There are two highly visible Christian clergy
who are making proclamations appealing to religious authority and ignoring
political correctness – Jerry Falwell, Jr. and Franklin Graham.
Some news media have said that Falwell’s remarks
for college students to bear arms – made at the Liberty University Convocation –
lacked biblical reflection; and Graham has been chided for advising that we
refuse Syrian refugees entry into the United States, warning that doing so could
lead to a Paris-style attack in America.
Christian antagonists often use scriptural
misinterpretations to lambast self-defense in general and gun ownership in
particular. When unbelievers tried to
ensnare Jesus with His own teachings, Jesus replied, “You are mistaken because
you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.”
Unbelievers and others lacking knowledge about
the true character of God sometimes make reference to Christ Jesus being the Prince
of Peace … concluding that Christianity must be a passive, wimpy, defenseless
teaching. Of course, this is not the
only title for Jesus; He is also known as the Lion of Judah. While Jesus was exceptionally meek and mild
at His first coming, we are assured by Scripture that He will not be so at His
second coming. He is described in
Revelation 19 as the King of kings who leads the armies of heaven on a white
horse and utterly destroys His enemies with the word of His mouth.
In a world littered with violence, the Prince of
Peace knows that real tranquility is only obtained through strength.
Jesus’ words within the Sermon on the Mount are
also misinterpreted by some. Jesus urged
His followers to be peacemakers and to love (not kill) their enemies. [Does this not mark a pivotal distinction
between the teachings of Jesus and the teachings of Mohammed.] But some fail to recognize that war and
weapons can be used for evil or for good; for offense or for defense. Jesus urged the latter.
The ignorant also like to claim that Jesus never
told His followers to arm themselves; but that is patently untrue. In Luke 22:36, Jesus told His disciples to buy
themselves swords even if they had to sell their cloaks to afford them. Of course, the sword was the ‘arms’ of their day,
as the gun is for us today. The
disciples possessed two swords and Peter used one of them to cut-off the ear of
a temple guard when Jesus was being arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane. Now here is where the ill-informed are quick
to point out Jesus’ rebuke of Peter … suggesting this is proof that Christians
should not use weapons (despite the fact that Jesus just told them to acquire
them). However, Peter was not rebuked
for using a sword in self-defense, but for interfering with God’s plan of redemption.
We know this because Jesus said it plainly:
“Put your sword away! Shall I not drink
the cup the Father has given Me?” (John 18:11)
Note: Jesus didn’t tell Peter to get rid of his sword, but to put it
away.
Perhaps most commonly, the “turn the other cheek”
admonition is used to advance Christian pacifism, but those advancing that
argument are again missing the point Jesus was making. God is not urging His followers to put
themselves or others in harm’s way or to be bullied or mistreated at the hands
of evil men. He is telling His followers
to put away retaliation, to take insult without retribution, to leave vengeance
to God. (Romans 12:19)
Finally, it must be said that Graham does not
propose abandoning refugees, but rather finding a solution that is best for
them and us. One proposal is relocating
refugees to safe places within the Middle East where the victimized can retain
their customs and culture, and Americans can be safe from the terrorists among
them. The costs can be covered by such
ministries as Graham’s Samaritan’s Purse and federal aid. Graham’s position is fully consistent with the
Gospel.
Christian leaders like Jerry Falwell and
Franklin Graham are pro-life, and leading the charge against deadly political
correctness. I consider myself to also
be such a Christian leader.
Rev. Dr.
Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.
Chaplain
(Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army
Pastor,
Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel
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