Much ink has been spilled and air time (radio and TV) dedicated to the recent mass shootings at the Century movie theater in Aurora, Colorado on July 20, 2012.  The gun control crowd has used the occasion to push their agenda of limited availability of guns in our country.  They want certain guns (and perhaps all guns) banned for purchase by the average citizen.  Debate over where to draw the line on what kind of guns are to be banned is strong and heated.  All of this is in spite of the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution which gives citizens the right to bear arms in self-defense.  The Colorado tragedy is an event made for politicians to take advantage.  Such hay-making by political types almost has a surreal quality to it.  But it is to be expected.  However, those of us who believe in the right to self-defense need to push back and make our feelings known as well.  I personally believe that it is a spiritual action to defend one’s self or one’s family from harm.  If a man broke into my house to try to kill my wife and kids, it would be a spiritual thing for me to kill him if necessary for their defense.  Of course, no genuine believer should seek such an occurrence.  It would be a tragic event even if done for right reasons.  Christians would mourn the occasion.  Nonetheless, it is possible to justify self-defense and family-defense from the Bible.  I believe that this teaching is in the same category as the issue of just war theory.  The ones who have authority to defend would be different of course, but in principle self-defense is a miniature version of just war – it would be a just killing action.  I hope if such an occasion came into my life, God forbid, I would have the courage to do the right thing and protect my family.
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