The Second Amendment-3: God’s View
  What I personally find earth-shaking when pondering today’s culture wars is the nearly complete propensity of Christians--‘NOT’ to use God’s Word in their interactions with liberals!! Because the liberal view is so often anti-God, anti-Christ, and anti-Bible, it is no surprise their opinions completely ignore God and His Word (Bible). However, while the conservative view ‘normally’ originates from General Revelation1--which refers to the laws of God created in nature—tragically, even conservatives do not often enough use the Bible (Special Revelation)—to support their contentions!
  But why should the Word of God be used in the culture wars? Because the Bible possesses inherent power(Heb4:12)!! Because the Word of God sets the captive free(Jn8:31,32)!! Because the entrance of God’s Word brings light (Ps119:30)!!! In other words, the Bible directly answers every problem or offers the principle to determine God’s will in every situation!
 
  So, what does the Bible contend regarding the “Second Amendment’s” right to possess a firearm?
 
  First, the Bible declares that God created ‘hell’(Mat25:41) which is His righteous judgment of death on sin. Therefore, it was God Who created the potential of spiritual death on sin (Gen2:17; Deut30:19), imposing its penalty (Rom6:28) on those who reject Him(2Thes1:7-9). In other words, the idea of death as a penalty began with God.
  Second, because man is a sinner (Rom3:23), we do not wait long before we see the manifestation of this ‘death’ in the Biblical text! For example, the consequence of ‘death’ that occurred when Adam and Eve sinned (Rom5:12) included their instantaneous spiritual death and subsequent physical death, climaxing in the spiritual and physical death of all mankind (Rom5:18-19)!!
  Third, within the spiritual death resulting from Adam’s sin, the ‘sin nature’ of man was conceived, meaning mankind is born in sin(Ps51:5). In that ‘sin nature’ of man resides violence and destruction toward all God’s creation, especially mankind, as evidenced by the first recorded murder of Abel by Cain—within one generation!!!
  However, as we learned in part two of this tidbit series on the Second Amendment, when the God who cannot die created all life, He created inherent to that life the power of self-preservation, from which organically flows self-defense. Very simply, all living things possess the desire to continue their lives!
  For example, regarding mankind we see God’s provision for protection in: 1.God’s creation of angels sent to protect man(Ps34:7; Ps91:11;Dan12:1); 2.the wisdom of God provided to protect our souls (Ps1:1-4; 3Jn2); and 3.the mandate to “take dominion” over the earth(Gen1:26-28), from which mankind creates not only clothing and shelter for protection but also physical weapons derived from the earth to defend himself from other men and dangerous animals.
  Let’s move forward now to other Biblical passages (Special Revelation) that teach God’s view on weapons. 
 The Bible’s Protection mandate:   
1.God promise to be mankind’s protector (Gen15:1; Ps91:4)
More Scripture on Self-Defense*
2.Rom12:18- “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men”. This verse is the ultimate self-defense Biblical principle for existing with men with sin natures(Ps37:32).
3.Pro25:26- “A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.” Instead of defending against evil, this passage speaks to appeasement of evil; of not recognizing evil; or not standing against evil.
 
The Bible’s assumption of arms, or the direct mention of arms
The Bible’s war mandate
4.Exodus 15:3: God is called a “man of war”. Wars are fought with weapons to defend self or others.
5.One of God’s immutable names is ‘The Lord of Hosts’ which means “The Lord of armies” (Ps24:10; Ps46:7). This teaches Jesus leads armies into battle. Armies possess arms.
6.Michael the archangel is known in Christendom as the angel of war (Dan10:13,21;12:1). Of course, in war lives are taken by the opposition.
  Furthermore, when Michael fights the dragon, the war occurs ‘in heaven’(Rev12:7). Because weapons are required to fight wars, does this imply there are weapons in heaven? Obviously, the answer is YES! Yet, if this is true, from where did the weapons originate considering that he is fighting in heaven? Again, does heaven allow weapons?
7.Is37:35,36. The angel of the Lord (probably Michael) killed 185,000 soldiers in one night, did he use a weapon to take that many lives? I ask again, if the archangel used a weapon, from where did he get it? And why would he need a weapon in heaven, in God’s very presence?
 
Abraham’s militia.
8.Gen14:1-16. Four kings abducted Lot, and Abraham warred against them with 318 men from his own household. Genesis 14:14 in the KJV says Abraham “armed” the men. This means he possessed the arms in order to arm them. In addition, all Bible versions declare his men were “trained”; but trained by whom, and for what? The obvious answer is trained for war or trained to kill…using a weapon.
  Second, Abraham is called the “father of faith” (Rom4:11,12; Gal3:6). If he is the father of faith, and faith includes passivism, how is Gen14:1-16 to be interpreted?
 
Jesus’ Own Words
9.Matthew 10:34- “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.” This passage declares a purpose for Jesus coming to the earth… yet, it also clearly and irrefutably advocates in behalf of arms! I repeat, Jesus instructed us to use arms!!!
10.Luke 22:36- “Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one!” Jesus commands the purchase of a sword, which means--like the Second Amendment—the Bible teaches arms ownership!!
 
The Apostles
11.John 18:10 “Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus” Matt26:51-52; Mk14:47). Peter was armed with a sword in the presence of Jesus!
12.Luke 22:49 – “When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword?” In other words, the word “they” refers to either ‘some’, or ‘all’ of Jesus’ disciples. In other words, not only Peter but either ‘some’ or ‘all’ of Jesus’ disciples carried swords!!!
 
  Two final points:
i.The disciples/apostles carried swords, not knives. Although I love the movie series “Chosen”, however they depict the apostles’ carrying knives. On the contrary, the Greek word in Luke 22:49 means “sword”.
ii.However, the most amazing part of the Jn18:10 and Lu22:49 passages is that the Apostles were in a prayer meeting! I repeat, the apostles brought their swords to Jesus’ prayer meeting!!!
 
  In conclusion, all of the scripture and points of this 3-part tidbit series are secondary to ‘spiritual warfare’ (Eph6:10-18) God commands us to first wage against Satan (1Pet5:8;2Cor10:4) and his emissaries, using the Word of God in our mouths(Heb4:12)!
  My ultimate objective in the 3 Tidbits of this series is to help unveil the Biblical roots of our Founder’s Second Amendment!!   
 
* I highly recommend reading about the Bombardier Beetle. It possesses one of the most amazing systems of self-defense in all of God’s creation—possessing mind-boggling complexity. Yet, it was God who created this insect with a natural self-defense---that emanates from self-preservation!!
 
Quotebit
"Any human anywhere will blossom in a hundred unexpected talents and capacities simply by being given the opportunity to do so." -Doris Lessing

  There are at least two sources of revelation from God to man. First, Special Revelation is God revealing Himself through the Bible. Second, General Revelation is God revealing Himself in/through His creation(Rom1:20).
   Let’s begin with the creation, i.e.General Revelation, to elucidate the law of nature: self-defense. When God created all things (Col1:16), He created from Himself. In short, this means because God has a nature, when He created, He created all things with a ‘nature’! Because God behaves according to His nature, we can determine how God behaves by studying His nature. Furthermore, we can also learn about God through studying the behavior of His creation. In other words, all beings or things, animate or inanimate, behave according to their God-determined natures—beginning with God Himself (2Timothy 2:13).
   For example, a dog’s nature creates the following four behaviors:  
1.barks
2.loyalty
3.loves unconditionally
4.protect
 
   Even out of the sight of a dog, when a bark is heard, one does not think of an alligator, or a crab, or an insect. As a matter of fact, a dog’s bark is so natural and unique that one can determine not only the presence of a dog, but the size of the dog. When small dogs bark, we call it a ‘yap’. When large dogs bark, they possess a deep, guttural, powerful sound that is often recognizable from great distances. In many cases, a dog barks because it encounters a person or animal it is uncertain of! Therefore, a dog barks to warn or protect…which is the dog’s nature!
  Regarding protection, there are at least two laws of nature created inside all of God’s creation:
1.Self-preservation
2.Self-defense
 
   One-time my friend had a pet parakeet bird and it escaped its cage and flew up to the corner of the room. I reached up and grabbed it with my bare hand before it could fly away…and it bit me! After I screamed in pain and let go, it flew out of the room so I could never touch it again. This is an example of self-preservation; then self-defense; then self-preservation again. When it escaped it was preserving itself; when it bit me it was defending itself; when it flew out of the room it was preserving itself…again!!!
   But where did the dog and the parakeet learn such behavior? Who taught them? On the contrary, both laws of self-preservation and self-defense are written into the genes of all living things. Therefore, the dog and the parakeet did not have to be trained--God created them from His own nature of protection(Ps34:7; Ps91)!    
   Because humans are created by the same God, the laws of self-preservation and self-defense are also found written into our natures. For example, nearly every child encounters a ‘bully’ at some point in their school experience. Their first reaction is to flee. However, every person intuitively understands a ‘bully’ feeds on his victim’s fear. Therefore, it is common knowledge that the only way to stop a bully is for him/her to encounter some sort of penalty in response to his/her ‘bullying’. Three methods of restraining bullying are:
        1.Appealing to either the parents of the bully, or school authorities
          to intervene and impose  a penalty on the bully; or
        2.Have a friend or another person intercede1 in behalf of the victim;
           or
        3.The victim rises up and imposes some sort of pain on the bully2!
All three responses, with special emphasis on point 3--is self-defense!
   Remember, from boxing, to wrestling, to Karate, to Taekwondo, up to and including war, self-defense has been, and is still taught all over the world in every nation and people group…which is why it is written on the human heart!
  Christians have even created “Just War” principles to govern what is moral and immoral in war!!  But why? Because both self-preservation and self-defense are laws written on the genes of every human to combat the sin nature of man!
   Therefore, because of their Christian worldview, the Framers understood that human nature is evil:
           “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked:
              who can know  it?”   -Jer 17:9(KJV)
And
            “…but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin”  (NAS)   
            “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good
              dwells…” (NKJV)    -Rom7:14  
 
  Therefore, the Bill of Rights establishes within the authority of civil law, the rights of its citizens to the protections of: self-preservation, and second: self-defense!! I repeat, these are innate and God-created in mankind!!3 Therefore, the Second Amendment--which is an individual right--is the natural end of the two laws of nature written on every human heart. Therefore, the possession of a fire-arm is ‘THE’ greatest natural deterrent to the evil of the human sin nature! Even a young, 250-pound muscled former line-backer will ‘press-the-pause-button’ on a 100 pound, very feminine woman in high heels…at even the thought of her gun! Why? Two reasons:
1.Her self-defense!
2.His self-preservation!
 
Thank-God for our Founding Fathers!!!
 
Amen..and so be it!!!!
 
 
1.Confronting the bully with either words or physically
2.Normally, a bully is not discouraged by the mere words of his/her victim. This confrontation is normally physical.
3.Although the police, which are government representatives, play an indispensable and irreplaceable role in discouraging man’s sin nature, if someone breaks into your house, there is no injunction by God to wait for the police to arrive!!! Why? Every human has a God-given right to self-preservation! Can any man honestly say, if a man breaks into his 7-year old’s daughter’s room at night, and she screams “Daddy help!”, that that man will respond, “Ok…everyone calm down, while I call the police!”?!?!?!?! No father (or mother) on earth, nor in history, would react that way!
 
Quotebit
You will either stand for Jesus, or you will stand for all He died to repudiate.    -George Barna