I'm looking for an effective, less than lethal, method of defense for my mother who refuses to use lethal methods to defend her life because she believes she will go to hell for taking a life even in defense of her own. I realize that most here including me don't endorse LTL defense methods, but I know she won't change her mind.
Hi L.K. Kick!
I take it your mother is a believer in God because she believes she will go to hell for taking a life even in defense of her own. Well how would she react if I can prove to her that God said she can, no must defend her life wherever and whenever she can?
When God instituted human government by law after Noah's flood, He gave Noah certain laws by which to govern the human race, and man was then held responsible for self-government (Gen. 9:1-7).
There are six very important laws which God gave Noah and his decendants. These Laws were:
(1) "Be fruitful and multply, and replenish the earth" (Gen. 9:1, 7).
(2) "Into thine hand are they [animals] delivered" (Gen. 9:2).
(3) "Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have i given you all things" (Gen. 9:4).
(4) "The blood thereof shall ye not eat" (Gen. 9:4).
(5) "WHOSOEVER SHEDDETH MAN'S BLOOD, BY MAN SHALL HIS BLOOD BY SHED: for in the image of God made he him" (Gen. 9:5-6).
And last but not least;
(6) "I have established my covenant with you . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . FOR PERPETUAL GENERATIONS . . . the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the "EVERLASTING COVENANT" between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth" (Gen. 9:8-17).
These few laws have been the basis of all laws of God and man in every age since the flood of Noah.
It was at this time God constituted capital punishment, and God has never revoked this particular law, "Whosoever sheddeth man's blood, BY MAN shall HIS BLOOD BE SHED (Gen. 9:5-6)." This law will continue as an eternal law, and as is revealed in (Isiah 11:4-9; 65:20-25) it will be in force even during the Millennium.
That this law will be in force during the Millennium is plainly reaffirmed in (Rom. 13:1-6), in which the apostle Paul taught that even in this age of grace, law-enforcement officers are ordained of God, and that they are His ministers to bear "not the sword in vain" but that they are supposed to "execute wrath upon him that doeth evil."
It is totally necessary for human governments to punish criminals according to the crimes committed. Human governments are part of the moral government of God. That God has instituted human governments to help Him secure this end is not only clear in Gen. 9 and Rom. 13, but also in many other passages (Dan. 2:21; 4:17-25; 5:21; 1 Pet. 2:13-14).
All administrators of human government, when they rule contrary to the law of God will be punished in due time by God for mismanagement of their authority. God never sanctions selfish and wicked administration of authority, and if such continues long it will be overthrown. Men are under obligation to obey human government when, and as long as the requirements are not inconsistent with the moral law's of God.
Can we, should we arm ourselves against criminals who seek to kill and destroy?
"A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring." (Proverbs 25:26).
"Blessed be the LORD my strength which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:" (Psalms 144:1).
Now if someone comes and breaks into your home and he is killed, then no blood shall be shed over him;
"If a thief be found breaking in, and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for him." (Exodus 22;2).
Get your mom a gun mate, teach her how to use it, and God will be pleased with her. She wont be going to Hell. God doesnt lie! "In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;" (Titus 1:2). Sleep easy good lady!
Haz.