Is Gun Control the Answer to Crime?
Due to increased crimes rates in recent years, some are seeking to have their governments take serious measures to restrict the criminals from buying guns and even ban citizens from owing them. In the United States of America, the right to keep and bear arms is a fundamental right protected by the Second Amendment to the Constitution, part of the Bill of Rights. USA Citizens can legally own guns provided that they go through the proper legal procedures.
The United States of America should not ban guns because that will not deter criminals. If the government bans guns, the law-abiding citizens would not be able to defend themselves from tyranny or criminals, if they needed to. In addition to self-protection, law abiding citizen use guns for other useful purposes such as hunting.
Obviously, gun control is not the answer for a criminal would use any means available to him to carry out his evil plans. Guns are not the problem. People are the problem (Romans 3:23). The answer to the sin problems in this world is the conversion of people, which comes through accepting Jesus Christ as Lord.
Should Christians Own Guns?
Weapons in the Old Testament were used for self protection against national enemies (Numbers 10:9) and robbers (Exodus 22:2-3). The Nation of Israel had to defend its borders and land (Ecclesiastes 3:8) against their surrounding enemies. When the Nation of Israel fell to the Romans in 70 AD, believers were to submit to their governing authorities (Romans 13:1-7 and 1 Peter 2:13-17). Owning guns became a matter of personal conscious.
Did Jesus Instruct His Followers to Bear Arms?
Some say that Jesus in Luke 22:36 instructed His followers to bear arms. Jesus’ figurative language in this passage have been misunderstood. As the disciples went forth into a hostile world, they often found themselves in circumstances in which, from a worldly point of view, weapons would have been helpful. But the whole book of Acts shows no incident in which any of the disciples used, or even carried, a weapon. We can be sure that had Christ instructed them to do so, they would have.
Christ Himself the night of His betrayal when Peter tried to use a sword (Matthew 26:51–53), rebuked his rash behavior and made it clear that the believer, like his Master, is not to rely on weapons for protection. Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword” (Matthew 26:52).
And during the course of His trial Jesus said, “If my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight” (John 18:36). Earthly kingdoms are established by force of arms, but Jesus’ kingdom was not earthly. In spreading the truth, the Christian is not to resist force with force (Matthew 5:39). The desire to take the lives of those who may disagree with us is proof of the spirit of Satan, who was “a murderer from the beginning” (John 8:44). The devil, the Antichrist and their followers are the ones that use force to control others (Daniel 7:25; Revelation 13:10).
The only weapon that the Christian may feel free to use in his defense of the faith is the “sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17; Hebrews 4:12; Matthew 26:52). The power of the Scripture is the power of love and truth.
Thus, in view of Christ’s own instructions and of the New Testament record of the disciples preaching the gospel, we may conclude that Christ in Luke 22:36 was speaking figuratively. He was warning the disciples of the persecution they were to have, not of the actual use of weapons.
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
