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Alrighty. I’ve been half following this thread for too long and have finally decided to jump in. Before I throw in my two cents, though, I want to start with a couple notes.

1. I am a girl. So thank you for letting me into this thread, haha
2. I am not a master of the Bible by any sense of the word. However, I like to think that I am at least somewhat familiar with it. That being said, like any human, the things that I say very well could be off, and honestly, to support a lot of my points, I’m going to be using logic and personal experience. I’ll use Scripture, too, though. Just know that I might accidentally use things out of context and that sort of stuff… I’m no master. I will say that I believe what the Bible says, 110%, even though I do not understand it. I also believe in absolute truth. Which means that there is a right, and there is a wrong.
3. I think it’s important to define the purpose of this discussion on self-defense, sin, OT vs. NT law, etc. Are we trying to come to a conclusion of “This is right”? Or are we simply trying to voice our opinions and disagree with each other and explain how we disagree? Either way I don’t think it’s the best use of our time, honestly. This is a writing forum, not a philosophy one – so in my personal opinion, I don’t think we should be trying to convert each other on nonessential doctrine. And if it’s just continually expounding on how we disagree? I’ll let you decide if that’s the best use of your time… I don’t think it is the best use of mine, and as a college student, my time is limited. I can’t promise that I will be able to respond to everyone, or even that I’ll give it my best shot. But, that being said, this is a topic that does interest me, so I will voice my initial opinion.

Ok. Let’s get going.

Self-defense is a topic that I’ve considered a lot. I’m not 21 yet, but I plan on getting my concealed carry permit when I am of age. There are many factors that impact this decision. One, it’s my heritage. I grew up in a family that has packed for generations – some of them, just to exercise their 2nd Amendment Rights (b’cause my dad’s side is ornery), some “just in case”. My mom has her CC Permit, and she didn’t grow up in a house with guns. She has it because she knows that if came down to killing someone or letting them kill my four year old sister, she would choose the former. Or for any of my siblings. And y’all don’t know my mom, but she’s a lady’s lady, wouldn’t hurt a fly. She chose to pack because she loves us. It’s not for her. It’s not for glory. It’s not so she can be a hero if the incident arose. It’s so she can defend the ones she loves.

I think self-defense would be more palatable to some people if the title was changed slightly to reflect its proper use. Call it “Selfless-defense”. Packing is a privilege, but it is not one to take lightly. There are effects from having to kill someone – anything from court cases, conscience, to PTSD. As much as it is a right, it is a responsibility. In a way, it’s a sacrifice, because it calls you to a higher standard.

If you pack, you’re literally carrying a lethal weapon with you – you have to carry that burden. And some people can’t! That’s just reality! And that’s ok. It shouldn’t brand them as weaker, rather, to recognize that they can’t live up to this standard is a sign of personal strength and integrity. You’re not trying to be something you’re not, when the effects of this facade could hurt someone.

If you pack, you’re allowing the burden of others to be put on yourself. Like I said, my mom packs to protect my siblings and I. This is as far as she’d probably take it; if we were all safe she wouldn’t go out to face the attacker. We’d retreat. But if it was my dad, and we were all safe, but there were still other people in the line of fire, I think he would go out an engage the perpetrator. This isn’t because he’s violent or looking for a fight, but because of what he sees as his responsibility. Because he’s been packing for over 20 years, he knows that if a situation arises, he could be somebody’s last chance at life. He would put his own life on the line – sacrifice – to defend a stranger, because of what he knows his abilities to be. In an active shooter situation, his ability turns into a responsibility. To him, “…who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” (James 4:17)

But wait a second… the Bible very clearly says that to murder is sin. If we define murder as premeditated killing, well, then (hypothetically – a situation like this has never arose), this would paint my dad as a murderer. After all, he’s been fine tuning his skills for 40-odd years, preparing for the day that he crosses path with his enemy. So by doing good he’s sinning? And by sinning he’s doing good?

Yup.

To a degree, at least. I did twist words a bit there to prove a point, but that point remains: we can do both good and evil in one action. I’ll pull the classic Corrie ten Boom example – her family lied (sin) to save Jews (which is a good thing). Or Rahab and the spies – same principle. What about people who steal medicine to save their dying children? Or someone who swipes a sandwich and gives it to a homeless person? See, there are tons of situations where good and evil are both present. So, I guess in this case, I side with Martin Luther – sin boldly, knowing that your sin is not going to disqualify you from heaven (assuming you’ve accepted Jesus, but that’s a discussion for a different time), in the hope that you might give someone else a chance to accept Jesus.

But what about the perpetrator? Aren’t you disqualifying him from his second chance? If you kill him, yes. This doesn’t always happen, to be fair. But I’d like to point out that he chose his path – the potential victims did not ask to be shot at.

Another matter which plays into this is Christian liberty. “One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord… So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way… Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification… So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves. But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.” (Romans 14:5-23, jumping around… the whole chapter is really good).

What I’m trying to get at is that it might be a sin for @eden-anderson or @the-fledgling-artist or the other pacifists (sorry if I missed anyone or tagged you in error) to act out in selfless-defense, because their conscious won’t allow it. That doesn’t make them lesser Christians, it’s just their personal convictions. On the opposite end of the spectrum, looking purely at the Christian liberty argument, it wouldn’t be a sin for @wordsmith or me (again, sorry if I missed anyone… there are a LOT of replies to this thread!) to act in selfless-defense.

Bottom line, I guess, is that we will all have to give account for our actions once we get to heaven. I believe that God is gracious, and he knows that we will sin. I’m going to try not to sin, but there are some cases where this isn’t possible (again, James 4:17 vs. life circumstances). I will pack with the intention of defending myself, those I love, and those around me. I know that this will have consequences for myself and others, but I also know that the number of people who will have to face these consequences (having a lost loved one) will be fewer if I act.

That got long, haha. But thanks for reading. If you have specific questions, feel free to ask. I’ll see what I can do about responses… life is busy.

Cheers.