings is between God and man through the atonement of the blood of Christ.

Peace between men can be experienced only partially in this fallen world. In fact, the gospel ultimately divides people because it calls for absolute allegiance to Christ, even before one’s family. Jesus said, “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.” (Matthew 10:34)

Brockman continues; “The notion of pastors packing heat and encouraging their flocks to do likewise strikes many Texas Christians, myself included, as peculiar — even, well, un-Christian. After all, the core teachings of Jesus himself suggest a very different message. Although his country was under oppressive Roman occupation, Jesus taught nonviolence — ‘All who take the sword will perish by the sword’ — which is not exactly a forceful call to arms. Jesus also instructed his followers to love their enemies.”

Brockman appeals to “the core teachings of Jesus” as teaching non-violence. We must be very careful making sweeping generalizations about the message of Jesus and His Word that do not negate its actual nuanced views. It is improper to pit the generalizations of the Bible against the particulars of the Bible! God is not confused.

Yes, we are to love our personal enemies. Note, Jesus is not describing how governments are to deal with mortal enemies, rather how individuals are to deal with those with whom they are in conflict. How do we do that? We pray for them and evangelize them and show them kindness. If they are unreasonable or rude we “turn the other cheek.” If they pick up a bat, that’s another matter altogether.

As far as it depends on us we are to live at peace with all men, but some men are vicious criminals. Do we let them steal our money, rape our wives and kill us and our family in the name of  “loving our enemies?” Absolutely not.

The Bible is written for the real world and it speaks about the treatment of criminals. The civil government is to be a terror to those who do evil. They are given the sword to execute justice. It is their God-given ministry. (Romans 13:4)

But what about citizens who aren’t sworn officers of the law? Can they use lethal force to defend their life? Yes, because the police can’t always protect us from crime and we have the right of self-defense.

The classic text justifying self-defense is found in Exodus 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.” A homeowner has every right to assume a nocturnal intruder is a murderous one and the homeowner can justly use lethal force.

Self-defense is a God-given right. We do not have a right to let a criminal kill us or our family. Our life and the lives of our loved ones are to be properly stewarded, as they ultimately belong to God.

A criminal forfeits his own right to life by his criminal acts. The Bible teaches the state can take the life of a criminal by proper due process, but an individual can take it too if acting in self-defense. Not all killing is murder and not all violence is wrong.

Jesus actually approved of the carrying of swords, the self-defense weapon of His day, for His disciples as He sent them to minister. Jesus said,  “‘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…’  And they said, ‘Look, Lord, here are two swords.’ And he said to them, ‘It is enough.’” (Luke 22:36&38)

Some commentators struggle with this passage for various reasons, but some because they have already determined that Jesus was devoted to non-violence in every situation. Some spiritualize the use of the swords in these verses to refer to the Word of God. The problem is for that line of interpretation to be consistent we would be forced to spiritualize the moneybags and knapsacks too. That’s a bit of a stretch.

But didn’t Jesus say, “Those who take up the sword will die by the sword?” Yes He did. Let’s look at it in context. This was in the middle of the night in which Jesus was betrayed by Judas. He arrived with an armed contingent of soldiers led by the Jewish leaders.

“And behold, one of those who were with Jesus reached and drew out his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, ‘Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels? How then will the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say that it must happen this way?’”   Matthew 26:52ff

Why did one of Christ’s closest disciples have a sword in the first place if Jesus had in fact taught them they were to be unarmed and absolutely committed to non-violence in every situation? Note, Jesus did not rebuke him for having a sword, nor did Jesus say, “Throw that wicked thing away!” Rather, He simply tells him to put the sword away.

This setting was not the proper occasion for self-defense, although it sure looked like it. Innocent Jesus had legions of angels at His beck and call that He could have called upon if self-defense was the issue. The hour had finally come for Jesus to die as the Savior of the World. This is a unique historical event that is the exception, not the rule.

Jesus then said, “All those who take up the sword will die by the sword.” Obviously this is true in a general sense. Those who are in situations where the sword is constantly wielded will sooner or later be killed by it. Christ does not teach the offensive use of the sword to advance the gospel, but neither does He negate self-defense.

God and guns are not mutually exclusive. It’s not pistol-packin’ preachers that have shot up malls and buses. I’m certainly not going to put a sign on my home that tells criminals, the insane and terrorists, “Gun Free Zone; Come on in.” I don’t recommend you do either. Churches, schools and businesses etc. all need to be serious about their duty to protect the innocent life in their charge. It is God’s will that we do.

I wish we lived in a world where there was no need for self-defense, but Jesus has gone to prepare one for His own where He reigns in power as the Prince of Peace. He offers it to all whosoever will repent and believe on Him. In the meantime, we work and pray for His will to be done on earth.

Disarming ourselves and being brutalized by criminals and Jihadists is NOT His will. We need to climb out of our theological ivory towers and ask the believers who are suffering unjust persecution if they would like to be able to defend their families.

Be sure to leave your comments below.

Click here to read David R Brockman’s article.