Guns: Stop trying to use CHRISTianity to Justify Guns

I just finished reading the most inane article in support of guns ever written. The author's principle theme was that Christianity taught that we should arm ourselves for self-defense. He argues that throughout the bible there is a God given mandate to protect ones family with arms. I agree that we should protect the ones we love. The problem is that the only verses he can find to defend his argument are in the Old Testament. His only foray into the New Testament is in the Book of Luke, chapter 22.

It is the chapter where Jesus and his disciples are having The Last Supper. Jesus tells Judas to go ahead and go through with his betrayal. He then tells his disciples that that those who would be great among them must be the least and that those who would be masters must serve.

Peter pipes up and says that he will go with Jesus to prison or death and Jesus' reply is that before the cock crows three times that night, Peter would betray him. It is then that he asks them if they needed anything when he sent them out to heal the preach and teach. They reply no. Context is a beautiful thing.

These are the following verses and what the author uses to try and justify guns:

• "36 Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.
• 37 For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end.
• 38 And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough."

Later in the same chapter, they come to arrest Jesus and one of his disciples uses one of those swords to cut off a soldier's ear. Jesus rebukes him and heals the man. Now, I am no bible scholar but it seems that Jesus is telling his disciples that when he is arrested that they will lose faith and return to their old ways. Which is exactly what happened.

To say that Christianity is a mandate to protect themselves with arms is a bastardization of what Jesus taught throughout his ministry.

Neo-cons want to use the bible to justify their beliefs but they seem to want to skip the parts that do not agree with their ideologies. For instance, they seem to forget that Barabas and his followers were waiting on a Messiah who would lead them into armed conflict against the Romans. Their hope turned to anger and became deadly when Jesus refused to do so.

The Old Testament is the precursor for what we know as Christianity. It is an old covenant. Jesus came to give us a new covenant and that covenant has nothing to do with guns. That is why you do not find armed conflict in the New Testament.

Gun owners are so paranoid that someone wants to come into their homes and disarm them. They will use any argument to try and justify their position, but this one just does not walk on water. They have a constitution that supports their right, but saying it is a Christian idea just makes them look foolish. It is baseless and should be filed in the do not use ever again folder in the backs of their minds.