Question for jehovahs witnesses.?

Let's take a close look at what Jesus taught his followers on the night before his death.

I love the book of Luke. Luke as a physician had an eye for detail. Some details he saw as important to write down the other three gospels did not record.

Many of the brothers and sisters take a firm stand against any type of violence, though the Israelites at time were a very violent nation, and that violence was backed by Jehovah. In a world full of unrighteousness a righteous person may find himself in a situation that prompts some defensive action.

How can I say this when so many use the scriptures to say violence is condemned, even defensive violence? Let's examine what Jesus was saying in Luke 22:35-37

"He also said to them: “When I sent YOU forth without purse and food pouch and sandals, YOU did not want for anything, did YOU?” They said: “No!” 36 Then he said to them: “But now let the one that has a purse take it up, likewise also a food pouch; and let the one having no sword sell his outer garment and buy one. 37 For I tell YOU that this which is written must be accomplished in me, namely, ‘And he was reckoned with lawless ones.’ For that which concerns me is having an accomplishment"

In verse 36 Jesus told the apostles it was necessary for them to have a sword. What were they suppose to use this sword for? Eating soup? Maybe they were to cut their tent stakes with it? Maybe it was for protecting themselves from wild animals? I don't think so, and neither did Jesus. There is better instruments for the three things I mentioned. Soup needs a spoon, an axe better for tent stakes and a long staff for wild animals.

Jesus said what the swords were for, in verse 37 he tells us it is for the "lawless ones". These swords were for protection.

The apostles were not suppose to go looking for trouble, but they were suppose to protect themselves when necessary.

Using a sword on someone does not always have to be fatal. but if the assailant continues to push and try to do harm sometimes fatalities can occur.

Please also look at Ambar's links they go further into this subject

When Peter tried to defend Jesus with a sword and cut off the slaves ear, what did Jesus do? He healed the mans ear and told Peter to put away his sword and that all who take up the sword will perish by the sword. Matthew 26:51-52 // John 18:10-11.

Now instead of sword, replace that word with gun, knife, or any other weapon and you get your answer.

We can seriously wound an attacker, but not kill him. Blood is sacred to Jehovah.

Ge 9:6

He who sheds man’s blood shall have his blood shed for the man, because in his image God made man.

Jehovah God wanted us to use his name. Matthew 6:9, Jesus told us that we should pray: "Our Father in the heavens, let your NAME be SANCTIFIED." Also Isaiah 43:10 also brings out that Jehovah said, "You are my WITNESSES." God is a Title. Even with Arabs. A good dictionary will show you, “Allah” is a shortened form of the Arabic term meaning “the god", this is not a name. The title “God” is neither personal nor distinctive. In the Hebrew Scriptures the same word (ʼElo‧him′) is applied to Jehovah, the true God, and also to false gods. The Imperial Bible-Dictionary says: “It is everywhere a proper name, denoting the personal God and him only; whereas Elohim partakes more of the character of a common noun, denoting usually, indeed, but not necessarily nor uniformly, the Supreme. . . . The Hebrew may say the Elohim, the true God, in opposition to all false gods; but he never says the Jehovah, for Jehovah is the name of the true God only. He says again and again my God . . . ; but never my Jehovah, for when he says my God, he means Jehovah. He speaks of the God of Israel, but never of the Jehovah of Israel, for there is no other Jehovah. He speaks of the living God, but never of the living Jehovah, for he cannot conceive of Jehovah as other than living.” Hope This Helps

You definitely have a right to defend your life and the life of your family and friends. You just want to use discretion on how much if you can get away without killing them that's encouraged because life is precious and we don't want to be careless about life.

The state law may well say that use of violence is acceptable under certain conditions; however, that still does not mean that a person is required to use violence. If simply means that if they choose to use violence then they have a defence in law.

Here are two articles that explain what Jehovah's witnesses believe on this subject:

http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/102010324#h=11:...

http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/102008204#h=0:0...

The Bible says that we must obey God as ruler rather than men, Acts 5:29 This means that although we must obey the laws of the land in which we live, when those laws conflict with God's direction for Christians, we have to defer to what he says.

You ask what do Jehovah's Witnesses teach from the Bible about this subject of using deadly force in self defense. Here is the cut and paste:

The Bible's Viewpoint - Self-Defense—How Far Can a Christian Go?

“Why live in fear? Learn practical ways to defend yourself and to escape an attacker. Easy and effective defense techniques are demonstrated in detail. This instructional video could be the difference between being a statistic or a survivor.”—Advertisement for self-defense video.

NO ONE has to explain the selling power of such a video today. In the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A., packs of youths chant “Beat, beat, beat” as they prowl the streets seeking victims to mug. “Fear of crime colors the character of the entire city” of Rio de Janeiro, reports Time magazine. In Hong Kong armed robberies and shootings are occurring in areas where violent crime has been almost unknown—until now.

Similar reports are heard worldwide. With what result? “Citizens weigh the risks of shooting back,” says Newsweek. Christians are not shielded from these “critical times hard to deal with,” but will shooting back really make “the difference between being a statistic or a survivor”?—2 Timothy 3:1.

Meet Violence With Violence?

‘If I carry a gun,’ some believe, ‘I’ll be safe. I’ll get him before he gets me. At least I’ll scare him off!’ However, it’s not that simple.

George Napper, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A., public-safety commissioner, says: “Owning a handgun means being prepared to live with the aftermath of killing another human being.” Is a Christian prepared to live with such a consequence, which may well include bloodguilt?—Compare Numbers 35:11, 12.

Also, God’s Word commands, ‘Beat your swords into plowshares’ and, “Seek peace and pursue it.” (Micah 4:3; 1 Peter 3:11) How can Christians seek protection in firearms and at the same time live in harmony with the Bible’s requirements? In any case, the attacker is likely to be quicker on the draw than the victim.

Jesus rejected armed resistance. True, he instructed his apostles to carry two swords to the garden of Gethsemane, the place where he would be arrested. But why did he do this? Having weapons, yet not using them, powerfully demonstrated that Jesus’ followers should not resort to carnal weapons. It is noteworthy that having a weapon available, Peter impetuously used it. Jesus strongly rebuked him for this rash act with the words: “All those who take the sword will perish by the sword.”—Matthew 26:36, 47-56; Luke 22:36-38, 49-51.

‘That is all well and good for owning firearms,’ someone may say. ‘But what about learning the martial arts for self-defense, such as judo, karate, and kendo?’ Ask yourself, is not the object of this instruction to fight or hurt others? And is not such training really equivalent to arming oneself lethally? (1 Timothy 3:3) Even practice sessions have resulted in serious injuries and fatalities.

Romans 12:17-19 offers wise advice in this regard: “Return evil for evil to no one. . . . If possible, as far as it depends upon you, be peaceable with all men. Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but yield place to the wrath; for it is written: ‘Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says Jehovah.’” The Greek word Paul uses for “evil” (ka·kos′) could also mean “destructive, damaging.” Hence, Christians are to keep from all thought of vindictively damaging or harming another person.

Rather than impetuously expressing his own wrath, a Christian fully trusts in God, who says of his people: “He that is touching you is touching my eyeball.” In harmony with this, God promises to ‘annihilate the wicked’ in due time.—Zechariah 2:8; Psalm 145:20.

A Time to Fight?

‘I won’t give up my money without a fight!’ some daringly exclaim. Dick Mellard, manager of education at the National Crime Prevention Institute, cautions: “It’s human nature to resist, but human nature can get [you] killed in the wrong situation.” Many muggers are dangerously armed and are tense and nervous. Lost money can be regained, but what about a lost life? Is it worth the risk?

George Napper gives this advice: “Perhaps the best way to protect yourself is by risking your property rather than your life. Most robbers and burglars are there to steal, not to kill.” In situations where a person is simply accosted or when his money is demanded, a sound principle is: “A slave of the Lord does not need to fight.”—2 Timothy 2:24.

This is not pacifism, a policy of nonresistance under any circumstance. At Exodus 22:2, 3, a situation is described in which a thief is fatally struck while entering someone’s home during the day. Such a defensive measure was considered tantamount to murder, since the thief could have been identified and brought to justice. But during the night, it would be difficult for the householder to see an intruder and ascertain his intentions. Therefore, the person killing an intruder in the dark was considered guiltless.

Thus, the Bible does not uphold impetuous attempts at self-defense. In not supporting pacifism, however, the Bible indicates that there is a time to defend oneself. Christians may ward off physically aggressive attacks against themselves, their families, or others in genuine need of defense. But they would not initiate an attack, nor would they physically retaliate to save their possessions. They would not carry weapons in anticipation of such an attack; rather, they endeavor to “live peaceably.”—2 Corinthians 13:11.

[Footnotes]

While the context shows that Paul was here referring to verbal fights, the original language word rendered “fight” (ma′khe·sthai) is generally associated with armed or hand-to-hand combat.

A woman threatened with rape should scream and use any means at her disposal to resist intercourse.—Deuteronomy 22:23-27.