WorldNetDaily
Monday, November 26, 2001

The Bible and self-defense
By Joseph Farah

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=25442

After my plea to Americans last week to buy firearms as a first step to
fighting terrorism, a number of Christians wrote challenging my prescription
as unbiblical, unscriptural and ungodly.

Wrong.

The Bible couldn't be clearer on the right – even the duty – we have as
believers to self-defense.

Let's start in the Old Testament.

"If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, there shall no
blood be shed for him," we are told in Exodus 22:2. The next verse says, "If
the sun be risen upon him, there shall be blood shed for him; for he should
make full restitution; if he have nothing, then he shall be sold for his
theft."

In other words, it was perfectly OK to kill a thief breaking into your
house. That's the ultimate expression of self-defense. It doesn't matter
whether the thief is threatening your life or not. You have the right to
protect your home, your family and your property, the Bible says.

The Israelites were expected to have their own personal weapons. Every man
would be summoned to arms when the nation confronted an enemy. They didn't
send in the Marines. The people defended themselves.

In 1 Samuel 25:13, we read: "And David said unto his men, Gird ye on every
man his sword. And they girded on every man his sword; and David also girded
on his sword: and there went up after David about four hundred men; and two
hundred abode by the stuff."

Every man had a sword and every man picked it up when it was required.

Judges 5:8 reminds us of what happens to a foolish nation that chooses to
disarm: "They chose new gods; then was war in the gates: was there a shield
or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel?"

The answer to the rhetorical question is clear: No. The people had rebelled
against God and put away their weapons of self-defense.

"Blessed be the LORD my strength which teacheth my hands to war, and my
fingers to fight," David writes in Psalms 144:1.

Clearly, this is not a pacifist God we serve. It's God who teaches our hands
to war and our fingers to fight. Over and over again throughout the Old
Testament, His people are commanded to fight with the best weapons available
to them at that time.

And what were those weapons? Swords.

They didn't have firearms, but they had sidearms. In fact, in the New
Testament, Jesus commanded His disciples to buy them and strap them on.
Don't believe me? Check it out.

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."

I know. I know. You biblically literate skeptics are going to cite Matthew
26:52-54 – how Jesus responded when Peter used his sword to cut off the ear
of a Roman guard: "Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his
place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently
give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the
scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?"

Read those verses in context and they support my position. Jesus told Peter
he would be committing suicide to choose a fight in this situation – as well
as undermining God's plan to allow Jesus' death on the cross and
resurrection.

Jesus told Peter to put his sword in its place – at his side. He didn't say
throw it away. After all, He had just ordered the disciples to arm
themselves. The reason for the arms was obviously to protect the lives of
the disciples, not the life of the Son of God. What Jesus was saying was:
"Peter, this is not the right time for a fight."

In the context of America's current battle – as we make plans to rebuild
after the devastation of Sept. 11 and defend ourselves at the same time – we
should recall Nehemiah, who rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem.

"They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that
laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the
other hand held a weapon," we're told in Nehemiah 4:17-18. "For the
builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded."

Any more questions, skeptics?

Joseph Farah is editor and chief executive officer of WorldNetDaily.com and
writes a daily column.

Yup.

Yessir.

Yes indeedy.

Rule of thumb -

NEVER believe ANYONE who tells you the Bible says this or that if they do not produce a Scriptural reference to back up their claims.

Well said, Mr. Farrah

D'bible runs my life too[rolleyes]

It is all true, but one  clarification. In Exodus 22:2, you are allowed to kill one who enters your home at 'night', the reasoon being that since the thief is sneaking in knowing you are asleep, there is the desire on their heart to do bodily harm, even kill you.
The T*r*h tells you to defend yourself, taking a life  only if it is immediately necessary to save you or your family. You are not permitted revenge.
That is where the confusion in the 10 commandments exists. It is not thou shall not kill, it is thou shall not murder. There must still be a reason to take a life.
According to jewish law the sanhedran can only impose the death sentence if the full 27 members agree. tey to find 27 jews to agree?
Rememberr the T*r*h, or Bible, if you desire is a living work, open to the interpetation of each generation, based on the wisdom of the last generation.

Not to intentionally insult anyone, but do you [b]really[/b] need a biblical verse to tell you that it's okay to defend yourself from those who would do you harm?