I don’t think you would ask if you weren’t truly forgiving them. That shows me that is your intention. Same with trusting God. Do you think you would ask if you have faith in God if you didn’t have faith in God? God will not put a burden on you that you can’t handle. It seem to me you wouldn’t be able to live with yourself if you wasn’t giving it all to God. I think God wants you to trust yourself also.
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I Respect You And you Have honor here’s a Root Beer 
me truly love ya Twofeathers sir 
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From where I sit, it sounds to me like you have forgiven the robber(s) in your own heart. You wouldn’t be concerned for his losses if you hadn’t forgiven and had hardened your own heart.
On the flip side, your concern for retaliation is real and legit, and I would definitely not ignore those instincts. You’ll find your own way to square your defense of the gift of your life, but evil exists in the world, and if it’s in that guy’s heart, and he comes after you, it’s my own belief that God would want you to protect the gift of life He gave you.
You are a man of faith, and it looks to me like you can do more good on God’s behalf alive than dead at the hands of some vengeful criminal.
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My issue is at one time the vengeful criminal could have been a man of faith. That is when my thoughts go too fast for me to put them to words. Can he be brought back to someone who wants to do good. Does that make sense?
That’s cool, I am sticking with the old school because I am a Jew and we don’t believe in Hell. That is for you Christians who think there is an afterlife. I get one chance at life if I mess it up that is on me.
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Last time I went to the range 2 weeks ago
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You did truly forgive them, because you are no longer prosecuting them nor trying to retaliate, you let go of the heavy weight if hate; That is strength.
If God created all living things, might that include their ability to defend against harm?:
Thorns and spines on plants/trees, a mother Bobcat’s claws and teeth against a Coyote pack attacking her cub.
There’s a phrase going around the 2A community:
Lady Jane who caries is asked, “What are you so afraid of”?
She responds: “I’m afraid of nothing”.
ASP channel: I forgot that John is both a martial artist and a pastor. Their published email is [email protected]. Don’t know if he’d ever respond but could be interesting if he asked himself the same question you have.
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Alright today my pastor is going to go on what it means to live by the sword is to die by the sword and self defense today. Stay tuned as when the Documents come to me and audio will be released here.
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- Proverbs 24:11: “Rescue those who are being taken away to death…”
- Exodus 22:2: “If a thief is caught breaking in… and is struck a fatal blow, the defender is not guilty of bloodshed.”
- Psalm 82:4: “Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”
- Nehemiah 4:14: “…fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.” [1, 2]
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One perspective of living and dying by the sword - I always thought is a way of life of street gangs, drug dealers, and vengeance seekers by violence. Ending by jail or death. Still, a crucial lesson, especially for our youth.
Once at a large family gathering, I saw an elder preach to a group of grandchildren, - “never posses a firearm illegally”; He even shared the “penalties of the number of years you’ll spend in jail, just for carrying”; “If you must, go by it the legal way”. I told him, he’d be a good USCCA member and encouraged him to join.
Next time I saw him, he hugged me in the emergency room when we went to visit their family, as his sister died from a stroke.
I hope we are looked at as living by a shield, to protect and defend. Might even be our job to “inform” - as to “why we do it”.
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It’s crazy that you can possess legally,cross and imaginary line and be illegal.
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Here is the Lesson 2
this is my Pastor summary
MY CONCLUSION
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Biblically Christians are to walk away from situations in which or people whom are insulting or threatening to the best of our abilities.
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Christians are to be prudent in where, with whom and when we go places in order to avoid situations and people that could potentially lead to the need for self defense.
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Owning a firearm does not necessarily indicate a lack of faith. It can be a responsible decision made after careful consideration and prayer. However, excessive reliance on material possessions for security, rather than trusting in God, could indicate misplaced faith.Instead, consider taking a self defense class(es). Well worth while if you are truly concerned about your safety.
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Christians are to defend others when they are being threatened.
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IF a Christian finds themselves in a situation in which they have to defend themselves they are follow applicable laws. In Ohio onemust have a measured response to the harm that is being threatened to your person. The response should be proportionate and reluctant.
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Dying for your faith is not the worst thing in the world. I don’t believe this is a threat in our country today but who knows where the world goes.
Christians are called to pursue peace (Romans 12:18). However, this doesn’t negate the responsibility to protect oneself and others from harm. Finding a balance between these principles is a key aspect of Christian decision-making.
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I don’t identify as a Christian. I identify as a human. I also pursue peace. I try to love everyone and give everyone the love they need. We all know that making the decision to murder someone comes with the consequence and likely hood of being killed. I can’t fathom anyone murdering if they don’t want to be killed. I think it is an act of compassion to kill someone that is going to murder as a last resort if there is know other way to stop them. That for me is where I find balance
Murder as in defending yourself against murder or grave bodily injury?
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Murder is different from killing in self defense.
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Agreed, just verifying I read what he wrote the correct way
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It’s hard to interpret what he posts at times!
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I wasn’t talking about you. I was talking about a murderer as in someone who purposely kills an innocent person.
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I know you weren’t,
If you defend yourself it is NOT murder.
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I would never murder anyone. As long as one isn’t trying to murder someone while they are defending themselves.