Is Jesus a Pacifist? (On the Issue of Guns.)

Many conservative Christians these days try to justify their gun ownership through Christianity. If you want to own a gun, go nuts, but don't sit around like Jesus actually endorses this, because he clearly doesn't.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• guns
• ammo
• God
• Jesus
• atheist
• Islam
• Muslim
• jewish
• jezuzfreek777
• gun
• pacifism

[bubber25]

Luke 22:36 "even if you have to sell your outer garment get a sword" -Jesus. Jesus never said to sit there and be slaughtered like a jellyfish. You have every right under god to defend yourself. A gun is the modern day sword. It is ok to defend your life and your loved ones. In fact the bible says "he that does not defend his own family is worse than an infidel" God put quills on a porcupine, horns on a gazelle. jesus never said to be a victim.

[5thWatcher]

@bubber25 There's a difference between "being a victim" and, as per the example, giving the robber some food or what have you and sending him on his way.

[chrisvda88]

So if someone steals something from me, as the Bible says I am not to demand it back.... So If I try to chase the thief and get my stuff back - I am sinning....

[5thWatcher]

Correct. The idea is that if someone is desperate enough to stoop to stealing, they probably need the money/thing. It is easy to imagine yourself being able to overcome the urge to steal, but try having no money or support for weeks and months on end. I have never robbed anyone, personally, but there have been times when the temptation has come to me, and it's always been when I was so in need of even basic necessities that it felt like about the only option that could get me a meal.

[chrisvda88]

@5thwatcher, alright but that doesn't answer my question of, Am I sinning if I were to report to the police that a thief stole something from me, b/c that would be demanding it back.

[5thWatcher]

I guess that depends on how you look at it. If disobeying the commands of Jesus is considered a sin, then I guess it would be, but he doesn't expressly call it a sin. If I had to guess, I'd say it's not a sin but that if you are a christian, you should do that in order to emulate Christ.

[ikaninjau2]

@ikaninjau2 "Continued" Jesus was merciful and valued a strangers life higher than his own but still he would have fought given the proper circumstance.

[ikaninjau2]

Jesus wasn't a pacifist: "Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. "For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household." You are correct that he is merciful but still there are times to fight, especially when there are idiots who would kill you simply for being an "infidel"

[TheXiantruth]

@Longover1986 I agree with most of what you say. You're just unrealistic when you say that Christians should not call themselves "Christians" unless they are perfect. The term "Christian" is a term that came into being several decades after Christ's resurrection. If you will look in the Book of Acts, disciples of Jesus were simply called "followers of the Way." Not "the Way" themselves. But followers of "the Way." Likewise, "Christians" are SUPPOSED to be followers of Jesus.Some very poorly.

[kuruantigenic]

if christians shouldn't be 100% peaceful, then whats the point.....

[silverwave00]

if jesus is god and gods a pacifist no one would have died in the bible due to him..he is no pacifist.the human jesus if there was one perhaps was..but the god of war from the old testament and the one they made up after jesus is a war monger...they make upo excuses saying he told others to do it so it wasnt him ..well revelation says hes going to do alot of slaying so they cant use that excuse.

[cmpresents]

You hit the nail right on the head. It's all about the intention of doing anything. What is the intention of owning a gun. I'm battleling that decision right now. You are right in everything you say. It's so hard to make that decision. The will of God, or our will be done.

[HolyHogShit]

u my favorite christian man, and that makes 1! well actually i have had several christian friends over my life, and worked, lived beside some ok ones, but it feels like i am one of very few not specificaly not spreading an insane religous pannic cancer about the world. or atleast the us.it is like people are ready willing and dam EGEAR to bring the end times personaly. i knew a kid whom was beaten by a christian baseball team with the bats and lost teeth because he had a maralyn mansion shirt.

[TheWatchmen001]

@Longover1986 some day when ppl begin to realize they have been lied to and the preachers and politicians taking these collections from ppl, then all hell will break loose. one that i'm looking for is when, ppl are not taken away to some happy place before tribulation such as we have never seen, and ppl will be asking those preachers, why didn't GOD come take me away, why do i have to live in this? more ppl will fall away at this time than any other.. get ready, cause it will be worse than ever

[TheWatchmen001]

@Longover1986 but, todays christian values have nothing to do with scripture... the church now days is a puppet for politicians to get their ideas brought out and get elected so they can screw everyone some more... the entire system in the US is set up as a pagan roman system... we have judgement on the way Ezekiel 38,39 the country of unwalled villages, that's US, so that tells me, HE is not playing and ppl will not stop blaming each other and judging each other and just pray to be ready...