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BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE OF SELF-DEFENCE

LESSON 20                                                           16^th January, 2022.

 

BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE OF SELF-DEFENCE

 

OPENING PRAYER: Father, You are my shield, please protect me from all attacks.

 

PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE: Teacher should review the lesson for the previous week.

 

TODAY’S LESSON

1. OPENING

I.  BIBLE PASSAGE: Luke 22:35-38.

II. MEMORY VERSE: “Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, And a two-edged sword in their hand.” Psalms 149:6.

III. LESSON INTRODUCTION: As Christians, we believe that God is able to protect us from both physical and spiritual attacks (Ps.7:10; Zech.12:8). We must be trusting and dependent like little children toward God and He must be our strength and safety (Ps.28:7). However, in the world today, crime and violence are on the increase. Christians are like sheep among wolves (Matt.10:16). In most cases, they are in the most vulnerable state partly due to Christ’s injunction in Matthew 5:39 and Paul’s words in Romans 12:17-21.

 

TEACHER’S DIARY

I.  LESSON AIM: To teach the students their right to Self-defence.

II. TEACHING OBJECTIVES: At the end of this lesson, students should be able to: 

a.   Define the term self-defence.

b.   Explain the difference between self-defence and retaliation.

c.    Give biblical clues about God’s attitude towards self-defence.

d.   Learn the proper use of self-defence.

III.    TEACHING PLAN: To achieve the above-stated objectives, teacher should:

a.   Allow the students to recite the memory verse, read the Bible passage, contribute to discussion, do class activities and assignment.

b.   Allow the Assistant Teacher to see to the well-being of the class, mark attendance and assignment.

c.    Teach the lesson outlines, summarise, conclude, evaluate the lesson and give assignment to the students.

 

IV. TEXT REVIEW: Luke 22:35-38.

Jesus, in an attempt to prepare His disciples for the challenges ahead, had the following conversation with them:

A. Jesus said unto them, when I sent you without a purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? V35a.

i.     And they said..................................................................................V35b.

ii.   Then He said to them, he that .........................................................V36a.

iii.  And he that .....................................................................................V36c.

B. Jesus also said:

i. What is written ................................................................................V37a.

ii. The things concerning Him................................................................V37b.

C. The Disciples said:

i. Lord, behold .....................................................................................V38a

ii. Jesus said unto them ..........................................................................V38b.

 

V.  TEACHING METHOD: Question and Answer Teaching Method.

 

VI. TIME MANAGEMENT: Teacher should apply two-lesson outlines teaching time.

 

2. LESSON OUTLINES

LESSON OUTLINE 1: WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT SELF-DEFENCE?

1.   Question: What is self-defence?

Answer: Self-defence is defined as "protecting oneself from injury at the hand of others." Self-defence involves preserving one's own health, life and property when it is threatened by the actions of others (Neh.4:7-23; Lk.11:21).

2.   Question: Is there any distinction between self-defence and vengeance?

Answer: Yes, there is a distinction between self-defence and vengeance (retaliation or reprisal attack). The difference can be explained in the following ways:

a.   Self-defence is neither about taking vengeance nor about premeditated attack on others.

b.   Jesus’ command to “turn the other cheek” (Matt.5:39) has to do with our response to personal slights and offenses.

c.    Some situations may call for self-defence, but not retaliation in kind.

d.   The context of Jesus’ command is His teaching against the idea of “eye for eye, and tooth for tooth” (Verse 38).

e.   Our self-defence is not a vengeful reaction to an offense.

f.     Many offenses can simply be absorbed in forbearance and love (Rom.12:17-21).

3.   Question: Are there Biblical clues about God’s attitude towards self-defence?

Answer: Yes, for instance:

i. “If the thief is found breaking in, and he is struck so that he dies, there shall be no guilt for his bloodshed. If the sun has risen on him, there shall be guilt for his bloodshed.” (Ex.22:2-3). Two basic principles taught in this text are the right to own private property and the right to defend that property.

ii. Jesus explicitly commands His followers to buy a sword, even if they have to sell their cloak to do so (Lk. 22:35-38). Jesus knew that there would be a time when His followers would be threatened, and He upheld their right to self-defence.

iii. However, Jesus told Peter not to use his sword because Jesus must be arrested, put on trial and die (Matt. 26:51-52).

iv. Jesus took prudent measures to protect Himself from harm until it was time for Him to die (Lk.4:28-30).

 

CLASS ACTIVITY 1: Students should discuss the ways Jesus protected Himself from harm until His appointed time to die. Teacher should guide the class with the following scriptures (Jn.8:59; Jn.10:39).

 

LESSON OUTLINE 2: WHAT SHOULD A CHRISTIAN DO?

1.   Question: Does the Bible forbid self-defence?

Answer: No, the Bible never forbids self-defence (Ps.144:1).

2.   Question: Are believers allowed to defend themselves?

Answer: Yes, Believers are allowed to defend themselves and their families (1Sam.30:1-8; Acts 7:24).

3.   Question: Are there proper use of self-defence?

Answer: Yes. The proper use of self-defence has to do with wisdom, understanding and tact. We must have wisdom that comes from heaven regarding when to fight back and when not to, so as not to make a dangerous situation worse (James 1:5; James 3:17).

4.   Question: Are there cautions to the full exercise of the right to self-defence?

Answer: Yes, the cautions are:

i.     The full exercise of the right to self-defence depends on the situation (Ex.22:2-3).

ii.   No one should be too quick to use deadly force against another, even someone who means to do harm (Matt. 26:51-52).

iii.  Deadly force is expected to be a last resort in the event of a panicked “surprise attack” scenario where the victim is confused and disoriented.

iv.  A godly person should try to restrain the attacker rather than an immediate resort to killing him.

v.    It is important for every Christian to undergo some basic trainings on safety and self-defence (Prov.4:7).

 

CLASS ACTIVITY 2: Students should mention the available platforms/institutions where people can be trained on safety measures and self-defence.

 

3. SUMMARY: There is a clear difference between self-defence and vengeance. Believers are allowed to defend themselves and their families from attacks but should do so with caution.

 

4. CONCLUSION: The shepherd risks his life by combating wild animals that threaten the flock (1Sam.17:34-36). A pacifist or fearful shepherd would soon have no flock.

 

5. EVALUATION: Teacher should ask the students to explain the biblical perspective of self-defence

 

6. CLOSING PRAYER: Father, let me always find a way of escape from all attacks in Jesus’ name.

 

7. ASSIGNMENT: Mention five (5) Bible characters that were attacked physically and how they responded to the attack. Give scriptural reference for each. (2X5=10 Marks).

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