Traveling with a group.

I am going to open a great big can of worms here, and toss in a smoke grenade to drive them out....but I have to ask...

Why does becoming a Christian have any affect on possessing/shooting firearms or carrying them for self-protection?

when you come up with something good, it's good :D
 
yeah, lcdr, we all saw that! But who could imagine that an O-4 would want to open up any cans of worms?

:sarcastic:

you see my grin, right!
 
Being a Christian and owning/shooting firearms is fine. But, as a Christian I will not physically harm another person.
 
Malachi, I am also a Christian. I would never want to harm another person - and I know that I would suffer emotionally and spiritually if I ever had to do it, but knowing that wouldn't stop me from protecting my family from someone who means them harm.

I can say from experience that pulling the trigger - or even unholstering a sidearm - changes a person.

I'm sure this subject isn't the intention for your original post, but I think we'd welcome a discussion on the subject. The intersection between Christianity and the use of lethal force is a subject worth discussing on a different thread.
 
Being a Christian and owning/shooting firearms is fine. But, as a Christian I will not physically harm another person.

Something to think about, Malachi....how would you feel if your family was attacked, especially if it were possible that you could have done something with a firearm to stop the attack?

True story: I left for work one morning at 4:45. They/he were watching my house. They came in my back yard and my dogs chased them out of the back yard. They must have thought I had locked the dogs in the back yard because then they kicked the front door of my house in and entered. My wife was about 20 yards straight in from the front door and screamed. The dogs came in through the doggie door and chased the bad guy(s) out of the house.

Now, just change the scenario to something similar happening when you are present. Or, a situation like Luby's Cafeteria or IHOP where a gunman comes in and starts shooting people. Are you just going to pray while you watch people being shot and killed around you? What about as the gunman works his way towards you and his family?
 
How can anyone enter the strong man's house and carry off his property, unless he first binds the strong man? Matthew 12:29 A little out of context, but you get the point.
And didn't David go out and slay Goliath?
There are a bazzilion of these in bible. Yeah, I know... Turn the other cheek is there too. I'm not a saint, just a man! :redface:

You can always read Psalms 82.
 
Yeah, I know... Turn the other cheek is there too. I'm not a saint, just a man! :redface:

You can always read Psalms 82.

Turn the other cheek means to not repay evil with evil, it has nothing to do with keeping yourself or keeping your family helpless victims or defending yourself and your family from evil. I can't imagine looking my wife or daughter in the eye and telling her, "Honey, I have the means, knowledge and even training to be able to protect you with....but I won't."
 
Exactly who do you think God has entrusted the responsibility to protect your family to? The bad guy with a gun? Or you with a gun? For me... just for me... answering that question opened a whole new world of understanding of what God is all about.

A hypothetical conversation between a victim of a violent crime.. and God.....

"God.. Why did you send this bad man to us? Why did you let him tie me up and make me watch him rape my wife and daughter? Why did you let him kill my son?"

And God said...

"Why didn't you grow balls and step up to your responsibility to protect your family by shooting that evil man with the gun I made sure was invented?"

Moral of story... don't wait for God to do what He expects you to do for yourself.
 
"Why didn't you grow balls and step up to your responsibility to protect your family by shooting that evil man with the gun I made sure was invented?"

and that God provided for you the means to carry!

It's like the guy that drowned in the flood waiting for God to save him, when he asked God why he drowned, God said, "I sent you a row boat, I sent you the Coast Guard, I sent you a rescue helicopter, what more did you expect me to do?"

I knew this was going to be a can of worms.
 
I dunno Navy. I think most people who have sat down and given it some serious thought have come to the conclusion that if they or their family is under attack, they will do anything to stop it. If I came home and found some $%%# raping my wife, he'd be a dead man. Whether by gun, baseball bat, machete or me crushing his throat with my bare hand, nothing but death would stop me until he was completely unable to carry on an attack. I'm not gonna stand there and ask him to stop, I'm gonna bash his head in. God is my savior, redeemer, provider, advocate and protector, and I believe he models with his character what he expects from a father. My role as a husband and father is to provide for and protect my family. Part of protecting my family means being willing and prepared to injure or kill someone in defense.
 
NavyLCDR:313181 said:
Yeah, I know... Turn the other cheek is there too. I'm not a saint, just a man! :redface:

You can always read Psalms 82.

Turn the other cheek means to not repay evil with evil, it has nothing to do with keeping yourself or keeping your family helpless victims or defending yourself and your family from evil.

"Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;"

Those are the words of Christ himself. He's making it clear that, while under old testament law it was not only ok to kill in self defense, but even commanded by God at times. But, now under the Gospel, where Christ has come to condemn sin in the flesh, we have a higher calling to show that Divine Love is stronger than carnal hatred. Remember, it was Stephen's power to say " Lord, lay not this sin to their charge." that melted the heart of Saul, not his skill with the sword.

Also, consider that anyone raping my wife or trying to kill me or my family is obviously not a Christian and will be lost in Hell if killed in the act. How can I love my enemy and yet assist him in going to Hell? Had Stephen killed Saul in justified self defense then Saul would have never been converted and we all would have suffered from the loss of his writings.

I have no biblical authority to decide which life is more important, my child's or his murderer's.

Yes, it would be heart trending to witness that and not be able to stop it, but that is where " He giveth more Grace".

Now, I'll add this. If I can stop the violence without violence, ex: wrestling the perp to ground, tying him up, even sacrificing my life while the victim escapes." I will do so.


Take some time to study the life and teachings of Christ, get a King James Bible, and a dictionary if you have trouble understanding it, and then tell me which part of his teaching advocates defending yourself.
 
Yes, it would be heart trending to witness that and not be able to stop it, but that is where " He giveth more Grace".

Now, I'll add this. If I can stop the violence without violence, ex: wrestling the perp to ground, tying him up, even sacrificing my life while the victim escapes." I will do so.


Take some time to study the life and teachings of Christ, get a King James Bible, and a dictionary if you have trouble understanding it, and then tell me which part of his teaching advocates defending yourself.

I hope your family never has to be the victim of your decision. You have made a conscious choice, you deserve to live with the consequences, I have no sympathy for you.
 
I saw this and I was about to go to bed...

I am sure many will agree with my response to Malachi...and if you sir, decided to take it as a joke and you respond with your uneducated guess, you are putting this person in a bind. Will you answer to that? Troll!

Annoy me? Link Removed
Ignore the ankle-biter. Your original advice was "spot-on."
 
I commend you for strong convictions. I do not agree with your interpretation of scripture, but will not argue the point on a public forum. I have no such agenda. Feel free to PM me if you'd like.
 
Tucker's Mom:312591 said:
. If you had taken the time to fill up your profile and put in your location, your question would have been more properly answered.

Sorry mom, I meant to respond to this earlier, but had to verify the accuracy of my response.

I only have access to this forum via the Android app, and the developer failed to incorporate the ability to fill in your profile via the app.

Hope you will forgive me.
 
Sorry mom, I meant to respond to this earlier, but had to verify the accuracy of my response.

I only have access to this forum via the Android app, and the developer failed to incorporate the ability to fill in your profile via the app.

Hope you will forgive me.
OK...this will be very quick as I have tons to do today with my work. I need the little break anyway...

There is nothing to forgive...you are not doing me anything wrong...I also have an android but I only use it when I am out and about and I do not have my hubby's stupid IPad or my stupid laptop. My desktop accesses three monitors so I can multitask in one...:smile:

I am not asking you to put your location because of me...it is because in this forum if you ask a question and the replies might relates to laws, rules and regulations, even if you mention your location in your first email, not everyone will remember it on your succeeding posts. I only mention it for ease of replying by me or other people who may want to give their input to your post. Sorry, I have to translate my English most of the time in my head so I cannot really convey what I mean to say sometimes...

You take care on your trip, OK?
 
"Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;"

Those are the words of Christ himself. He's making it clear that, while under old testament law it was not only ok to kill in self defense, but even commanded by God at times. But, now under the Gospel, where Christ has come to condemn sin in the flesh, we have a higher calling to show that Divine Love is stronger than carnal hatred. Remember, it was Stephen's power to say " Lord, lay not this sin to their charge." that melted the heart of Saul, not his skill with the sword.

Also, consider that anyone raping my wife or trying to kill me or my family is obviously not a Christian and will be lost in Hell if killed in the act. How can I love my enemy and yet assist him in going to Hell? Had Stephen killed Saul in justified self defense then Saul would have never been converted and we all would have suffered from the loss of his writings.

I have no biblical authority to decide which life is more important, my child's or his murderer's.

Yes, it would be heart trending to witness that and not be able to stop it, but that is where " He giveth more Grace".

Now, I'll add this. If I can stop the violence without violence, ex: wrestling the perp to ground, tying him up, even sacrificing my life while the victim escapes." I will do so.


Take some time to study the life and teachings of Christ, get a King James Bible, and a dictionary if you have trouble understanding it, and then tell me which part of his teaching advocates defending yourself.

Well Malichi - I definitely understand where you are coming from. I think context needs to be revisited for these verses. I have given that section serious thought. I read the context in that I, being a Christian, am trying to win them over to Christ. I don't believe your lack of defense would apply here. There are several items Christ says to do, including turn the other cheek. I see nothing regarding sacrificing your life for that venture. It does say in Matt 5:21 Thou shall not commit murder. There are numerous bibles and concordances that will give you the actual meaning of the words. Having a Translator built in on the I-pad is hugely helpful. The last place I would look is at a KJV though.
At any rate, that is the end of my debate.
For reference: I am nothing more than a sinner, saved by Grace. And not a very good one at that. Thank God it cannot be taken away.
Enough preaching/proselytizing , this isn't the religious forum. But I love the chance!
 

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