Before guns, first seen in the 14th century AD, there were swords. Of them said Jesus to Peter, "all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword." - Matthew 26:52
So we should see that swords and guns are not simply things that destroy life. They are also things with which people keep, protect and preserve their own lives and property IN THIS PRESENT WORLD.
Yet Jesus calls us to deny ourselves and carry OUR cross every day. If we don't we are not worthy or able to follow him.
IDEALY the powers that be which God ordained are to use swords (weapons) to punish evil doers (criminals) with God's wrath and keep the world a peaceful place. Romans 13:1-7 is explicit even teaching us that taxes are to provide support for those who bear the sword (today the semi-automatic handgun). The police ARE God's servants, SERVING HIM FOR OUR BENIFIT, so that we might enjoy the peace of Christ while in this present world.
The second amendment, indeed the entire constitution, is a legal document. It is said to be written for the benefit of a "religious and moral people," that is for Christians, for the Church. But the church was already quite a divided body when it was written. The matter of Corinthian heresies addressed by Paul (1Corinthians Ch.s' 1 to 3 and Ch. 11) had not and have not stopped spreading. One can only conclude that the problems (sins) of 1st century Corinth still divide us today. Do you, do I follow Paul, Apollos or Jesus? The Pope, Luther, Calvin or Jesus? Are we overcoming Corinthian sin and Satan or overcoming each other?
"And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death." - Revelation 12:11
Life is good. But life here and now has been subjected to vanity. - Romans 8:20 All have sinned. But Jesus has saved (some). He has not saved us to live in eternal vanity. He calls us to pray for his Father's will to be done here and now as it is there and now in heaven. There are no guns in heaven. Nothing in the heaven dies; nothing in heaven is killed. Heaven is eternally safe from all evil.
"Now, if anyone is enfolded into Christ, he has become an entirely new creation. All that is related to the old order has vanished. Behold, everything is fresh and new. And God has made all things new, and reconciled us to himself, and given us the ministry of reconciling others to God. In other words, it was through the Anointed One that God was shepherding the world, not even keeping records of their transgressions, and he has entrusted to us the ministry of opening the door of reconciliation to God. We are ambassadors of the Anointed One who carry the message of Christ to the world, as though God were tenderly pleading with them directly through our lips. So we tenderly plead with you on Christ’s behalf, 'Turn back to God and be reconciled to him.' For God made the only one who did not know sin to become sin for us, so that we who did not know righteousness might become the righteousness of God through our union with him." - 2 Corinthians 5:14-21
God gave Paul and the apostles the ministry of reconciliation. Did God give Paul a sword to serve that calling? No. But God did give Paul instructions for us to obey the powers that he God ordained for his purposes. Romans 13:1-7. Peter also gave us those same instructions. 1Peter 2:13-17.
"Christ’s resurrection is your resurrection too. This is why we are to yearn for all that is above, for that’s where Christ sits enthroned at the place of all power, honor, and authority! Yes, feast on all the treasures of the heavenly realm and fill your thoughts with heavenly realities, and not with the distractions of the natural realm. Your crucifixion with Christ has severed the tie to this life, and now your true life is hidden away in God in Christ. And as Christ himself is seen for who he really is, who you really are will also be revealed, for you are now one with him in his glory! Live as one who has died..." - Colossians 3:5
"Set your mind (KJV "affections") on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. - Colossians 3:2 (NASB)
What shall it profit me if I live to gain what "the gentiles run after?"
The way to heaven is not by the sword or gun.
Nevertheless God calls and ordains those who bear arms to SERVE HIM for OUR GOOD.
For many years I considered the idea that a Christian should never enter the army or become a policeman or police woman. Now I see that as difficult as those vocations are they are indeed honorable. Ideally those who bear arms should have God's authority and act in obedience to his word. Consider how John the Baptist responded to the soldiers who questioned him. But lost is the understanding of God's purpose for legal governing authorities to punishment criminals on earth today. Satan is a deceiver and many are deceived in their condemnation of the military and the police today. Satan's goal is always to steal, kill and destroyed. But that is not God's design in ordaining military and police forces. That holds true in every nation.
Why then is there so much corruption in government, the military and the police throughout the world? Why is it increasing here in the United States? Could it be in part because Christian people are opposed or reluctant to serve in the military and police forces? I think yes. But a larger problem is our understanding of the selfless life we are called to live for the Lord Jesus Christ in every vocation he approves, including the Armed Forces, the police force, the courts and the prisons.
Will we (I) lose our (my) carnal life and find eternal life in Christ? Satan would be very happy if we (I) would not. Sadly it seems many in the church will live to prove their doctrine rather than seek and reveal the Spirit and Power of Christ.
Before he was crucified, just after he rebuked Peter for cutting off a man's ear, Jesus asked, "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? - Matthew 26:53
If Father had delivered Jesus from the cross where would we be?
What part of God's will for my life would I circumvent by calling twelve legions of of angels? What part of God's will for my life or another's life would I circumvent by use of my sword, pistol or rifle?
What might happen in a city if half or more of its police force were Christian men and women? What might happen if more and more Christian people ran for public office? And a really pointed question is what might happen in the church if more sought the honor of becoming a teacher, pastor, evangelist, prophet or apostle? What might happen if more in the church studied their Bible with the certainly true presupposition that God knows more about right and wrong then they do?
Can conservatives admit that God knows better than they who is allowed to use firearms under his authority? Can liberals admit that God has ordained governing powers throughout the Earth to serve his purposes?
Sadly we resemble Israel in the days of the Judges when "EVERY MAN did that which was right in his own eyes." Our experience should teach us what the Bible does, only God truly knows what is right and what is wrong; what is good and what is evil. Humanity since Adam sinned not able to know this either and ONLY God can teach us the difference.
