>This is not a Christian board; it is a conservative forum.
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Luke 22:36 totally taken out of context, like it always is, as the single solitary verse for taking up arms as a Christian.
“All those who take up the sword will perish by the sword” should make that clear.
So should “love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you.”
Also, “turn the other cheek” if you remember.
“If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight.”
Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”
Turning the other cheek deals with a civil matter, the humiliation and wounded pride that comes with a slap. When it crosses over into a criminal matter, the right to self-defense comes along with it.
There is also a difference between persecution and general criminality. We are called to love our enemies, and live at peace with everyone as far as it depends on us (Romans 12:18). The means that we should be peaceful, tranquil people in our everday lives. But if someone puts this body, which was made in the image of God (imperfect as it may be), I have an obligation to defend it and others in a criminal attack.
You're making the mistake of lumping crime and persecution together. Persecution is always a crime, but crime does not equal persecution. I am willing to lay down my life for my faith, but not for anything less than that - it cheapens life otherwise.
Finally, you misquoted Matthew 26:52 - it's not merely taking up a sword, but living by it that leads to death. People who have guns are not living by them - it's the criminals who forcefully advance upon others who do, and they eventually meet their end. If one lives by the sword (offense), they will eventually be stopped by a defender; that's the way life goes. In life, there are attackers, defenders and bystanders. I choose to be a defender.