God, Guns, and Biblical Manhood

Ask Pastor John
Episode: 306

[peanutman]

1. I understand your explanation on not caring a gun, it’s not for everyone, it would depend on the personality of the individual and most people would probably feel emboldened, Just as emboldened drivers commit road rage.
2. Knowing your personality, I don’t think you would own a gun even if you weren’t a Christian, it’s just not in you
3. If a gunman came into your church and singled out your wife and children for execution but his plan was thwarted by a fellow church member also with a gun, or maybe even clubbed the attacker over the head with a heavy hymnal, I’m thinking you would be appreciative, and I know your family would be. John MacArthur‘s church has security and that’s all you need to know.

[associateminister]

Meekness is power under control. When we walk in the Spirit and are continually being filled with the Spirit we bear the fruit of self-control. One of the great leaders of men in Scripture was Nehemiah. Living and working in God’s will, he made sure his project and his people were well defended. One hand working the other holding a weapon.
Learn how to use a gun properly. And walk humbly with your God while protecting your church and family in these days of growing persecution.

[anon]

If it is just me, go ahead and kill me - not a problem. If it is me and other adults, my choice does not change for myself, but may for the sake of the others. If it involves children, who would rightly expect protection, I would not hesitate to protect the little ones from certain sexual abuse and/or mindless slaughter. If I pick up a sword it will not be without expectation of dying by the sword if needed. If I live or die for the greater good of innocents', I do so trusting in God's mercy. I have long prayed that The Father would not allow me to fall into such circumstances.

[JHOTA]

This sounded more emotional. God also calls us to defend the weak. Meek is being capable of violence but exercising the self control to not misuse it. Cold hard reality there are evil people who will do evil things. I have a duty to defend my home, my wife, and future children and teach them to defend themselves as well.

[truthseeker]

So I guess all the citizens of the 13 colonies who owned personal guns should not have risen up against the British

[jondick]

Love this guy, but do have to disagree here, "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. " Matthew 5:3. Meek meaning, from my searching, more or less to carry a weapon, know how to use it, but be humble enough to know when not to.

[simioneitor]

Pastor John, I am astonished at your heart. You are truly an example, I have a massive amount of respect for you. God bless you

[big]

I own guns and will not seek out to use them outside the fun of designated ranges and owned land, nor end a life, this I pray. However, If my family is in imminent life threatening danger or a circumstance arises where innocent lives are in life threatening danger and I happen to have my gun I would feel obligated to neutralize the threat, God forbid either of those examples happen. For the argument John used I can use also, the innocent lives of those taken by the person with nefarious intent could have not been saved, family included and robbed of their salvation and I would also feel guilty about that not having done anything when I could have, not to mention a lot more live could be lost not doing anything in those extreme situations that God forbid happen. Again I pray I am not put in those situations as I can’t truly know exactly what I’d do but and this is my opinion, I feel it’s worse to have myself slain alongside copious innocent people at the hands of someone due to my confidence in everlasting life that the others may not have yet found, if I can preserve their chance at finding Christ, I feel I should and will answer for it. if that makes sense. Again God forbid that happens. Furthermore even using a blunt object or fists you could still end the persons life that was threatening the innocent.

[ScotchIrishHoundsman]

“I am ready but he may not be.” I love that, Pastor John, it opens up a new mindset. My only problem is, what about when you have kids or others who depend on you? Jesus did say to sell your cloak and buy a sword. If it was for hunting (though I have never heard of hunting with a sword) wouldn’t he have said bow? Or snares?

[Ben-qbxe]

Praise God. Love how you said Pastor John that if you kill someone it could mean they go to hell in the chance they're not saved. That's a deal breaker.

[wesleylafoon]

Really late to this game however I have some questions due to what Brother John said here.
1. Why did Jesus tell the disciples that at least one among them should have a sword when sending them out?
2. Why did Peter have A sword sword at the Garden in the first place?

[mattr.]

Former diehard Christian here. I reject "turn the other cheek". If an innocent is under attack, life experience and instinct is more than enough to indicate that it is appropriate to sufficiently defend them. Matt ch 5 on the other hand teaches you to be a doormat at whatever the cost, and then some. This is where the real degeneracy is.

[mitchsalawine]

From the way this sounds. We have a choice: to be a pacifist Christian, or a Man, who follows Jesus Christ. I will take the latter.

[leonardwilliams]

That's as absurd a thing as I have ever heard. 200 foreskins. My guess is, they didn't live.

[INSDG]

This is so silly. According to your first reason, you shouldn't be married either. His use of the word evil is not in its proper context. Using violence (or force) to protect yourself, your family or any innocent life is not evil. I love much of Piper's preaching on Christ and His glory, but anyone that really knows Piper knows in his fervor to glorified God he occasionally steps into extrabiblical (or outside of scripture) theology or teachings. Just like what he does with divorce. It's an injustice to have people believe that only the police or military can do violence (not evil) to stop violence. Every person has the right to defend themselves, their family or any innocent life by countering violence with violence (or force), and that isn't evil! You would let someone take your life as a Christian? What about your responsibility to your wife and children? I can see an exception to where you might be responding to a direct leading from God for a specific purpose He might have, but that would be an exception. Absolutely not the norm of how we should respond or act. I know many men that are lawful gun owners, including myself, and don't have the inclination to be quick to grab their firearms outside of defending innocent life. And Piperis afraid he is. This to me is classic Piper. Overplay. I'm not saying his insincere, but he should look a little bit more into our history and the history of communist nations and how they fell. This video is a couple years old, but boy 2020-2021 shows how horrible this advice is. The last step before this country falls into communism and the people with a descending view are killed or enslaved. Every Christian man should be fighting on their knees first and then get up and be sheepdogs and defend the innocent. God is sovereign and whatever He wills will come to pass, even the fall of a nation in judgement, but we are not God and we have a responsibility to stand against evil.

[glendagetagripfull]

Yes, packing sheep, sir. There's wolves out there!

[liammiller]

Joshua, Saul, David, Samson ... Each one of them was used by God to kill the enemies of Israel ... Each believer has received a mission from God. Each of us will be used by God in different ways. As Pastor John said here, each believer has his own personality. We are not a single member, but a body with many members, and each member does not have the same functions in the church or in society. Romans 12:24

[Dr.Shankenstein]

Living in the fallen world everyday people are forced to watch as their families are killed and raped. Killing in self defense is not a sin and killing in combat is not a sin. It's your responsibility to to preserve your life. Of course you are protected by God, I know I am and there's nothing wrong with dying. Dying for the Gospel is valuable, dying over sudden random violent crime... I can't see it.

[simonbrown]

Pastor John, I thank God for your ministry. It has blessed me very much. I am curious about your approach in the response to this question and how it appears to me to differ from your usual method. Normally I hear you provide numerous biblical passages that provide context and support to your argument but in this case you only reference one passage. Why is this? Thank you.

[crusadeknight]

Guns and god the most American thing I ever heard