BIBLE TOPICS

Personal Protection

The Bible does not shy away from the reality of violence in the world. It also has a lot to say about how to respond to violence, and how to balance personal protection and God's protection.

Day One: Lawlessness
To be lawless is to be contrary to the law or to act without regard to the law. Laws are necessary in a sinful world (1 Timothy 1:9), and those who choose to act lawlessly further sin in the world. The word for "lawlessness" in the Bible is often translated "iniquity"...
Read More

For more, see "The Greek Geek: Ανομíα: Lawlessness"

Day Two: Safety
In an increasingly unsafe world, people are seeking safety and security. Armies face each other across vast deserts, nations arm themselves with nuclear weapons, radical ideologies endanger millions. Closer to home, we face threats to our safety and that of our families every day...
Read More

For more, see "What does the Bible say about protection?"

Day Three: Self-Defense
Without close study, the Bible can seem to give conflicting instructions on self-defense. There are numerous passages that speak of Christians being pacifistic (Proverbs 25:21, 22; Matthew 5:39; Romans 12:17). Yet there are many passages that talk about war and violence that God approves of...
Read More

For more, see "The Christian and Self-Defense"

Day Four: Gun Control
The recent shootings across the United States have caused much heartache. The senseless and tragic incidents have also renewed the intensity of discussion regarding American gun laws. Politicians, sportsmen, and theologians have all weighed in on the issue of gun control...
Read More

For more, see "How should a Christian view gun control?"

Day Five: Strength
The word strength and its derivatives are mentioned over 360 times in the Bible, applying to both natural and supernatural strength. The Greek word katei means "power, strength, might." In the Bible, strength is mentioned by Paul...
Read More

For more, see "Real Rest for the Weary"

Day Six: Violence
Violence is defined as "physical force exerted for the purpose of violating, damaging, or abusing," and sadly, violence is a part of everyday life. It's in our movies and television shows, and we live in a world where power is often established through violence...
Read More

For more, see "What does the Bible say about fighting?"

Image Credit: raymondclarkeimages; "Appointed Toys"; Creative Commons