Self-defense

[Guest]

Leaders are shown as "bearing the sword' in Gods WORD.
This leader is said to be GODS SERVANT, thereby PROVING that GODS SERVANT CAN BEAR the SWORD !

We are ALL Gods servants who follow him and where we are AUTHORIZED to do so, as CHL holders like myself ARE, Im sorry but the scriptures ARE with us in using the sword where it is just to do so.
Those who DO EVIL ShOULD FEAR Gods SERVANT who is AUTHORIZED to bear the sword !

For he is God's servant to you for good. But if you do evil, fear; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's servant, an avenger for wrath to the one practicing evil.
(Rom 13:4 EMTV)

For he beareth not the sword in vain -
The “sword†is an instrument of punishment, as well as an emblem of war. Princes were accustomed to wear a sword as an emblem of their authority; and the “sword†was often used for the purpose of “beheading,†or otherwise punishing the guilty. The meaning of the apostle is, that he does not wear this badge of authority as an unmeaningful show, but that it will be used to execute the laws. As this is the design of the power intrusted to him, and as he will “exercise†his authority, people should be influenced “by fear†to keep the law, even if there were no better motive.

A revenger ... -
In Rom_12:19, vengeance is said to belong to God. Yet he “executes†his vengeance by means of subordinate agents. It belongs to him to take vengeance by direct judgments, by the plague, famine, sickness, or earthquakes; by the appointment of magistrates; or by letting loose the passions of people to prey upon each other. When a magistrate inflicts punishment on the guilty, it is to be regarded as the act of God taking vengeance “by him;†and on this principle only is it right for a judge to condemn a man to death. It is not because one man has by nature any right over the life of another, or because “society†has any right collectively which it has not as individuals; but because “God†gave life, and because he has chosen to take it away when crime is committed by the appointment of magistrates, and not by coming forth himself visibly to execute the laws. Where “human†laws fail, however, he often takes vengeance into his own hands, and by the plague, or some signal judgments, sweeps the guilty into eternity.
-Albert Barnes



a revenge to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil;
he is a defender of the laws, a vindicator of divine justice, an avenger of the wrongs of men; and his business is to inflict proper punishment, which is meant by wrath, upon delinquents.
- John Gill


Rom 13:4 The sword -
The instrument of capital punishment, which God authorizes him to inflict.
-John Wesley


For he is the minister of God, a revenger -
???? ???????? ????? ???????, For he is God’s vindictive minister, to execute wrath; ??? ?????, to inflict punishment upon the transgressors of the law; and this according to the statutes of that law; for God’s civil ministers are never allowed to pronounce or inflict punishment according to their own minds or feeling, but according to the express declarations of the law.
-Adam Clarke

 

[Mike]

Okay, I think I've seen enough. This topic will be locked pending moderator discussion. This has become a war of accusations without even a hint of understanding or balance of amicability.

We will discuss what do do with this, and either send it to dead threads or give it one more chance. I warned once, but it's gotten out of hand and is quickly heading south. I believe everyone made their points anyway.



Mike