The Biblical View On Self Defense (With Greg Laurie)
Believers are the Lord’s representatives to the world. We’re His ambassadors. And when we’ve been taken advantage of, how can we defend ourselves, but still reflect Christ properly and positively?
___________________________________________________________________________
Thank you for watching, tune in live here on YouTube every Sunday and Thursday for more messages of hope and encouragement from Pastor Greg Laurie!
To support the ministry of Pastor Greg Laurie and help us continue to reach people with the life-changing message of Jesus Christ, visit here https://harvest.org/donate/
Stay Connected
Main Website: Harvest.org/
Daily Devotionals: https://harvest.org/resources/devotions/
Greg Laurie YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/greglaurie
Greg Laurie Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/harvest.greglaurie/
Greg Laurie Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greglaurie/
Greg Laurie Twitter: https://twitter.com/greglaurie
Harvest Christian Fellowship
HCF Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/harvest.org
HCF Twitter: https://twitter.com/harvestriv
HCF Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harvestriverside/
Romans 13 does say governments are God’s servants. However, that doesn’t mean that governments are Godly. The Roman government was not Godly yet Paul calls the government God’s servant. King Nebuchadnezzar was evil yet God called him his servant to carry out judgment on Israel(Jerimiah 27;6 and 43:10). We shouldn’t confuse all actions of the government to be good because they are God’s servants, especially when they conflict with the message of the gospel.
Greg is right we don’t govern society with the message of the sermon of the mount. We are called to forgive, the government administers justice. We are told to love our enemies and pray for them. The government defends and kills its enemies. The gospel message in the sermon on the mount and God's purpose for government are incompatible with each other. The gospel doesn’t teach exceptions for Jesus’s commands. There is no exception for “loving my enemy'' yet we twist scripture to try to justify killing our “enemies”.
Using a soldier as an illustration for spiritual warfare does not give approval of the profession of the soldier. In fact Paul says in 2 Corinthians 10;3-5 “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
He specifically clarifies “we don’t wage war as the world does” “ we don’t use weapons of the world”
Jesus telling disciples to buy swords in Luke 22 was not for self-defense. This passage is always misinterpreted to justify lethal force. The passage clearly states the swords were for fulfilling scripture. Luke 22; 35-38 35 And he said to them, “When I sent you out with no purse or bag or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “Nothing.” 36 He said to them, “But now, let him who has a purse take it, and likewise a bag. And let him who has no sword sell his mantle and buy one. 37 For I tell you that this scripture must be fulfilled in me, ‘And he was reckoned with transgressors’; for what is written about me has its fulfilment.” 38 And they said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords.” And he said to them, “It is enough.”
Two swords were “enough” to fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah 53;12 to be numbered with the transgressors or the lawless. Jesus never says they are for self-defense. That is what so many think it implies but Jesus very clearly states the purpose of the swords. Jesus even rebukes Peter for using one of those swords a few hours later to further prove they were not for self-defense.
There are no examples of any justified use of the sword anywhere in the gospels or epistles even though there were many opportunities to do so. Jesus and the apostles taught and lived out what loving our enemies meant and it never involved the use of the sword.
"the government only frightens those who are doing wrong" what a load of crap!!!!A pure LIE GREG LAURIE!!! The U.S. goverment and military and paramiltary forces dont just scare innocent people, they terrorize, violate our constitution, human traffic babies, DARPA puts nano implants in every citizen for mind control and physical body remote control purpose, they rape our nuero specific regions of our brains and nervous systems 24/7 and 365…….They deserve to be stripped of all their authority and replaced by the people….Just like Jesus stripped Satan of his authority on the cross….
Sometimes these arguments seem a little silly to me. I've often wondered if the command to "turn the cheek" would have also meant that Jesus would have simply stood by if his mother was assaulted in their home. I can't imagine him doing that. I also can't imagine him thinking that his disciples needed to carry swords so that people would "associate the disciples" with Him while they were already preaching the gospel, which would do a very good job of condemning them anyway! Anybody who knows the difference between Bonnie and Clyde and Frank Hamer knows that there is a difference between "living by the sword" and simply using one for righteous defense. Personally as a former police officer I found it very offensive when I would hear Christians say that they would not defend their own family because they could simply call me to do that work for them. As if I am some kind of a sacrificial, "dirty, unrighteous" person that can be used for such a thing so that they can maintain their piety.
With all the respect pastor Greg I do not agree with the comment that us women should watch what we wear to not give a man temptation. I believe in Self control.
So the government that is currently oppressing the people in my land right now were put there by God and I have to obey them? If my right is to defend myself if my life is threatened by them or anyone I love, then some skulls will be cracking. Amen.
Romans 8 is hard for me to digest especially since the Pope (someone who claims to be mediator between God and man) quotes this chapter a lot when trying to force compliance with evil governments. I think something is lost in translation because obviously not every government is good. Hitler, Stalin, Zedong, etc. Hosea 8 interestingly says that people sat up kings that God didn't choose. Daniel didn't comply when the music was played though the king of the land ordered it. Nor did Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
"They have set up kings, but not by Me;
They have appointed princes, but I did not know it.
With their silver and gold they have made idols for themselves,
That they might be cut off."
And even when the people of Israel in 1 Samuel 8 (why are all these in the 8th chapter? lol) rebelled and chose their own king, God warned them what would happen and the oppression that would come because of their choice to choose a king outside of God's will.
"Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them."
I personally just view King Jesus as my authority. If a government lines up with what my King teaches, I'll follow. But where they reject my King, I stand against. As Paul said, "Imitate me as I imitate Christ." I'd say first of all, just imitate Christ from the get go. Where government starts to turn away from righteousness, do not comply. There are evil men in positions of power and though I believe that God allows this, He does not like it. People are free to choose and we reap what we sow.
Just as Cain brought the fruits of his labor and it was rejected, so to do many in power get there through their own labor, never giving glory to God except maybe sometimes they go to church on Christmas for a photo op to trick the minds of gullible people.
If a group of people are being slaughtered because of their ethnicity and it's government sanctioned. I will stand against that government and protect those people. Just as some Germans did to the Nazi government during the years of Hitler. I would lie to a Nazi's face till my face was purple if it meant protecting innocence. Remember the harlot that protected the spies in Jericho.
Remember, Satan is the god of this world. Not the creator, not the savior, and not the God of those of us whom believe. If you do not submit to Jesus, then you're submitting to Satan. I think the same goes for governing authorities.
One nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all.
If our nation and people are not careful, we could experience great wrath for the immorality and corruption that is coming to the surface in recent years. This could be in the form of evil leaders, allowed to be here by God just as a judgement on us as was Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar, and countless others throughout history were.
When a nation fails to hate evil and turns away from good, that nation is ripe for Godly wrath. Amos warns of this as well as so many others.
Sometimes the anger comes from angry parents that take out their anger on their children. Picked on by their peers. Never knowing why they did it to you. Never knowing why you deserve it. It took me falling like a star from heaven into such darkness late in my life. God called me I that darkness and said aren't you tired yet aren't you ready to come home. I remember throwing my hands up and saying what ever it takes Lord, what ever it takes. God brought me back into his light gave me a new heart. Delivered me from my demons and removed the hate. Wow!! I am now convinced that there is nothing that God can't do. He just keeps drawing me further in and I keep want more. Praise The Lord!!
The weapons of our warfare…"ARE NOT"..carnal, but mighty to the pulling down of strongholds. Prayer…………is our weapon. I will not stand before Jesus and have to explain to Him why I felt I had to justify killing one of His creation. But hey, you do you. I have to stand before Him for my actions….not yours. Either we serve a God who has and is in all control…..over our lives…..or He does not. So pick up your gun and defend yourself…….because God forbid…..He doesn't step in to save you.
', 'https%3A%2F%2Fselfdefenseforwomentips.com%2Fself-defense-tips-for-women%2Fthe-biblical-view-on-self-defense-with-greg-laurie%2F', 'https%3A%2F%2Fselfdefenseforwomentips.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2022%2F08%2F0-20-300x225.jpg')){kind=link}
&clickthru={URL}', 'https%3A%2F%2Fselfdefenseforwomentips.com%2Fself-defense-tips-for-women%2Fthe-biblical-view-on-self-defense-with-greg-laurie%2F', 'https%3A%2F%2Fselfdefenseforwomentips.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2022%2F08%2F0-20-300x225.jpg')){kind=link}
We hope you have been blessed by this video. Please take a moment to subscribe and share it with a friend!
Romans 13 does say governments are God’s servants. However, that doesn’t mean that governments are Godly. The Roman government was not Godly yet Paul calls the government God’s servant. King Nebuchadnezzar was evil yet God called him his servant to carry out judgment on Israel(Jerimiah 27;6 and 43:10). We shouldn’t confuse all actions of the government to be good because they are God’s servants, especially when they conflict with the message of the gospel.
Greg is right we don’t govern society with the message of the sermon of the mount. We are called to forgive, the government administers justice. We are told to love our enemies and pray for them. The government defends and kills its enemies. The gospel message in the sermon on the mount and God's purpose for government are incompatible with each other. The gospel doesn’t teach exceptions for Jesus’s commands. There is no exception for “loving my enemy'' yet we twist scripture to try to justify killing our “enemies”.
Using a soldier as an illustration for spiritual warfare does not give approval of the profession of the soldier. In fact Paul says in 2 Corinthians 10;3-5 “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
He specifically clarifies “we don’t wage war as the world does” “ we don’t use weapons of the world”
Jesus telling disciples to buy swords in Luke 22 was not for self-defense. This passage is always misinterpreted to justify lethal force. The passage clearly states the swords were for fulfilling scripture. Luke 22; 35-38 35 And he said to them, “When I sent you out with no purse or bag or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “Nothing.” 36 He said to them, “But now, let him who has a purse take it, and likewise a bag. And let him who has no sword sell his mantle and buy one. 37 For I tell you that this scripture must be fulfilled in me, ‘And he was reckoned with transgressors’; for what is written about me has its fulfilment.” 38 And they said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords.” And he said to them, “It is enough.”
Two swords were “enough” to fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah 53;12 to be numbered with the transgressors or the lawless. Jesus never says they are for self-defense. That is what so many think it implies but Jesus very clearly states the purpose of the swords. Jesus even rebukes Peter for using one of those swords a few hours later to further prove they were not for self-defense.
There are no examples of any justified use of the sword anywhere in the gospels or epistles even though there were many opportunities to do so. Jesus and the apostles taught and lived out what loving our enemies meant and it never involved the use of the sword.
"the government only frightens those who are doing wrong" what a load of crap!!!!A pure LIE GREG LAURIE!!! The U.S. goverment and military and paramiltary forces dont just scare innocent people, they terrorize, violate our constitution, human traffic babies, DARPA puts nano implants in every citizen for mind control and physical body remote control purpose, they rape our nuero specific regions of our brains and nervous systems 24/7 and 365…….They deserve to be stripped of all their authority and replaced by the people….Just like Jesus stripped Satan of his authority on the cross….
Our fight is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities of evil
You guys are looking at this wanting to be able to defend yourselves
Sometimes these arguments seem a little silly to me. I've often wondered if the command to "turn the cheek" would have also meant that Jesus would have simply stood by if his mother was assaulted in their home. I can't imagine him doing that. I also can't imagine him thinking that his disciples needed to carry swords so that people would "associate the disciples" with Him while they were already preaching the gospel, which would do a very good job of condemning them anyway! Anybody who knows the difference between Bonnie and Clyde and Frank Hamer knows that there is a difference between "living by the sword" and simply using one for righteous defense. Personally as a former police officer I found it very offensive when I would hear Christians say that they would not defend their own family because they could simply call me to do that work for them. As if I am some kind of a sacrificial, "dirty, unrighteous" person that can be used for such a thing so that they can maintain their piety.
Hey Greg , God Bless You My Brother
With all the respect pastor Greg I do not agree with the comment that us women should watch what we wear to not give a man temptation. I believe in Self control.
What does God say when justice and government are helping the evil, and punishing the good??
So the government that is currently oppressing the people in my land right now were put there by God and I have to obey them?
If my right is to defend myself if my life is threatened by them or anyone I love, then some skulls will be cracking.
Amen.
All Christians ought to apply modesty, male and female.
Should we obey the govt when its them who are corrupt?
Romans 8 is hard for me to digest especially since the Pope (someone who claims to be mediator between God and man) quotes this chapter a lot when trying to force compliance with evil governments. I think something is lost in translation because obviously not every government is good. Hitler, Stalin, Zedong, etc. Hosea 8 interestingly says that people sat up kings that God didn't choose. Daniel didn't comply when the music was played though the king of the land ordered it. Nor did Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
"They have set up kings, but not by Me;
They have appointed princes, but I did not know it.
With their silver and gold they have made idols for themselves,
That they might be cut off."
And even when the people of Israel in 1 Samuel 8 (why are all these in the 8th chapter? lol) rebelled and chose their own king, God warned them what would happen and the oppression that would come because of their choice to choose a king outside of God's will.
"Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them."
I personally just view King Jesus as my authority. If a government lines up with what my King teaches, I'll follow. But where they reject my King, I stand against. As Paul said, "Imitate me as I imitate Christ." I'd say first of all, just imitate Christ from the get go. Where government starts to turn away from righteousness, do not comply. There are evil men in positions of power and though I believe that God allows this, He does not like it. People are free to choose and we reap what we sow.
Just as Cain brought the fruits of his labor and it was rejected, so to do many in power get there through their own labor, never giving glory to God except maybe sometimes they go to church on Christmas for a photo op to trick the minds of gullible people.
If a group of people are being slaughtered because of their ethnicity and it's government sanctioned. I will stand against that government and protect those people. Just as some Germans did to the Nazi government during the years of Hitler. I would lie to a Nazi's face till my face was purple if it meant protecting innocence. Remember the harlot that protected the spies in Jericho.
Remember, Satan is the god of this world. Not the creator, not the savior, and not the God of those of us whom believe. If you do not submit to Jesus, then you're submitting to Satan. I think the same goes for governing authorities.
One nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all.
If our nation and people are not careful, we could experience great wrath for the immorality and corruption that is coming to the surface in recent years. This could be in the form of evil leaders, allowed to be here by God just as a judgement on us as was Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar, and countless others throughout history were.
When a nation fails to hate evil and turns away from good, that nation is ripe for Godly wrath. Amos warns of this as well as so many others.
Sometimes the anger comes from angry parents that take out their anger on their children. Picked on by their peers. Never knowing why they did it to you. Never knowing why you deserve it. It took me falling like a star from heaven into such darkness late in my life. God called me I that darkness and said aren't you tired yet aren't you ready to come home. I remember throwing my hands up and saying what ever it takes Lord, what ever it takes. God brought me back into his light gave me a new heart. Delivered me from my demons and removed the hate. Wow!! I am now convinced that there is nothing that God can't do. He just keeps drawing me further in and I keep want more. Praise The Lord!!
Prove to me the sword Christ talks about isn't the words of damnation by the elect .
The weapons of our warfare…"ARE NOT"..carnal, but mighty to the pulling down of strongholds. Prayer…………is our weapon. I will not stand before Jesus and have to explain to Him why I felt I had to justify killing one of His creation. But hey, you do you. I have to stand before Him for my actions….not yours. Either we serve a God who has and is in all control…..over our lives…..or He does not. So pick up your gun and defend yourself…….because God forbid…..He doesn't step in to save you.