I always thought that the lawless reference had a double meaning refering to Christ who was being crucified among criminals, and the disciples who later wonder the lands among all sorts of bad people including highwaymen and all sorts of roving bad guys. I could be wrong, but is how I Always understood.bdickens wrote:Allow me to demonstrate an example of why proof-texting is frowned upon by serious biblical scholars:
The Second Amendment community frequently likes to cite, as our dear friend TDDude has done, Luke 22:35 as "proof" that arming oneself is not only condoned, but approved of by Christ. But the whole passage reads : "35 He said to them, ‘When I sent you out without a purse, bag, or sandals, did you lack anything?’ They said, ‘No, not a thing.’ 36He said to them, ‘But now, the one who has a purse must take it, and likewise a bag. And the one who has no sword must sell his cloak and buy one. 37For I tell you, this scripture must be fulfilled in me, “And he was counted among the lawless”; and indeed what is written about me is being fulfilled.’ 38They said, ‘Lord, look, here are two swords.’ He replied, ‘It is enough." [emphasis mine]
Clearly the implication in this one passage is that, at least in the popular mind of the time, going about armed is something that "the lawless" do and not ordinary citizens.
Now, I do believe that God is okay not only with be being armed but being armed at church as well. But I can't legitimately use Luke 22:25 to support that belief; I have to turn elsewhere.
Again I apoloigise if this too is one of the prohibited topics. But I do believe it is an important topic to many Christian gun toters and it seems like this is apropriate