Bible quote / Reply to anti Gun zealot

[harbormaster]

A good friend and I should not refer to him as a zealot we simply disagree. I'm happy to say we disagree and remain friends. He is a high school classmate, we've known each other almost 40 years. We played high school sports, we went to the same church, and I know he's a Believer.

He posted on fakebook a cyptic post about God and Guns. He was agitated that someone put guns into an image of the cross and perpetuated the need for guns in God's world. He chastised the gun owner for doing so and mocked gun owners for their "lack of faith."

I replied with this quote from the bible which I searched for and did not know:

believers are also encouraged to defend themselves “against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” Ephesians 6:12, NIV

Was that the best I could do in response? Is there a better verse or statement that would serve my point of view better?

[Wordupmybrotha]

You misquoted that scripture and also took it out of context.
That verse has nothing to do with guns or physical self-defense.

That verse is about putting on a spiritual armor to fight against spiritual forces.

[Wordupmybrotha]

Nehemiah 4:15-17
15When our enemies heard that we were aware of their scheme and that God had frustrated it, each of us returned to his own work on the wall. 16And from that day on, half of my servants did the work while the other half held spears, shields, bows, and armor. The officers stationed themselves behind all the people of Judah 17who were rebuilding the wall. The laborers who carried materials worked with one hand and held a weapon with the other.…

Nehemiah had faith in God AND carried weapons to accomplish his mission.

[Barang]

^^^ what he said. these are more relevant answers you are looking for.

Exodus 22:2 nkjv
If the thief is found breaking in, and he is struck so that he dies, there shall be no guilt for his bloodshed.

Psalm 144:1 nkjv
Blessed be the Lord my Rock, Who trains my hands for war, And my fingers for battle.

Luke 11:21 nkjv
When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace.

[Tikka3x]

A non biblical answer is that Jesus's disciples carried swords, the modern day firearm at the time and He never denounced them.

[Maltese Falcon]

Originally Posted by Barang

^^^ what he said. these are more relevant answers you are looking for.

Exodus 22:2 nkjv
If the thief is found breaking in, and he is struck so that he dies, there shall be no guilt for his bloodshed.

Psalm 144:1 nkjv
Blessed be the Lord my Rock, Who trains my hands for war, And my fingers for battle.

Luke 11:21 nkjv
When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace.

I like! Goes with going feral.

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[Barang]

Originally Posted by harbormaster

A good friend and I should not refer to him as a zealot we simply disagree. I'm happy to say we disagree and remain friends. He is a high school classmate, we've known each other almost 40 years. We played high school sports, we went to the same church, and I know he's a Believer.

He posted on fakebook a cyptic post about God and Guns. He was agitated that someone put guns into an image of the cross and perpetuated the need for guns in God's world. He chastised the gun owner for doing so and mocked gun owners for their "lack of faith."

I replied with this quote from the bible which I searched for and did not know:

i agree with him regarding guns put into an image of the cross. i also see some images of Jesus holding a rifle. God is holy and adding or altering the image is irreverent and unholy.
but for chastising and mocking gun owners for lacking faith, tell him to read about king david, joshua, moses, samson and others who fought using weapons against their enemies.

[Barang]

Originally Posted by Maltese Falcon

I like! Goes with going feral.

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God had done it before (noah's time, lot's time) and He will do it again during great tribulation. and then the white throne judgement where He sends all the wicked ungodly men to their final home.

very scary thought but the evil wicked people are holding their fists high against God defiantly!

[Pandanin]

Joel 3:9-11, Proclaim this among the nations: “Prepare for war; rouse the mighty men; let all the men of war advance and attack! Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weak say, ‘I am strong!’ Come quickly, all you surrounding nations, and gather yourselves.

[Maltese Falcon]

Originally Posted by Barang

God had done it before (noah's time, lot's time) and He will do it again during great tribulation. and then the white throne judgement where He sends all the wicked ungodly men to their final home.

very scary thought but the evil wicked people are holding their fists high against God defiantly!

Thank you. Not a particularly religious man myself but I can sense we got to go “biblical” on these POSs sooner rather than later.

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[Sailormilan2]

Originally Posted by Tikka3x

A non biblical answer is that Jesus's disciples carried swords, the modern day firearm at the time and He never denounced them.

He actually told them go and buy one.
Luk 22:35
Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you out to preach the Good News and you did not have money, a traveler’s bag, or an extra pair of sandals, did you need anything?”
“No,” they replied.
Luk 22:36
“But now,” he said, “take your money and a traveler’s bag. And if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one!

Try this article:

https://www.gunowners.org/fs9902/?fb...AUU6F6VO3q65B4

[tsmithson]

Put on the whole armor of God…
The sword of faith…

Prepare every needful thing…

Revelation 12:7 There was War in Heaven…

The truth is until a righteous saint has faith and power given him to call down the powers of Heaven and move mountains in the defense of innocent women and children….He better rely on listening and obeying the Holy Ghost for protection and his sword/guns when called upon to use them.

Every Righteous American Male should be ready to defend his home, town, county, state and country at a moment’s notice.
Men and women who wear skirts can stay with the children.

[Garand Hunter]

Ditto !

Psalm 1

[Maltese Falcon]

Originally Posted by tsmithson

Put on the whole armor of God…
The sword of faith…
Prepare every needful thing.

Every Righteous American Male should be ready to defend his home, town, county, state and country at a moment’s notice.
Men and women who wear skirts can stay with the children.

I actually like women in skirts when appropriate. Male you use that word loosely hard to figure out gender modalities anymore nowadays. Most are worthless pieces of trash from my perspective but whatever.

EDIT: I take last statement back . You show up for work rain or shine counts big in my book.

Everyone is so hyperbolic. You never know what the person in front of you is like, but you start wary and alert, then you can relax.

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[Barang]

Originally Posted by Maltese Falcon

Thank you. Not a particularly religious man myself but I can sense we got to go “biblical” on these POSs sooner rather than later.

.

forget being religious, focus on Jesus and accept Him as your Lord and Savior if you haven't done so.

prepare yourself for even worst to come, a worldwide delusion, depravity and violence. Jesus gave us these warnings so that we are not caught off guard when these things happen.

your faith in Him is the hope that you will rest on until the appointed time when God says "ENOUGH". rest assured that no one will escape His judgement, it is coming and will be a fearful day for ungodly wicked people.

if you don't read your Bible regularly, you can set a day and commit to read one chapter or two as a start and go from there. fix your attention and eyes on the Word of God and you'll be able to withstand and understand what's going on in our wicked world.

[Wordupmybrotha]

Originally Posted by tsmithson

Put on the whole armor of God…
The sword of faith…

Actually, it's the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God and shield of faith.

[Garand Hunter]

Great replies Bros !

Psalm 1

[ZapThyCat]

1 Timothy 5:8 - But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Wouldn't you say that part of "providing for" is "protecting"?

[RandyD]

Originally Posted by harbormaster

A good friend and I should not refer to him as a zealot we simply disagree. I'm happy to say we disagree and remain friends. He is a high school classmate, we've known each other almost 40 years. We played high school sports, we went to the same church, and I know he's a Believer.

He posted on fakebook a cyptic post about God and Guns. He was agitated that someone put guns into an image of the cross and perpetuated the need for guns in God's world. He chastised the gun owner for doing so and mocked gun owners for their "lack of faith."

I replied with this quote from the bible which I searched for and did not know:

believers are also encouraged to defend themselves “against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” Ephesians 6:12, NIV

Was that the best I could do in response? Is there a better verse or statement that would serve my point of view better?

I don't read the NIV. Instead, I read the New King James Version. The NKJV for Ephesians 6:12 states it differently. " For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of [c]the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."

I agree with your friend that putting a gun with a cross is inappropriate. Too many people are making firearms an idol. An idol is anything you put before God.

Weapons have a place in our society just as they had a place in Old Testament times. The OT contains references to slings, arrows, swords, and other weapons. My favorite Bible verses on weapons are Luke 22:36; "Then He said to them, “But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one." and Luke 22:38; "So they said, “Lord, look, here are two swords.”"

[TrailerparkTrash]

The point is that one should not attempt to deny Christians their right to arm themselves (Luke 22:36–38). Also, Paul needed defense and protection, so he appealed to Caesar (Acts 25:11) as the one who "bears the sword." (Romans 13:4).

In the OT, Abner was King Saul's military commander. He tried unsuccessfully to avoid the necessity of killing Asahel. He told Asahel to stop following him and that he didn't want to use force ("strike him to the ground"). However Asahel refused to turn so Abner struck him with a SPEAR (because the Colt 1911 hadn’t been invented yet) in the belly and killed him.

More examples…..

Nehemiah 4:23 (NIV-1984)
“Neither I nor my brothers nor my men nor the guards with me took off our clothes; each had his weapon, even when we went for water.” (I have a gun everytime I leave the house!). The “brothers and men” were carrying weapons for PERSONAL and CIVIL DEFENSE. It wasn’t a fashion statement.

Esther 8:11-12
“11 By these letters the king permitted the Jews who were in every city to gather together and protect their lives -- to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the forces of any people or province that would assault them, both little children and women, and to plunder their possessions...”

The Jews had a legal sanction to "protect their lives" using ultimate force (lethal force if necessary). It’s no different today with people having guns for personal protection.

Finally, I agree with what others have said…. Using guns as a substitute depiction of the cross is terrible. That’s just trash and as someone else pointed out, making firearms an idol. We worship Jesus who died on the cross, not guns (or anything else) on the cross.

Just my opinion.

[freefire]

I don't even need to quote any bible passage to him... Because it is believed that as a child of God, you need to protect yourself both spiritually and physically.

[skilletboy]

Originally Posted by Tikka3x

A non biblical answer is that Jesus's disciples carried swords, the modern day firearm at the time and He never denounced them.

EXACTLY THIS!! And I would add that Jesus tells them that it's in the current context of they would be hunted and they would NEED them for self-defense. When Jesus sent them out the first time, he commanded them not to take anything and that all their needs would be met. SO yeah there are times to trust in God's protection and provision but sometimes it's up to us to do our part.

I look at it like provision. Does getting a job and working hard demonstrate that you lack faith to provide for you and your family? Couldn't God supernaturally give you food and money? Of course, but that's not often his will for us.

Protection is the same thing IMO. God can sometimes protects us supernaturally. But being safe, making decisions, and being ready to defend yourself and family is just as much our jobs as provision IMO.