As Christians, our primary citizenship is the Kingdom of
Heaven, but as citizens of the United States we also enjoy all the rights and privileges
that being an American entails. As
Christians, our faith and beliefs are under constant attack by an unbelieving
world, and as Americans, the rise of terrorism and rights to national and
personal/ self-defense are of significant concern. We must not shy away from defending the faith,
so why would we hesitate to also defend our own lives and that of our families’? This last Friday, 12/4/2015, Chancellor Jerry
Falwell Jr. of Liberty University made remarks promoting carrying concealed firearms
on campus for self-defense and preventing terrorism/ attacks. He admitted that his statement was not the
best phrased but the intent of what he meant is understood by all those with basic
common sense. Some in the media,
political figures, and even some Christians have twisted his intent and others
are using this opportunity to promote universal pacifism amongst Christians.
There is a solid article on the Liberty University splash-page
written by Professor Dr. Daniel Howell in defense of Jerry Falwell Jr.’s
remarks: http://www.liberty.edu/index.cfm?PID=18495&MID=178981
As a ministry leader with ties to Thomas Road Baptist
Church and Liberty University, I feel the need to add a few extra remarks to the
above linked article. Please understand that
these are my opinions and affirmations based on my Christian convictions,
understanding of what it means to be an American citizen, and background/ life
experiences.
To begin with it is important to analyze what the Bible
says in regards to self-defense and there is no better authority than our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ.
Luke 22:35) And He (Jesus) said to them, “When I sent you
out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said,
“Nothing.” 36) 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. 37) For I tell you
that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: ‘And He was numbered with the
transgressors.’ For what is written
about me has its fulfillment.” 38) And
they said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords.” And He said to them, “It is enough.”
Obviously, swords were the primary weapons of lethal defense
and warfare in the Ancient Near East, just like firearms and knives (pocket/
hunting/ combat) are today. Jewish men
carried swords that were basically large daggers and sometimes were concealed
and other times visible. Those swords
served as protection as well as a tool for cutting and so forth. There are many theologians who state that the
mentioning of swords in Luke is spiritual, not literal, but that argument has difficulty
in that all the other items mentioned are literal. Additionally, Jesus knew that His disciples carried
swords and never rebuked them throughout all their time together. His rebuke of Peter’s use of the sword in
cutting off the High Priest’s servant’s ear (Lk. 22:49-51) was in relation to
furthering the Kingdom through force.
Jesus never states that self-defense is wrong. The turning the other cheek argument from
Matthew 5:39 in context relates to escalating conflicts and retaliation, not
self-defense.
This leads to the argument of the rights of each and
every American. The Second Amendment
gives the right to bear arms to all citizens of America and it is noteworthy
that all firearms at the time of the Declaration of Independence, and more
importantly The Constitution, were considered military weapons in that many citizens
brought their own private firearms with them to battle. Basically, back then there were only two
types of long-arms, smoothbore muskets and rifles. The rifles were much more accurate but took a
whole lot longer to load and the smoothbore muskets were the standard weapon of
armies and terribly inaccurate (that is why the armies just lined up across
from each other to fight). Of course,
firearm ownership today must be limited in the sense that felons, drug addicts,
mentally unstable, dishonorable discharged from the armed forces, and so forth
should not own or carry, that is common sense.
In regards to concealed carry, each state in America has
the power to regulate it. I currently live
in Virginia, which is a shall-issue state with some training requirements and a
background check before receiving a concealed handgun permit. Other states like Idaho, Nebraska, and Washington
State are also shall-issue and have some more requirements like fingerprinting
and proficiency tests. Then, there are
states like New Jersey, where it is nearly impossible for civilians to get a
concealed permit. For those of us who
live in states that are shall-issue, we have the right to carry once we satisfy
the training requirements (if any), pass the background check, and are obeying
the laws of our state and federal law such as not carrying in airports,
courthouses, etc. Therefore, there should
be no quarrels with citizens who are qualified and licensed by the laws of
their state and federal firearm laws who exercise their right to carry a
concealed firearm. Remember, the key
word here is concealed, hence most people never know who is or not carrying a
firearm because it is not easily visible!
All this means that if a Christian desires to legally own
or carry a firearm, they should not be harassed or looked down upon and on the
other side all Christians who do not desire to own or carry firearms should be
equally respected. This is a personal
conviction and decision.
Now, but what about all these young college kids having
guns on campus, won’t they start shooting their professors and fellow students
because they are immature? First of all,
they are not kids, they are at least twenty one years old and have, at least in
Virginia, gone through training and their backgrounds have been checked before
receiving a concealed handgun permit. The
federal law says that at eighteen a person is an adult and at twenty one they
are mature enough to legally consume alcohol.
An eighteen year old can own a long arm (hunting rifle, shotgun, etc.)
but not a handgun by federal law until twenty one (there are a few exceptions). Again, this comes down to being a bestowed right
as a United States citizen that each individual person needs to personally
decide if they are going to utilize or not.
In closing, do you know that you do not have the right to
drive/ operate a motor vehicle as an American citizen? It is only a privilege given or taken away,
where owning firearms is a right protected by federal law, which can be lost, but
our Founding Fathers listed it right after Freedom of Speech, because they
realized its extreme importance.
P.S. I used to work as the assistant store manager at a
sporting goods store and was directly in charge of firearm sales while also
being directly accountable to the ATF, DOJ, FBI, and local and state governing bodies
if there was ever a mistake, if a gun was used in a crime and originally
purchased from my store, surprise inspections, and on and on. Also, permanent residents can legally
purchase firearms, but for the arguments of this post, I decided to stay within
the confines of citizens’ rights.
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