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I close this year out as the Lord leads offering a biblical worldview on the topic of gun violence which so tragically dominated the headlines. It was the violent headlines of 2012 and early 2013 that are noted in this edited blog repost. There is at least a tempering solution to gun violence in the Gospel of Jesus Christ until He returns if even professing Christians will embrace it since many are proud gun owners for protection contrary to His warning and instruction. Thank you for taking the time in your busy life to read and reflect on the things written in this blog the past year. In spite of all of the evil in the world, I wish you and yours a blessed New Year!
Originally Posted February 17, 2013
The debate raging over what to do about gun violence in the wake of the rash of high profile incidents including the murder spree ended this past week by the decease of former police officer, Christopher Donner (and now the charge of murdering his girlfriend facing celebrated Olympic athlete, Oscar Pistorious of South Africa) centering on gun control alone does not go deep enough. While limiting access and availability to guns along with their capacity to fire bullets may frustrate those bent on gun violence, gun control alone will not address the problem of people killing people that as a matter of divine foretold lawlessness in these latter days, will continue to increase (Matthew 24:12; Revelation 6:3-4, 9:21).
As an aspiring strong man of God in the image of Christ, I am convinced of Him that gun ownership is not needed for personal or family protection (Job 13:15a; Psalm 27:1-3, 59:1-4, 118:5-9; Matthew 5:38-48, 26:51-56; Romans 8:35-39, 12:18-21; Philippians 1:27-30).1 Though I am not an advocate of our nation’s Second Amendment to the Constitution, I agree with those supporting this position that guns do not kill people, people using guns do. The existence of guns and other weapons (or for that matter, mental illness) does not drive violence according to the Word of God, sin in the heart of man does! Indeed, weapons or how they were used (along with mental illness) are not even mentioned in the biblical narrative laying out what brought about God’s decision to destroy the world of Noah’s day.
However, the narrative does say, “Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually,” (Genesis 6:5, NKJV). And again, “The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence,” (Genesis 6:11, NKJV). Evil in the heart of man due to sin led to a world filled with violence and all manner of other corrupt behavior not weapons (or mental illness). Therefore, in the divine assessment, violence and murder with guns or any other weapons must be addressed at its root: sin in the heart of man (Mark 7:20-23)!
Only God has the free fix for man’s heart in His Son, Jesus Christ, that breaks the power of sin in man and also addresses another source of his encouragement to violence, Satan, the original murderer (John 3:14-21, 8:43-47; Acts 2:36-40; Romans 8:1-4, 10:6-13, Colossians 1:13-14, 2:11-15). Even so, further proof that sin in people is the real issue with gun and all other violence is given by God in His prophetic Word. It presents us with an advance look into the thousand year reign of Christ to begin at His Second Coming. Of His many initial acts in the cause of establishing the Kingdom of God on earth, Satan, that great instigator of violence among men will be removed from the world (Revelation 20:1-3).
The Lord will also order the nations to transform all swords and spears into peaceful tools (Isaiah 2:1-4; Micah 4:1-3); Israel will destroy the weapons of Armageddon by fire (Ezekiel 39:9-10). Access to manufactured weapons of violence will be eliminated. Any sinful, mortal man that murders in that Day will do so with whatever is at hand including his hands. He will also face the swift, sure and severe judgment of King Jesus (Psalm 2:7-12; Isaiah 11:1-9; Malachi 3:5; Revelation 19:15-16). Yet, after the end of that millennium, Satan is released and instigates mortal man’s final revolt against God complete with weapons (Ezekiel 38:1-17; Revelation 20:7-9a).
This final satanically instigated human revolt is permitted by God to show one last time His eternal wisdom and righteousness that necessitated the cross of Christ and regeneration by the Holy Spirit in the New Covenant for sinful men who have believed. For in that Day even under the perfect rule of Christ, sinners will do what sinners do and would do it forever if the Lord allowed (Jeremiah 17:9-10; 31:31-34; Hebrews 9:11-10:18)! He also shows how because of His holy character, it is impossible for sin and evil whether in angels or men to peacefully co-exist with Him in His Kingdom. Sin and sinners which are unnatural to God’s eternal existence must be completely removed from His presence.
He, therefore, in response to the revolt after the end of the Messianic millennium and close of this mortal age, pours out the consuming fire of His holy wrath upon all revolting flesh as well as the entire physical creation; thereafter in judgment consigning everyone and anything not destined for eternal dwelling with Him to the lake of fire (Isaiah 24:17-23; Ezekiel 38:18-20; Malachi 4:1; 2 Peter 3:10-12; Revelation 20:9b-15)! It is only after this that the prophets and the apostles declare that we will see God create new heavens and a new earth “in which righteousness (alone) dwells,” (Isaiah 65:17-19; Malachi 4:2-3; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1-8, NKJV).
In the meantime, the only realistic hope of temporarily curtailing gun violence by people against people during these latter days is to help as many as possible become followers and aspiring strong men and great women of God in the image of Jesus Christ! I’m game; what about you?
1 So foreign to the culturally conditioned American Christian mind is the biblical basis for living a gun free life today, it is bitterly rejected by many pastors and professing
Christians across racial and socio-economic backgrounds as if it were bona fide heresy. However, the right to bear arms codified in the U.S. Constitution is one of
the earliest examples of rights granted by our nation’s legal apparatus that knowingly supersedes biblical instruction and paves the way for others such as are found in
slavery, segregation, abortion and same sex marriage to name a few. For the man serious about living to please God and doing His will even in your protecting respon-
sibility, I urge you to get my book, The Strong Man Of God: Back To Basics in the Strong Man Store to learn more about how to do this.
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