John Becker for Ohio
Donate Now - Click Here!
  • About John
    • Resume
    • Endorsements
    • Letters
  • The Issues
    • Issues at a Glance
    • FAQs
    • Ohio Marriage Penalty
    • The Becker Doctrine
  • Videos
    • Introduction
    • Pro-Life
    • Taxes
    • State Government Spending
    • State Government
    • Second Ammendment
    • Energy
    • Creation/Evolution
    • Donate
  • The Becker Report
    • Current Issue
  • Fundraising
    • Fundraising FAQs
    • Fundraising Results
    • Tax Credit FAQs
  • Contact
  • Home
December 17 1997

The Sword – Today’s gun verses yesterday’s sword (December 17, 1997)

December 17, 1997

Editor

The Community Press

Wilson Palmer recently penned a thoughtful editorial (Never Again, December 17, 1997). He made a number of very good and well thought out points. I agreed with some, but not others.

Mr. Palmer’s most outrageous remarks centered on guns: “If there is a gun in your hand, you have taken up arms against God and you serve evil.” He also stated that, “God clearly commands us, saying we are not allowed to kill.”

It is interesting that Mr. Palmer equates bearing arms to being “against God” and “serving evil.” Perhaps we can all agree that the sword is the biblical equivalent to the gun.

Can Mr. Palmer explain Luke 22:36 (NIV)? “He said to them, ‘But now if you have a purse, take it, also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.’” Why did Jesus tell his apostles to buy a sword if it would be “against God” and “serve evil,” as Mr. Palmer asserts?

We can find plenty of Biblical documentation on both sides of this issue. It seems to me that the weapon isn’t the issue, but rather the intentions of its’ user. Will the sword (gun) be used for offensive purposes? Or defensive?

Regarding Mr. Palmer’s statement about killing, I suspect that he is referring to, “Thou shalt not kill” (Exodus 20:8 KJ). This is the Sixth Commandment. The original Hebrew verb for “kill” refers to a deliberate and premeditated act (murder). The NIV translation is: “You shall not murder.”

Again, it seems to me that killing isn’t the issue, but rather the reason for the killing. Is it self-defense? Or Murder? Self-defense and the right to bear arms are unalienable rights granted by God and our Constitution.


John E. Becker

Tax and Spend – A rebuttal to Priscilla O’Donnell (July 18, 1996) Hate Mongers – Are Christians supposed to hate? (July 8, 1998)

Related Posts

Letters

Guest Column – (October 31, 2012)

Letters

Guest Column – (August 29, 2012)

Letters

Guest Column – (February 19, 2012)

Recent Posts

  • The Becker Report – December 2020
  • The Becker Report – November 2020
  • The Becker Report – October 2020
  • The Becker Report – September 2020
  • The Becker Report – August 2020

Archives

  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • April 2019
  • October 2012
  • August 2012
  • February 2012
  • December 2011
  • January 2011
  • June 2010
  • May 2010
  • January 2010
  • August 2009
  • June 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009
  • May 2006
  • April 2006
  • January 2006
  • April 2005
  • February 2005
  • October 2004
  • April 2004
  • March 2004
  • February 2004
  • January 2004
  • December 2003
  • November 2003
  • August 2003
  • June 2003
  • May 2003
  • February 2003
  • January 2003
  • December 2002
  • September 2002
  • April 2002
  • December 2001
  • July 2001
  • June 2001
  • May 2001
  • August 2000
  • September 1999
  • May 1999
  • April 1999
  • March 1999
  • February 1999
  • January 1999
  • December 1998
  • September 1998
  • July 1998
  • December 1997
  • July 1996
  • May 1995
  • April 1995
  • February 1995
  • January 1995
  • September 1994
  • August 1994
  • October 1993
  • April 1993

Pro-Life • Pro-Gun • Lower Taxes • Limited Government.

Paid for by Friends of Becker – All Content Copyright © 2019 Friends of Becker. All right reserved.