Keeping a Firearm for Protection

Conclusion of Should a Christian keep a gun, perhaps a handgun or a rifle to protect himself from other humans?

To Christians, life is much more valuable than material things.   We know that a person's "life does not result from the things he possesses." (Luke 12:15)  So if talking in a mild way to a robber with a gun does not stop him, we follow Jesus' advice:  "Do not resist the one who is wicked."  This may mean that we let him have whatever he wants.  (Matthew 5:39, 40; Luke 6:29) Of course, it is best to avoid becoming targets of criminals.  They may be less likely to attack us if we follow the Bible's advice and avoid "the showy display of one's means of life."  (1 John 2:16)  It will also be a protection for us if we are known by our neighbors as being peaceable Witnesses of Jehovah. -Proverbs 18:10. 

Christians respect the conscience of others.   (Romans 14:21) Some brothers and sisters would be shocked, or even stumbled, if they learned that one of their Christian brothers had a gun to protect himself from other humans. We may have a legal right to own a gun, but because we love our brothers, we would never do something that we know might stumble them. -1 Corinthians 10:32, 33; 13:4, 5.  

Christians want to be a good example to others.   (2 Corinthians 4:2;1 Peter 5:2, 3) If a Christian has a gun to protect himself from other humans, the elders will give him counsel from the  Bible. If he decides the keep the gun, he would not be a good example.  As a result, he would not be able to have any responsibilities or special  privileges  in the congregation.  The same applies to a Christian who continue to carry a gun as part of his secular work. It would be much better if he tried to find another job.

A Christian must make his own decisions about how he will protect himself, his family, and his possessions, as well as where he will work. But when he makes such choices, he should base them on Bible principles. Our wise God gave these principles to us because he loves us. That is why Christians who have a strong relationship; with Jehovah choose not to keep a gun to protect themselves from other humans.  They know that if they trust in God and follow Bible principles in their life, they will have security forever.  - Psalm 97:10; Proverbs 1:33; 2: 6, 7.  

Next time: Are You Doing Too Much?

From the jw. org publication