Our Response To The Pope Francis Gun Rant
Last year, the pope made a startling statement about gun manufacturers and those who support them. He said that if you make guns, or support the gun industry, you can't be a Christian. Well, Mr. pope, let's dissect your comment in light of what the Bible actually says about owning a weapon.
But, before we get there, let me simply point out the hypocrisy of the man who has armed guards for his own protection. The Vatican's own Swiss Guard has access to and is very well versed, in the use of many guns – to include MP-5s, Glocks and AR-style rifles.
…But, I digress
Now that we've gotten the hypocrisy out of the way, let's open up the Bible to see what it, and more specifically, Jesus says about owning a weapon for self-defense.
Clearly, back in the time of Jesus, there was no such thing as a gun. In fact, gunpowder wasn't even invented until about 1250 AD. So, when the Bible speaks of self-defense and using weapons to do so, most of the time it is talking about daggers and swords.
In the text we are about to look at, Jesus is getting ready to go on the cross, and as he does, he explains to the disciples that they will need certain things that weren't needed when he was physically there with them:
“He said to them, ‘But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one‘.” Luke 22:36
In other words, they needed some money, a way to transport their goods, and a sword. In fact, Jesus said that a sword was so important that they should sell their clothes to go buy one.
Let's hover on this for a minute. When we're talking about having the bare bones minimum for daily survival, like clothes, bags and money – and then throwing a weapon into the mix as well, what does that tell us?
Listen, these swords were not letter openers. So, if you have any sense about yourself, hopefully, you're inclined to believe that having a method of self-defense is necessary for day-to-day life.
Unfortunately, people use things for stupid reasons. Because some people feel as though it is right for them to kill, rape, and pillage – decent people need a way to protect themselves. That's just the way it is, and until that changes, law-abiding gun owners will continue to protect themselves.
The Bible also tells us that this weapon we are to sell our clothes for is to be used for self-defense only. In other words, we are not to go exacting our revenge, as we see just a few sentences later when Peter used his sword against one of the men trying to take Jesus away.
In fact, Jesus tells his disciple (Peter) later on in this story:
“put your sword back in its place…for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.” Matthew 26:52.
Essentially, one of the disciples didn't like the fact that Jesus was about to get hauled away and took it upon himself to stop the whole thing from happening. This disciple was reprimanded (as seen above) for slicing off someone's ear.
In other words, he was not acting in self-defense. That'd be like the police coming into your house and arresting you on false charges, but before they can get cuffs on you, you pull out your 12 gauge and start throwing lead at them.
Bad idea, dude.
So, Mr. pope, as you can plainly see, someone needs to make these inanimate objects, that we call guns, so decent people can defend themselves properly. Swords are a bit outdated for self-defense in modern times. After all, who would bring a sword or an ax to a gunfight?
Sir, maybe a better thing to say, would be that those who rape, pillage, and kill their fellow man and woman are not, in fact, Christian. You know, those who live by the sword?
But, then again, you are not God, so how could you know who is a Christian, and who is not?
Let us know what you think about this in the comments below. Also, have you had a chance to take your gun hobby to the next level with the American Gun Association, yet? Follow that link to check them out.
And, in a totally un-related topic, have you seen this shirt? I'm the daddy of two pretty little girls, and this shirt is currently only 10 bucks. I may get one for each day of the week. Check it out:
Guns Don't Kill, Dad's with pretty Daughters do.
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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on March 31, 2016, and has been updated for quality and relevancy.
The pope was not claiming to be infallible on this point. To claim infallibility, the pope, only, speaks about faith and morals. He is said to be speaking “ex cathedra,” from the seat (of Peter.) This has only been done three times in 2000 years. Otherwise, the pope’s opinion is worth as much as any other head of state.
catholicize is a child molesting CULT !!!!!!
I will give up my firearms when all the politicians and other heads of state give up theirs. My god drives my spiritual beliefs not the poop.
The Pope needs to concentrate his efforts on causes that pertain to the bible and leave politics to the people. There were 10 commandments and not one said “though should not carry a firearm”
I went to Catholic School most of my young life. I was always told that jesus said to sell your cloak to buy a STAFF! I always thought that was odd as anyone can create a staff. Now, thanks to this article I have looked up Luke 22:36, and now know better.
Yes, I have a sword, and some other much faster stuff. I
The nuns either dumbed it down, or lied, no big deal anymore.
in bible times the Rod and the Staff were to them as a gun and ammo are to us now they comfort us as we walk through the valley .
Even though I am Lutheran, not Catholic, I give the Pope respect to his highest honor, especially this Pope. I have a problem when a religious leader gets into politics however, and politicians using religion for their advantage. It’s known as “Separation of Church and State”. There should be no tie between church and politics regarding citizens in a free Democracy. The citizens are smart enough to make their own decisions.
Part of the ongoing fallacy that has permeated our society is the statement “Separation of Church and State.” Regardless of whether you define the Founding Fathers as Christian or Deist they believed in the Bible and its precepts as a guiding moral foundation for a free society. They in fact in their writings promoted the link between Christian moral precepts and a just government. They did not see how the country they were developing could survive without that Judeo-Christian moral foundation being constantly reaffirmed. There is one instance of one of the Founding Fathers making a reference in a private letter to a separation of church and state but from what I have read it is generally quoted out of context to imply something that he did not say. In addition one of the things that is generally ignored today is the fact that over half of the original 13 states had a “State Religion” in place at the founding. It was not until around the mid 1800’s that the last of those states modified their state constitution and laws to eliminate their state church. Any honest review of the founding of the United States will show that there was a very close relationship between the Government and Judeo-Christian moral precepts.
I think this guy is loosing his marbles.With all the Catholic Priest out there still paying way to much attention to the young boy’s in there church you would think that he would have enough to do with out sticking his nose in where it doesn’t belong. Religion has killed more people that anything else on earth and it’s still going on.
Bravo! Couldn’t have said it better myself!
Amen to the line “You are not God” too many look at him as a deity and infallible but he is just a man and as such a sinner as all men are.
Christian or Catholic? The pope doesn’t represent Christians. Also, the Catholics have modified and changed the facts behind the life of Christ. There have been wars fought over Catholicism, Christianity, and Protestantism (I won’t even bring up all the wars with other religions). But other than these differences, using weapons in defense, or making weapons for other to use in defense, is not un Christian, or un Catholic, or even un Jewish. Here is a quote from a recent Jeff Jacoby article. “No, Pope Francis, it is not hypocritical to talk about peace and make weapons. For if the peaceable cannot defend themselves, they will have no peace. “Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition,”Americans sang during World War II. A moral world requires moral violence, and the wisdom to know when to use it. After all, how can the moral not stand up to is or any other terroristic group? Or does he expect all of us to be martyrs?
SKOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gun Powder was invented by the Chinese in or around 1044 AD. The Pope is really referring to mass weapons production and to those who would use them to a bad end. I don’t like any of you.
the pope is an idiot.
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Joshua, you are absolutely right in all you said about the “gun” issue. The problem for the pope is that he and his minions in the RC church, THINK that the pope is the vicar of Christ on Earth, so basically, they think, his words are Christ’s words. (Goes back to a basic mis-understanding of the Scripture in Matthew 16:18-9, but that’s another article. The Bible nowhere commands Christians to by Obama-ites and give up all their weapons. Your thoughts about the pope and his ARMED guards, is right on. I make the same argument about Obama, Clinton and their host of armed guards. When the government starts providing 24/7 armed protection for my family, then I will consider locking up my weapons. Only possible exception for laying down our arms is if we, as Christians, are being persecuted for the faith. as in Romans 8:36, where Paul writes, “we are counted as sheep for the slaughter”. Nowhere in Scripture does it advocate that a Christian (or anyone for that matter), allow the cretins of this world, who care nothing about our lives and/or welfare, but only care for their next fix or whatever, to kill the innocent. (I might add that I am a Concealed carry practitioner, with a CWP, as well as an “open carry” permit in my present part-time position.