The Right to self defense has been well understood for millennium. The Bible clearly articulates the justified killings of evil men and nations in self defense.
Bishop Robert Wright of the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta apparently places his political views ahead of Biblical teachings. The ‘bishop’ has banned firearms on all church property in middle and north Georgia.
Speaking of his ban on firearms Wright says: “My judgment and this policy are based on the normative understanding of the teachings of Jesus as the Episcopal Church has received them”.
Let us first start at the obvious problem with ‘Bishop’ Wright’s position: He exempts on duty law enforcement. If he truly believes what he is preaching, how could a piece of metal (a badge) give one person the religious authority to kill someone? Either a person has a Right to self defense or they don’t. It’s preposterous to think a secular entity could grant an exemption to God’s Word, if that is truly what Wright believes.
Next let us briefly look to the “teachings of Jesus” that Wright apparently refuses to even acknowledge.
At the last supper Christ gives His final instructions to us. He talks about the disciples needing to start doing things for themselves after He is betrayed. In Luke 22:36 – He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.”
That’s right, Jesus not only tells the disciples to carry a sword but it is so important he tells them to sell their cloak and buy one if they don’t have one.
A few people might counter with what happens later in the garden when Jesus says “those who live by the sword die by the sword”. Only a fool would think the Son of God would contradict himself less than 12 hours after He issued a commandment. I believe Christ is speaking not just to Peter but also to the Romans who were about to start killing them. Basically He was saying ‘There is a time and a place, my time is now and I must be taken in to fulfill prophesy and you must continue to spear the Word’.
The old testament has similar instructions, take Nehemiah 4 for example “Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked” and “each had his weapon, even when he went for water.”
I’m not sure what Bible the ‘bishop’ is reading but mine is pretty clear. God the Father and Jesus wants us to be able to defend ourselves against evil, both spiritual AND physical.
If you are a Christian that happens to be a member of any Episcopal (or other denomination) church or diocese that ignores the teachings of Jesus Christ, I’d suggest you find another church.
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