The Biblical Right to Self Defense | Dr. Conrad Vine

Extracted Verses and Quotes from the Sermon

Biblical Verses

Matthew 10:16

“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore, be shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.”

Matthew 10:22

“All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.”

Hebrews 13:5

“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

Exodus 22:2-3

“If a thief is found breaking in and is beaten to death, no blood guilt is incurred. But if it happens after sunrise, blood guilt is incurred.”

Psalm 46:1

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

Psalm 144

“It is God who trains my hands for war and my fingers for battle.”

Proverbs 21:31

“The horse is prepared against the day of battle, but safety is of the Lord.”

Proverbs 25:26

“Like a muddy spring or a polluted fountain is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.”

Genesis 14:14-16

“When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained men born in his household and went in pursuit as far as Dan. During the night Abram divided his men to attack them and he routed them, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus.”

Nehemiah 4:9

“So we prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection against them day and night.”

Matthew 5:38-39

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.”

Matthew 26:52

“Put your sword back in its place, for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.”

Memorable Quotes

“We are now targets as Christians. And if you follow the news, you’ll know that in places like Nigeria, almost every week, 50, 100, 200 Christians are being killed.”

“God has constituted the husband the head of the wife to be her protector. He is her houseband, the husband or houseband of the family binding the members together.”

“The right to self-defense is clearly biblical. But Christians are nowhere commanded in scripture or allowed to use violence to propagate the gospel.”

“If that evil day comes, as a husband and as a father, it is my responsibility before God to take whatever measures are necessary to protect the innocents whom God has entrusted to my care.”

“We have the God-given right to defend ourselves. We don’t have the God-given right to kill for evangelism or other purposes like that. But we do have the God-given right for self-defense.”

Other Quotations

“Although the motivations for many of these incidents remain unknown, the rise in crimes against churches is taking place in a context in which American culture appears increasingly hostile to Christianity.” — Family Research Council Report

“Seeking first of all divine counsel, Abraham prepared for war. From his own encampment, he summoned 318 trained servants, men trained in the fear of God, in the service of their master, and in the practice of arms.” — Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets