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QUESTIONS & ANSWERS (42)

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    Question that are asked apply in various ways:

1.      To only the person who asks the question

2.      To many people who have a similar question

3.      To a unique situation in life

4.      To a unique time period in life

5.      To all men everywhere

 

B.      Tonight,

1.      Is our Q & A Night

2.      All of our questions center in a very unique subject.

3.      The questions may not apply to everyone, but all will most likely be interested in the topic of discussion.  It is a controversial subject in our society today.

 

I.                   QUESTION #1:  Christian Gun Ownership

 

A.    Stated:  Can a Christian own a gun?

 

B.      Definitions:

1.      Gun:  a weapon consisting of a metal tube, with mechanical attachments, from which projectiles are shot by the force of an explosive ( all definitions are taken from dictionary.com unless otherwise noted)

2.      Weapon:  any instrument or device for use in attack or defense in combat, fighting, or war

3.      NOTE:  The definitions given are what cause the concern for Christians.

a.      Should a Christian own a weapon?

b.      Should a Christian own an instrument that can be used to attack another person?

 

C.     Let’s ask other questions?

1.      Can a Christian own matches?  (a slender piece of wood, cardboard, or other flammable material tipped with a chemical substance that produces fire when rubbed on a rough or chemically prepared surface)

2.      Can a Christian own a knife?  (an instrument for cutting, consisting essentially of a thin, sharp-edged, metal blade fitted with a handle)

3.      Can a Christian own scissors?  (a cutting instrument for paper, cloth, etc., consisting of two blades, each having a ring-shaped handle, that are so pivoted together that their sharp edges work one against the other)

4.      Can a Christian own a razor blade?  (a small rectangular piece of metal sharpened on one or both long edges for use in a razor for shaving)

5.      NOTE:  No one has any problem with Christians owning matches, a knife, scissors, and/or a razor blade. 

a.      Their definitions do not include the term “weapon.”

b.      Their primary use is not as weapons.

c.       However, all of them can be used as weapons against others.

 

D.    A Christian might own a gun and never intend it to be a weapon.  If not, he could call his gun his equipment.

1.      Target practice

2.      Skeet shooting

3.      Hunting

4.      Collecting and trading

 

E.      The main question:  “Does a Christian violate a command of God just by owning a gun?” 

1.      The violation of the law of God is sin according to I John 3:4.

2.      There is no law of God that is violated when a Christian owns a gun.

3.      Therefore, it is okay for him to own one.

4.      Example:

a.      David owned a sling (I Sam. 17:40)

 

…and his sling was in his hand…

 

b.      Definition:  a device for hurling stones or other missiles

c.       The sling was a weapon, but it is not so stated in the definition.  Thus, it appears to be more acceptable.

d.      Did David violate the law of God by having a sling?  Answer:  No.

 

II.                QUESTION #2:  The Purpose of Gun Ownership

 

A.    Stated:  Why would a Christian own a gun?

 

B.      There are many reasons Christians own guns.

1.      A reason some people own a gun is just because they can.

2.      They may have inherited a gun.

3.      One of the main reasons is for hunting:  deer, duck, dove, squirrels, wild boar, etc.

4.      Another reason is for target practice.

5.      Another reason is for team competition:  skeet, trap, cowboy action, bulls-eye

6.      Still another reason some own guns is for personal range shooting.

7.      Still another reason is for collection and trading.

8.      Many also own guns for protection.

a.      Protection from animals and snakes.

b.      Protection from criminal who might seek to harm them.

1)      To deter the criminal

2)      To stop the criminal by wounding or killing him

 

C.     Of all the reasons listed above, the only one that someone might call in question would be protection from criminals.  This because it involves the taking of human life.  (NOTE:  This is a very important subject.  We will address it in another lesson two weeks from tonight entitled:  “The Christian and Self-Defense).

 

III.             QUESTION #3:  The Use of A Gun

 

A.    Stated:  Is it okay to use a gun?

 

B.      Answer:

1.      If it is okay to own a gun, it is okay to use a gun.

2.      Three important points:

a.      A gun is an inanimate object. 

1)      It takes a person picking it up and pulling the trigger for it to become operative. 

2)      Guns are like money.  They are neither good nor bad in and of themselves.  They become evil when men use them for evil purposes (See I Tim. 6:10).

 

For the love of many is the root of all evil:  which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

 

b.      Before using a gun, one should always learn how to use it.  There are many safety courses that can be attended that will help one use a gun properly.  (NOTE:  It is much like driving a car.  A person must be trained to do both).

c.       It is NEVER okay for a gun to be used to commit murder.  (NOTE:  There is a distinction between murder and killing.  We will look at this subject in our upcoming Sunday night lesson).

 

IV.             QUESTION #4:  Children Pretending with Guns

 

A.    Stated:  Should Christian children play with guns inside or outside?

 

B.      Several comments:

1.      Never with real guns

2.      Children can be taught the different between real and play (Ex., nerf guns, card houses and knocking them down)

3.      Playing things like war, cops and robbers, and cowboys and Indians were ways for boys to develop their masculinity.

4.      With violence at such an all-time high, we need to be careful about letting our children play with guns, especially outside.  They have been mistaken as real guns, even by the police.

5.      Extra note:  Parents need to take precautions with video games and extremely violent movies as well.

 

C.     NOTE:  Parental training is what is essential in this matter.

 

V.                QUESTION #5:  The National Rifle Association (NRA)

 

A.    Stated:  What about the NRA?

 

B.      Answer:

1.      This is a “hot potato” because of the political environment in which we presently live.

a.   Some see the NRA as a group responsible for all of the horrible shootings that

      happen in our nation.

b.   Others see the organization as a group who is seeking to protect our Second Amendment rights.

                        2.    Our answer will involve two points:

                               a.  The founding of the NRA

 

“Dismayed by the lack of marksmanship shown by their troops, Union veterans Col. Williams C. Church and Gen. George Wingate formed the National Rifle Association in 1871.  The primary goal of the association would be to ‘promote and encourage rifle shooting on a scientific basis,’ according to a magazine editorial written by Church.

 

“After being granted a charter by the state of New York on November 17, 1871, the NRA was founded” (https://home.nra.org/about-the-nra/).

c.       The mission of the NRA, NRA Bylaws Article II, “The purposes and objectives of the National Rifle Association of America are:

1)      To protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, especially with reference to the inalienable right of the individual American citizen guaranteed by such Constitution to acquire, possess, collect, exhibit, transport, carry, transfer ownership of, and enjoy the right to use arms…

2)      To promote public safety, law and order, and the national defense;

3)      To train members of law enforcement agencies, the armed forces, the militia, and people of good repute in marksmanship and in the safe handling and efficient use of small arms;

4)      To foster and promote shooting events, including the advancement of amateur competitions in marksmanship at the local, state, regional, national, and international levels;

5)      To promote hunter safety, and to promote and defend hunting as a shooting sport and as a viable and necessary method of fostering the propagation, growth and conservation, and wise use of our renewable wildlife resources.

(https://www.guidestar.org/profile/53-0116130).

3.      The NRA does not train people to commit any type of murder. 

The NRA fights to defend the Second Amendment.

The NRA seeks to train as many as possible in gun safety.

The NRA promotes sports and sporting events that use guns.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.    There were two or three other questions that were asked about guns and personal protection.  We will try to answer these in the lesson we will present in a couple of weeks.

 

B.      A final question:  If weapons are evil, why would the Holy Spirit compare the Word of God to a sword?  (Eph. 6:17).

 

Take…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

 

1.      The Word of God is our weapon in our spiritual warfare.

2.      It is designed to destroy our enemies (II Cor. 10:4-5)

 

(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

 

3.      One of the enemies that this weapon will destroy is the false plans of salvation that men have devised.