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I realize some visitors to this site will have wide backgrounds on the subject of Christianity. Some of you may be Protestant, others Catholic, and still others could care less about Jesus Christ. Whether or not we disagree on Christianity, we must certainly agree that this country was founded on the principles of the Bible. It is clearly stated in the Declaration of Independence, ratified by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776.
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness…. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.
I have been a Christian for as long as I can remember, having put my trust and faith in Jesus Christ for my salvation. I have sometimes been questioned by those of faith, and others, “How can you be a Christian and carry a firearm?” In other words, how can I defend my position to love my fellow man, and yet carry an instrument that can take a life? My answer is quite simple, yet very complex. It is shaped by my belief in the Bible and reflected in the very statement that all men are created equal and should not be deprived of their unalienable rights.
There is a flaw at the heart of the question posed. It assumes that anyone who carries a firearm—or enjoys anything firearm related for that matter—has at the core of their being a desire for vigilante justice. That the firearm enthusiast is itching for the opportunity to use that weapon in some capacity to right a wrong and save the day. Not many outside of law enforcement are out prowling the streets looking for a criminal to catch in the act of a crime.
Putting aside the fact that shooting sports form an interesting dichotomy of extreme intensity and subtle relaxation, it is certainly a tool of defense when John Q. Citizen uses it according to the laws of the land. But why would J.Q. Citizen see the weapon on his side as a defensive tool rather than an offensive one? What keeps him from donning a cape and actively seeking the evil wrongdoer? 
The perspective is what separates the masses between those who follow the law and those who break it. Most of us believe that the firearm is only a defensive weapon, accept during times of war. This isn’t just a “Christian” thing, but it’s also a “legal” thing born out of the idea that all should be free from oppression. The law has some specific guidelines regarding the use of deadly force. Texas law says there is a civic responsibility to use deadly force, when required, to defend yourself or others. This is summarized under the Texas Concealed Handgun Laws and written in the Texas Penal Code (PC§9 Justification Excluding Criminal Responsibility). Obviously, if you have specific questions regarding the use of deadly force, consult an attorney as this issue can be a labyrinth of court opinions.
What is clear, though, is that none of those guidelines approve of firearm use in an offensive manner. It is the respect for the legal system which keeps responsible citizens from taking matters into their own hands.
But what about my Christian obligation? Doesn’t the Bible say, “Thou shalt not kill” (Exodus 20:13)? Doesn’t the Bible say I’m supposed to “love [my] neighbor as [myself]” (Leviticus 19:18; Mark 12:31)? These are absolutely true statements, though there is a better word for “kill” in Exodus; “murder”. The short answer is that the Christian obligation is not to be pacifist. In fact, that is an entirely unbiblical framework.
What do I mean? Psalm 82:3 says, “Vindicate the weak and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and destitute.” In a similar statement, Jeremiah writes, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Do justice and righteousness, and deliver the one who has been robbed from the power of his oppressor. Also do not mistreat or do violence to the stranger, the orphan, or the widow; and do not shed innocent blood in this place.” The Bible specifically calls all of us to protect those who are unable to protect themselves. To be righteous means to be “characterized by uprightness or morality” and to be “morally right or justifiable.” So the “right” thing to do is not to go outside the law—even the police have rules they must follow—but within the bounds of it, protect those around you.
Please don’t mistake these Biblical issues to mean there is a contradiction in Scripture. Nothing could be further from the truth. We are absolutely called to love our neighbor, to pray for our enemies, and to turn the other cheek. There is also a time for war and for peace, as Solomon writes in Ecclesiastes. If God wanted pacifism, He would not have called us to defend orphans and widows. Notice that Jeremiah calls us to a defensive position. When an oppressor is acting against the innocent, as law abiding citizens, we are to act against the oppressor. But there is also a prohibition to not shed blood when it is avoidable. I think all would agree that everyone is sinful, especially when sin is defined as missing the mark of God’s holiness and perfection; everyone breaks the law to one degree or another. Normally, the breaking of the law will end up with the offender receiving a ticket from a peace officer. These offenses do not violate the lives of those of the public and therefore do not normally require the citizenry to pull their weapons.
Circling back to the question posed, I am not advocating we all grab our guns, knives, pitchforks, and torches and go “take back the streets of America.” We are a law abiding people and those actions would be completely against those principles. However, we are also called to defend. Whether or not you are in professional law enforcement, we are all under the obligation to protect and to serve our fellow man. In fact, I would argue that if we all had a servant’s heart we wouldn’t have the crime rates we do.
But that’s another article.