by Rev. Dr. Francis Nigel Lee (Barrister alias Trial Lawyer)

Professor-Emeritus of Systematic Theology, Queensland Presbyterian Theological College (Australia) and formerly Advocate of the Supreme Court of South Africa
The December 1996 issue of the British Reformed Fellowship News Alert (pg. 6) opposed the new British Firearms Amendment Bill being enacted, in the wake of the tragic massacre at Dunblane. It rightly records that “while the Christian foundations of our country are being smashed” — the Christian Voice was giving an “excellent witness” in pointing out that the new Bill is “unjust” and “un-Constitutional.”

The new Bill should have grabbed gangsters — not the guns of the good guys!

In 1991, the Presbyterian Church of Queensland in Australia called for the re-introduction of the death penalty for murder. For God is not only loving; He is also a righteous avenger. Gen. 1:1-5 to 4:14.

He reveals Himself also through His living creatures, such as plants and animals. By His law of nature, He gives many of them toxins and fangs for their own self-defense. Gen. 1:l1f & 3:18.

God created humans to image His love and His power, also by subduing. Gen. 1:26-28 (Hebrew redoo = to trample down, cf. Jas. 3:7). He intended mankind not just to “dress” but also to “keep” or guard the environment. Gen. 2:15 (Hebrew ãleshomr~£, to police).

God became angry when both man and wife neglected to resist Satan from invading their home. Cf. Gen. 3:1-14 with Rom. 1:18 to 2:16. Then God promised He would Himself become man and crush Satan’s skull. Gen. 3:15 cf. Rom. 16:19-20.

Meanwhile, God expelled man from paradise. At its gate placed guards armed with swords to block man’s way back. Gen. 3:24 cf. Rev. 22:11-16. God then cursed and punished Cain for unrighteously killing Abel, and wiped out violent criminals by justly putting them all to death in the great flood. Gen. 4:5-14f cf. 9:6 & Num. 35:16-27 & Mt. 23:24-26 & I John 3:11-15.

God commands all human communities to retaliate against all violence against men — by terminating all animals that kill men, and by shedding the blood of all persons that murder human beings created as divine images. Gen. 9:5f. God requires mankind to exact life-for-life death penalties from all intentional killers. Ex. 21:12-23 & Lev. 24:17f. He declares that if a thief breaks into a home at night and there and then gets wounded and dies, no blood shall be shed because of him. Ex. 22:2 & Mt.24:43.

Christ taught He had not come to break down the Law, but to give it full effect. Mt. 5:llf (compare the Westminster Confession of Faith 19:5-7). He requires restitution to the last cent. Mt. 5:23-26. “Turn the other cheek!” is not a sinful invitation for a smiter to come and wound also the other side of one’s face, but rather a divine command to protect one’s own right cheek after a smiter has already sinfully struck it once. It is to be protected, by turning it away from the next anticipated blow. Mt. 5:39 cf. Acts 16:27-28.

Jesus told His disciples to buy swords — a command to acquire and to bear and to use arms. Lk. 22:36-38. This must be distinguished from Peter’s later abuse thereof. Lk. 22:49-51 & Mt. 26:51-53. Indeed, Christ did not at all disagree with the penitent robber on the cross — who admitted he himself still richly deserved the death penalty. Lk. 23:40-41.

The Apostle Paul approved of the death penalty for capital criminals. Acts 25:11,16,25 cf. 23:39 & 26:31. He instructed also pagan governments to use the sword as avengers against evil-doers. Rom. 13:1-10 (cf. I Pet.2:13-14). Indeed, Christ Himself ordains everlasting punishment in the lake of fire for all hardened sinners — which more than vindicates the appropriateness of the death penalty for murder here and now. Rev. 21:8 cf. Heb. 10:28-31 & 12:29 & 13:8-11.

In 98 A.D., Tacitus (in his Germania 13) described how at Common Law the Anglo-Saxons gave spears and shields to all their youths. In the 880 Code of King Alfred (19 & 36 & 42), each Englishman was expected to have “his weapon” and was not culpable for “carrying his spear” — if “level” and “without danger.” All Freemen had the right to bear arms. Historians’ History of the World, The Times, London, 1907, XVIII, pg. 160 — cf. Ex. 32:27 (“every man his sword at his side”). See too the guided missiles in II Chron. 26:14-15.

The 1215 Magna Carta (12 & 37 & 61) restored the Common Law rights of Englishmen infringed by the tyrannical government of King John, and reasserted the private right to possess arrows and knives. It prohibited all further seizure of such and other possessions; it guaranteed the privacy of the home; and it justified rebellion against tyranny. And what is an arrow in a bow, if not a guided missile?!

Now an Englishman’s home is his castle. So too is an American’s — and an Australian’s. Ex. 21:22f & 22:3 & John 2:13-16. Faithful Presbyterians believe with the Westminster Larger Catechism QQ. & AA. 135f that “the sins forbidden in the sixth commandment (thou shalt not kill) are all taking away the life of ourselves or of others except in case of publick justice, lawful war [and] of necessary defence…. The duties required” include “just defence.. . against violence.” Psalm 82 says “save the poor and needy; rid them out of the hand of the wicked!” And also Proverbs 24 says “if you neglect to save those that are…ready to be slain…, does He Who weighs the heart not notice this?”

The 1688 British Bill of Rights (art. 7) says that “subjects.. . may have arms for their defence.” Also the 1787-91 Constitution of the United States of America (at its 2nd and 7th Amendments) re-emphasizes that “the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed” than “according to the rules of the Common Law” of England.

In the recent (1953) Coronation Oath, Her Majesty the Queen was given a Bible and a sword and told: “We present you with this Book, the most valuable thing that this world affords With this sword — do justice; stop the growth of iniquity; protect the holy Church of God; help and defend widows and orphans; restore the things that are gone to decay [such as the right of law-abiding citizens to own and bear arms]; maintain the things that are restored; punish and reform what is amiss!”

God save our gracious Queen,

Long live our noble Queen,

God save the Queen!

Send her victorious,

Happy and glorious,

Long to reign over us,

God save the Queen!

O Lord, our God, arise!

Scatter her enemies,

And make them fall!

Confound their politics,

Frustrate their knavish tricks,

On Thee our hopes we fix,

God save us all!

Thy choicest gifts in store,

On her be pleased to pour,

Long may she reign!

May she defend our laws,

And ever give us cause,

To sing with great applause:

God save the Queen. Amen!

Cordially in Christ’s service,

Rev. Dr. Francis Nigel Lee

Visit our website — http://www.dr-fnlee.org

“God Uni-Trine, at the beginning, created the tri-universe” (cf. Gen. 1:1-3)