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Q&A Home > W > Weapons and Defense According to Christianity:- If a person is about to be attacked by a group of individuals about to harm him/her (for NO religious reasons) and he/she has no chance to flee, is it right to defend oneself/fight back using weapons?
- If one is about to be attacked and killed for his/her Christian FAITH; should one flee; fight back using arms or just submit oneself into God's hands? Where should the line be drawn within the context of martyrdom?
Many times in the Old Testament (e.g. David), and in the case of Mercurius Philopateer, individuals killed others in the name of God. How is this justified; given the fact that Christianity is a Religion of peace? Our Lord Jesus Christ is called the King of Peace. Therefore, resolving a difficult situation peacefully should always be our first choice and priority whenever there is a chance to do so. However, this is not always possible. Fleeing is not wrong; the Holy Family had to flee to Egypt to escape King Herod's persecution; and to save the Child, our Lord, from being killed. If fleeing is not an option; then defending oneself without a weapon would be the next choice. When St. Peter drew his sword to defend his Master cutting t the ear of the high priest's servant, our Lord Jesus Christ rebuked him saying "Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword" (Mt 26:52).
If we accept that everyone should defend himself using a weapon; we would be promoting the possession of arms, working against gun control. This is not Christian at all; whether the attack is due to a religious or non-religious motive.
As for St. Philopateer, he was a soldier in the army; and he had to use a sword to defend himself and his troops. Although Christianity does not encourage war; but the Holy Bible commands us to obey our government. One cannot go to war without a weapon. The life story of St. Philopateer Mercarius tells us that he not only had his own sword; but an angel of the Lord gave him another sword.
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