Dave,
 
I gratefully read your post about arming Christians.  Your post has required me to finally dig deeper into the Word and decide what God's word truly says about taking up arms to protect myself and my family.  Let me say right up front, I am a Texan and we do have as part of our state law "the Castle Doctrine."  I also hold a concealed hand gun license.  The first thing we were taught in the CHL class is to avoid having to show or use your weapon.  Run if possible to avoid having to shoot someone.  But we do need to know that if we are sufficiently convinced that our very lives are threatened, we need to take action to stop the threat.  The teachers also take an extended part of the class to tell their students that although the other person might be the one getting shot, we will be damaged too; not only psychologically but even more importantly, spiritually!
 
I have been an authentic, committed believer for approximately 8 years.  Before then, I would have told you I was a believer, but hadn't given Him my heart and my life.  Until Dave's post, I was one of the folks who fell back on Luke 22: 36
 
He said to them, "But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.
 
Without looking further into the scripture, this fit my opinion that keeping and if necessary, using a weapon was acceptable.  After looking into this subject over the past few days, I have figured out a few things.  One, the greek definition of the word sword used here was not an actual saber, but a dagger - a defensive weapon.  I don't believe Jesus was telling them to grab their sword and become the aggressive, militaristic Army of God.  I do believe he knew when they would die as martyrs for Him, and didn't want someone to take that from all of Christianity by exercising their own free will and killing the Disciples in such a way that God would get no glory from their lives.  I too believe we have to prepare to protect our families - defensively, not on the offense  - from those who would try to exercise their free will by taking away the lives of my family and fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.  When the disciples told Him they had two swords, he responded "that is enough" indicating he wasn't expecting them to build an armory for every man woman and child.
 
I have even turned to the idea that I should put my entire faith in the Lord to provide.  I have no doubt that he can, but I also don't think he would want us to stop our labors and just expect that he will just provide all of our needs in the manner of manna from heaven.  I think he will bless, guide and strengthen us as we make preparations in the areas of food, shelter, communications and even defense.  Every moment of these efforts must be covered in prayer, before, during and after.
 
I did find one other scripture that impacted my opinion: 1 Timothy 5:8
 
If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
 
In my heart, this tells me it is my responsibility to provide for my family in every way.  That would include protecting them from harm.  I am not a Biblical scholar like so many of the Doves, but I do hope to be some day.  That is why I am so grateful to David, who has caused me to dig deeper into the Word just for this little bit of information I have gleaned so far.  As you can tell, I still think our action to arm ourselves defensively was prudent and acceptable according to scripture BUT one thing I can promise, I will continue to dig into scripture to affirm, or not, our decision.
 
Your brother in Christ,
 
Rob

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Galatians 5: 22, 23a