Reproach of Men

Of all the amendments to the Constitution of the United States, none is more reviled and controversial than the Second Amendment. One has to wonder why, seeing that it is just a few words that simply declare an individual has the right to keep and bear arms, without infringement. Moreover, that this basic right would guarantee we always have the means of forming militias is short order in case of invasion.

What place does this particular issue have on a fundamental, unaffiliated, KJV-only, Baptist’s blog? If you are familiar with the scripture, and what the scripture repeatedly declares about man, then you will have no problem discerning where this short article will go. If you are not, then be prepared to learn just how evil and wicked we really are, and why we need to protect ourselves from both our fellow man and our own selves.

Now, in case you disagree with the above statement, you need to seriously consider that your argument is not with me, but with both the Founding Fathers, and with the LORD God. After all, I simply, whole-heartedly agree with the LORD God, and with the insight the Founders had in recognizing the true state of man, and formulating a nation’s response to that depraved state. However, if you still wish to be angry with me, go right ahead. After all, I don’t have to answer to the LORD God for your anger over having the truth put before you – you do.

The Second Amendment states plainly:

A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.

We should ask ourselves certain questions in relation to the above statement, such as:

1. If man is basically good, why did the Founders deem this amendment necessary?

2. If it is generally true that men follow the law, why was it necessary to add this amendment (with others) to a document that all the Founders plainly professed was a positive law document that functions very much like Power of Attorney?

3. If it is true that arms are implements of violence, why did the Founders determine that it was necessary for individuals to not only keep arms, but carry them openly; and that such possession and open transport upon one’s person should never be hindered?

Interestingly enough, the Founders of this nation were not silent about why they determined the Second Amendment to be utterly necessary. In the Federalist 51, James Madison and Alexander Hamilton gave the reason in as clear and plain a statement one could ever hope for:

“If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary. In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself.”1

Now, I know that the question begs to be asked: How can you know that this is the reason behind the Second Amendment?

It is because they were familiar with the following statements from scripture which speak to this very issue:

And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done. (Genesis 8:21)

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9)

Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. (Hebrews 2:14)

These three statements from scripture speak plainly that the nature of man is evil and wicked, and that men fear death. Now, how would Hamilton and Madison know this? The testimonies of both men are plain in demonstrating that they knew the Bible and believed what it stated. However, more than the personal testimony of either one of the men, the fact is that they penned the above statement in the Federalist 51, which is entirely contrary to the way men always view themselves.

Indeed, it has always been the case that men think more highly of themselves than is actually true. That is why people get offended when it is demonstrated to them that they are evil and wicked, and sinners by nature. But, if it were true that men are basically good, then there would be no need of government to control the excesses of individuals in society, and there would be no need of controlling the government.

The answer the Founders had to the dilemma presented in the Federalist 51 is amply demonstrated in the Second Amendment, as it places a check upon both the government, and upon the individuals in society at large. Why? In short, when everyone is armed, everyone tends to politeness and respect – else there exists a significant likelihood that one may not live beyond the moment they violate the rights of those around them. Moreover, when the population in general is armed, those who are supposed to serve in public office are made ever mindful of the fact that their lives could be forfeit if they decide to violate the rights of their fellow citizens who put them in office.

Thus, even though men are evil, they also fear death. Moreover, they fear where they will go when they die. For this simple reason alone, the Second Amendment secures the rest of the rights that the LORD God gave us. It is only when men do not see any prospect of dying that they become bold in their wickedness, and their willingness to harm their fellow man. This is also the reason the death penalty is effective in deterring crime as well.

The problem today is that we in America are a society in which the vast majority of individuals believe that they are inherently good, and that only a few “bad apples” cause the problems we have. This kind of thinking is not scriptural, rather it comes straight out of humanist doctrine and teaching. In fact, the idea that man can become good by his own efforts is a central part of the philosophy of Communism and the striving to create the “new communist man.”

The outworking of this kind of thinking is the belief that we can somehow create a utopian society if only we can get rid of the implements of violence. Thus, the blame is laid upon “the gun” when guns are used in the commission of a crime, instead of upon the person who wilfully chose to commit the crime. (After all, that would be to tacitly admit that we are all inherently given to evil.) It is also the driving force behind the idea that individuals in government are somehow better than the “common man” and that they are more enlightened and would never oppress their fellow citizens. After all, aren’t they elevated above the rest of us?

Thus, there is a drive to destroy the Second Amendment because of what it declares about our nature: we are wicked, evil, sinful creatures who think only about our own selfish interests, and couldn’t give a rip about anyone else, unless it nets us what we want – and the last thing we want is to die getting what we want.

The Founding Fathers knew this, and they knew that the only way to maintain order in society, and have a government that obeys its own laws, is to have everyone armed. The only other option is for this world to be ruled over by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, in which case the government will be righteous, even if the people are not.

1. Federalist 51 [↩]