I'm going to start off with the topic of guns/violence, since I started to talk about it in the previous post. This is an issue where I differ from others in my various "groups." I have to admit that I struggle with this one. I can see and agree with two different stances. I will try my best to just simply share my thought process here. I don't totally have this one settled in my own heart and mind. (I'm not going to talk about the use of guns by other people, I'm approaching this from the angle of my own personal use, as I am the only person I can control)
The US Constitution acknowledges the right to bear arms in the 2nd amendment. I get it. It seems reasonable to me for people to have the right to protect themselves, their families, and their property. I believe people have the right to hunt for their food, and when the nation was founded, that was probably a much more common use for a gun. I believe the intent of the statement though was in regards to citizens enabled to stand against a tyrannical government, not hunting. I do not disagree with the 2nd amendment in any way.
I love the book Ender's Game. (spoilers ahead) The author dives deep into the thoughts of a super genius little boy. At age 6, Ender is being bullied in school. He realizes that this bully won't stop because of kindness, or calm words, or any other method but a return of force. So he fights back. His intent is to not only win this fight, but all future fights as well. He goes all out and brutally beats the bully, going so far that the kid ends up dying. I was intrigued by Ender's reasoning. When it comes to certain individuals, or groups, or nations, they are so intent on murder, they won't be stopped by being nice. That said, I do believe in trying diplomacy first. Always try to settle issues before turning to violence.
I began thinking about foreign relations. Islam is an ideology bent on world domination by either conversion or death. The terrorists' idea of peace means that everyone is a Muslim. So if someone refuses to convert, they are to be killed. That kind of bully ideology isn't going to be changed by giving them money as some of our government agents have tried to do. They haven't stopped. This leads me to believe that they must be stopped from their rampant violent crusades by deadly force. This seems to be the logical conclusion. To me, this seems like a justified reason to go to war.
But.....
I am a Christian. This leads me down a different path. Jesus didn't defend himself. When they came to arrest Him, His friend Peter pulled out a sword and chopped off the ear of one of the soldiers. (He was probably aiming for his head) Jesus didn't like this and put the man's ear back on and healed it. He didn't defend Himself or fight back when they hauled Him off to be brutally beaten and crucified. In His famous sermon on the mount, He challenged the idea of an eye for an eye, teaching instead to turn the other cheek and when forced to do something, go even further. The example of Jesus does not line up with my human reasoning of justified defense or violence.
I realize the Old Testament is full of violent wars, but I have some different ideas on that as well. Some would suggest that all those tribes that Israel was told to kill off were made up of Nephilim. The fallen angels corrupted the genetic line of man and therefore those people were abominations, not actual humans. I've also heard a theory that God didn't actually tell them to go out and kill, but to let Him take care of them. There are some stories where it is clear that God did the killing, no human assistance needed. Jericho for one. I read a book called Cross Vision by Gregory A. Boyd. That's where some of these ideas came from. I don't totally buy into all that he said, not even recommending the book for anyone other than a mature believer. I am just pointing to him as I ponder other ideas. Some of what he says makes a lot of sense. God has been known to wipe out whole towns, (and once the whole earth) that had become so morally corrupt they were beyond repair. He is God. He is Just. He is all knowing. He gets to make those kinds of decisions, not me.
So where does that leave me? Do I own a gun because I have the right? No. Do I get mad at fellow believers who do? No. Many of my good friends and respected leaders are gun owners who believe strongly in self defense. Why not me? I don't even kill bugs. (except ants) I hate to see any living creature hurt. Yes, I realize that I do eat meat, but I don't like to think about where it comes from. I don't believe I would be capable of shooting at a human being. I think/hope I would be willing to sacrifice myself for another, but I can't imagine going so far as to kill a bad guy. That seems too much like playing God to me. I am not sold on the death penalty either. Who am I to decide when someone's time is up?
A favorite exchange from the show Firefly... Shepherd Book is a preacher of sorts. The crew is in a shootout and Zoe questions if his religion has something to say about killing people. "Quite specific, it is however somewhat fuzzier on the subject of kneecaps." I find this one quiet accurate. If I had to, I would hopefully shoot to wound, not kill.
As I discussed my views with a friend, he asked a hard question. He laid out a hypothetical situation where we were with another friend of ours and encountered a gunman with evil intent... He asked, "what if I were shot, would you pick up my gun and defend our friend?" My initial response was that I'd protect her and sacrifice myself, then I realized that would be pointless because once I was gone, he'd kill my friend anyway. I guess we'd all be dead and in heaven, but our friends would be sad. So maybe it's ok to get shot if we know we're saved.
What if you were thrown in the ring as a gladiator? Is it ok to kill the other guy just because he's trying to kill you? Many would say self defense is a right. I think self preservation is a natural instinct, but as a Christian, we don't fear death. Why prolong life if it means killing another person? Stay alive just to be put through this horror again and again? Why? So, moving on, I don't think this scenario is too likely in this day an age.
That brings us to the topic of defense of others. I pointed to how Jesus didn't defend Himself, but what about protecting the people around us. That seems like a good idea in line with typical Biblical themes. Jesus did rebuke Peter for defending Him, but was that an across the board standard, or just for that situation since Jesus knew this all had to happen? The only other story that comes to mind is Jesus protecting the woman caught in adultery from the religious mob that wanted to stone her. He didn't do it with violence though.
The story I think of is a more modern day tale. The true story of the Machine Gun Preacher, made into a movie starring Gerard Butler. As I recall, Sam Childers led a really rough life of crime and violence before getting saved. He later went on a mission trip to Uganda and found his niche. Sam learned of the LRA. Joseph Kony and his soldiers were kidnapping children and turning them into soldiers, forcing them to commit atrocious acts. Brutal, disgusting, horrifying tortures inflicted on the communities he attacked. This man decided he could use the skills he'd once used for evil to now protect the children, so he moved to Africa to protect an orphanage. The LRA was the kind of group that was only going to be stopped with violent force. The local army hadn't been able to stop him. I can see no argument against protecting children from this kind of vile life destroying evil. The children are helpless. It is our duty as adults to protect them from harm. I find this part of the issue justified and right.
I think that is the extent of my pondering. I enjoy having ethical debates with myself in the hours I spend driving around on my job. I try to counter my own arguments. I think through the conflicts in the movie I watched the day before. I consider what might I have done? What is the right thing to do? What might make doing the right thing more difficult? I realize that in any given moment, making a quick decision is crazy difficult, so I like to think through as much as I can before that moment arrives. Fear is a powerful motivator, so if I were facing down a bad guy with a gun, would I grab my downed friend's gun and use it? I don't know.
As I said, this is an issue that I still struggle in finding a solid ground for my values. I hope and pray that I never have to make a choice like this, but if I do, God direct my moves.
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