DO WE HAVE BIBLICAL AUTHORITY TO DEFEND OURSELVES?

INTRODUCTION
A. Our topic for today is a very hot and controversial issue
1. Can a Christian be a policeman … serve in the military?
2. Do we have biblical authority to defend ourselves or someone else?
3. Is it right to employ lethal force to protect yourself and others?
4. 2 Peter 1:3

B. Self defense defined:
1. “The protecting of oneself from injury at the hand of others”
2. Self-defense is not about taking vengeance – it is not about punishing
criminals
3. Self-defense involves preserving one’s own health and life when it is
threatened by the actions of others
4. When we speak about using potentially lethal force in self-defense, we are
talking about using weapons to protect ourselves and others, even if the
weapons used could kill the attacker

DISCUSSION
A. BIBLICAL OBLIGATION TO PRESERVE LIFE
1. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
a. We have an obligation to preserve our body and the life and body of others
b. We are not our own – we are bought with a price
2. Psalm 82:3-4
a. God’s moral principles never change
b. We have an obligation to protect those in danger
3. Proverbs 24:10-12
a. We have a moral obligation to “rescue” them who are in danger
b. We are not to have the attitude: “I know him not, he is no friend of mine;
why should I trouble myself about him?”
4. These principals of righteousness are brought forward in the New Testament
– the Law has changes but the principals remains the same

B. OLD TESTAMENT PASSAGES ON SELF-DEFENSE AND LETHAL FORCE
1. Exodus 22:2-3
a. If a man break into your house at night the taking of his life is justified –
because the intent of the intruder is unknown and one’s family must be
protected
b. If a man break into your house during the day he is to be treated as a thief
and not a murderer
2. Psalm 18:34; 144:1
a. The skill of the use of weapons are taught here
b. Whether literal of metaphorical to use of weapons is positively portrayed
here … weapons for defending yourself
3. In Nehemiah 4 the lives of the people of Israel were in danger
a. Nehemiah 4:11 … their enemies planned on killing them to stop the work
of building the wall around Jerusalem
b. Thus … Nehemiah 4:13-14
c. Nehemiah 4:17, 23

C. NEW TESTAMENT PASSAGES ON SELF-DEFENSE AND LETHAL FORCE
1. Luke 22:35-38
a. If they did not have a sword they were to sell something and buy one
1) A sword was not use for hunting
2) A sword was used for protection and war
b. The disciples were told to arm themselves … Make sure they have ample
protection
2. Luke 12:39
a. Jesus spoke favorably about the householder and his right to use force not
to allow his house to be broken into
b. This has a spiritual application – Jesus would not use something forbidden
to make a spiritual point
3. John 18:10-11
a. Jesus is saying: even though we have the right to employ our swords in
defense of this unrighteous arrest, we are intentionally putting aside our
lawful right and I am allowing myself to me taken without resistance
b. Jesus did not tell Peter to throw away his sword, but to put it away

D. THE SCRIPTURES MAKE THE ANALOGY BETWEEN WAR AND
SOLDIERS TO THAT OF CHRISTIAN WARFARE
1. Ephesians 6:10
2. Philippians 2:25
3. 2 Timothy 2:3-4
4. Philemon 1-2
5. Jesus would not use that which is sinful to make an analogy
6. The New Testament does not have laws for the Christian and the
non-Christians – the laws of Christ apply to all mankind
a. Marriage law applies to all
b. Fornication applies to all
c. Note Romans 13:1-6

E. OBJECTIONS TO A CHRISTIAN’S SELF-DEFENSE
1. Many think that Jesus taught “passivism”
2. Matthew 5:38-39
a. Christ teaches here against personal retaliation against insult and pride
b. No life is in danger in in these verse … Protection is not needed
3. Romans 12:17-21
a. We are not to take revenge or be involved in personal retaliation
b. “If it be possible…” (v. 18)
4. Romans 13:1-4
a. Some only goverment can protect – not Christians
b. But again, The New Testament does not have laws for the Christian and
the non-Christians – the laws of Christ apply to all mankind
5. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
a. This teaches that religion is not be of force – unlike Islam
b. This has nothing to do with protecting ourselves

CONCLUSION
A. Christians have biblical authority to protect themselves – even by lethal force
B. But, again, remember, this is not retaliation or veagence
1. We are not to take the law in our own hands
2. Christians have the biblical right to be armed and thus have the ability to
protect themselves and others

SERMON COMPILED BY DAVID HARRIS AND TOM MOORE

Tom Moore
Park Heights church of Christ
P. O. Box 107
1300 East Boynton Street
Hamilton, Texas 76531
http://www.parkheightscoc.com
http://harrisandmoore.org
https://fromthepreacherspc.org/
http://www.syfirst.org
http://preachersfiles.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/list/preacherspc/

“A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and sings it back to you when you have forgotten how it goes.”