While Christians may take reasonable steps to ensure their personal security, they do so within the framework of Bible principles. These advise against the use of carnal weapons, such as handguns, rifles, or other firearms, for protection against other humans. Consider the following:

In Jehovah’s eyes, life​—especially human life—​is sacred. The psalmist David knew that Jehovah “is the source of life.” (Ps. 36:9) Hence, if a Christian chooses to take reasonable measures to defend himself or his property, he would do everything in his power to avoid taking a human life and becoming bloodguilty.​—Deut. 22:8; Ps. 51:14.

Although using any number of objects could lead to incurring bloodguilt, guns make it easier to kill someone​—accidentally or deliberately. * Moreover, if an attacker​—who may already be tense—​sees that the other person has a firearm, the situation is very likely to escalate and a death might result.

When Jesus told his followers to equip themselves with swords on the final night of his life on earth, he did not have protection in mind. (Luke 22:36, 38) Rather, Jesus had them bring a sword for an object lesson to teach them not to resort to violence, even when confronted by an armed crowd.  (Luke 22:52) After Peter wielded one of the swords against the high priest’s slave, Jesus commanded Peter: “Return your sword to its place.” Then Jesus stated a fundamental truth, a principle that guides his followers to this day: “All those who take up the sword will perish by the sword.”​—Matt. 26:51, 52.

In harmony with Micah 4:3, God’s people “beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning shears.” This identifying trait of true Christians harmonizes with the apostle Paul’s inspired exhortation: “Return evil for evil to no one. . . . If possible, as far as it depends on you, be peaceable with all men.” (Rom. 12:17, 18) Despite the many troubles that Paul experienced, including “dangers from robbers,” he lived by his words, never putting personal security above Scriptural principles. (2 Cor. 11:26) Instead, he trusted in God and in the wisdom found in His Word​—wisdom that “is better than weapons of war.”​—Eccl. 9:18.

Christians consider life to be far more valuable than material things. “Life does not result from the things [a man] possesses.” (Luke 12:15) Thus, if a mild tongue fails to stop an armed robber, wise Christians heed the principle embodied in Jesus’ words: “Do not resist the one who is wicked.” It may even require that we give up our inner and outer garments, so to speak. (Matt. 5:39, 40; Luke 6:29) * The best strategy, of course, is prevention. If we shun “the showy display of [our] means of life” and are known by our neighbors as peace-loving Witnesses of Jehovah, we may avoid being targeted by violent criminals.​—1 John 2:16; Prov. 18:10.

Christians respect others’ consciences. (Rom. 14:21) If it became known that a member of the congregation kept a gun for protection against humans, some fellow believers might be shocked, even stumbled. Love moves us to put others’ interests ahead of our own, even when that means putting aside what we may feel is a legal right.​—1 Cor. 10:32, 33; 13:4, 5.

Christians strive to be exemplary. (2 Cor. 4:2; 1 Pet. 5:2, 3) After receiving Scriptural counsel, a Christian who continues to keep a gun for protection against other humans could not be considered exemplary. He would therefore not qualify for responsibilities or special privileges in the congregation. The same applies to a Christian who continues to carry a firearm as part of his secular work. How much better to seek other employment! *

How a Christian chooses to protect himself, his family, or his possessions is, of course, largely a personal matter, as is his choice of employment. That said, Bible principles reflect God’s wisdom and his love for us. Out of regard for those principles, spiritually mature Christians choose not to keep a firearm for protection against other humans. They know that true and lasting security comes to those who demonstrate trust in God by living in harmony with Bible principles.​—Ps. 97:10; Prov. 1:33; 2:6, 7.

Agharhemiẹn wẹẹ ọ ma de emwi nọ rhia ne Ivbiotu e Kristi gbogba gae egbe iran, ọ ma khẹke ne iran rhie obọ gberra ilele ọghe Baibol vbe iran gha khian ru vberrio. Ọna rhiema wẹẹ ọ ma khẹke ne a gha loo osisi vbe a gha dekun avbe izigan. Gia ziro yan avbe ilele na:

Arrọọ ọghe emwa nagbọn wa hiunsi vbe aro e Jehova. Ọsian ighẹ Devid rẹnrẹn wẹẹ obọ e Jehova “ẹre arrọọ hia ke rre.” (Psm. 36:9) Nọnaghiyerriọ, Ovbiotu e Kristi a khian sinmwi oseghe ne egbe ẹre, ọ ma khẹke nọ gbe ọmwa rua ne esagiẹn ọmwa nii ghẹ do gha rrọọ ọre urhu.—Diut. 22:8; Psm. 51:14.

Agharhemiẹn wẹẹ a gha sẹtin ya ọpia, ovbi odo ra ughanmwa gbe ọmwa rua vbe a ghaa sinmwi oseghe ne egbe ọmwa, osisi ẹre ọ ye kẹ sẹ na ya gbe ọmwa rua. Deghẹ ọmwa ma dọn rẹn, ọ sẹtin tobọre dọn. * Yevbesọni, oyi nọ mu osisi bu ọmwa gha die owa gha bẹghe ẹre wẹẹ ọyan owa vbe mwẹ osisi, ọ sẹtin ka fi, ọ gha lọghọ a ke miẹn wẹẹ ọmwa ma lae.

Vbe Jesu wẹẹ ne erhuanegbe ẹre khiẹn ẹwu iran ya dẹ umozo vbe asọn no kiekie nọ gbe vbe agbọn, ẹi re te ọ wẹẹ ne iran yae sinmwi oseghe ne egbe iran. (Luk 22:36, 38) Te Jesu hoo nọ yae maa iran emwi: Ọ ma hoo ne iran da ọmwa esagiẹn deghẹ ẹbu ni viọ emwi igbinna na lẹga iran. (Luk 22:52) E Pita  ghi ya umozo fian ehọ ọviẹn ọghe ogie ohẹn nẹ, e Jesu keghi tama rẹn wẹẹ: “Rhie umozo ruẹ ye ako ẹre.” Vbe iyeke ọni, e Jesu keghi mu ilele na gbọ ne Ivbiotu e Kristi, vbe ọ khare wẹẹ: “Iran ni viọ umozo hia gha la obọ umozo yo owa.”—Mat. 26:51, 52.

Ze vbene ebe Maika 4:3 khare, emwa Osanobua gha ya ‘umozo iran khian ẹguẹ, iran vbe ya asoro iran khian ulema.’ Te a wa rẹn Ivbiotu e Kristi ye emwa ni gualọ ọfunmwegbe. Iran keghi lele ibude ne Pọl rhie ne etẹn vbe Rom: “Ọmwa gha ruẹ khọ, ghẹ vbe ye ọkhọ ha ẹre nẹẹn. . . . Zẹ vbene ọ kaan ruẹn, hia vbe odẹ ke odẹ ne uwa vbe emwa hia gba gha ma ẹko egbe.” (Rom. 12:17, 18) Agharhemiẹn wẹẹ e Pọl rhie uhunmwu mwẹ atatabọ vbe ẹbe nibun nọ la gberra ya sẹ ẹbe vbe obọ avbe izigan, ọ ma rhunmwuda oseghe na sinmwi ne egbe ọmwa rhie obọ gberra ilele ni rre Baibol. (2 Kọr. 11:26) Nọghayayerriọ, ọ keghi mu ẹtin yan Osanobua rhunmwuda ọ rẹnrẹn wẹẹ ẹwaẹn nọ rre Ẹmwẹ ọghẹe “ẹre ọ dunna na sẹ umozo.”—Asan. 9:18.

Ivbiotu e Kristi rẹnrẹn wẹẹ arrọọ wa hiunsi sẹ emwi ewe. Iran rẹnrẹn wẹẹ, ‘vbene ọmwa rhirhi fe sẹ hẹ, ẹi re emwi ne ọ mwẹ ẹre ọ rhie arrọọ nẹẹn.’ (Luk 12:15) Deghẹ oyi nọ mu osisi bu ọmwa gha die owa ma fi ekhọe werriẹ vbene a loo arhẹrhẹ sẹ, te ọ khẹke ne Ovbiotu e Kristi lele ẹmwẹ ibude ọghe Jesu na: “Ghẹ rria ikhi ne egbuẹ vbe ọmwa ke ọmwa gha ru ruẹ khọ.” Gi ẹre viọ emwi nọ hoo nọ viọ gha khian. (Mat. 5:39, 40; Luk 6:29) * Ọ ma zẹdẹ khẹke ne ima gha ru emwi nọ gha ye emwa dan yaro ye ima egbe. E Baibol khare wẹẹ ne ima ghẹ gha ya emwi ewe “ne emwa nagbọn bẹghe” ghagha rhunmwuda emwi vbenia sẹtin si ima fi ẹti.—1 Jọn 2:16; Itan 18:10.

Ivbiotu e Kristi i ru emwi nọ gha rhua ọmwa ọvbehe owẹ. (Rom. 14:21) Ọ sẹtin rhua etẹn eso owẹ vbe iko vbe iran gha rẹn wẹẹ ọtẹn mwẹ osisi nọ ya gbogba gae egbe ẹre. Ma sẹtin gha mwẹ asẹ vberriọ sokpan rhunmwuda ahoẹmwọmwa, ẹmwẹ emwa ọvbehe ẹre ima mu ye okaro.—1 Kọr. 10:32, 33; 13:4, 5.

Ivbiotu e Kristi keghi rhie igiemwi esi yotọ ne emwa ọvbehe. (2 Kọr. 4:2; 1 Pit. 5:2, 3) Ovbiotu e Kristi ghaa mwẹ osisi nọ ya gbogba gae egbe ẹre, ediọn vbe iko ghi rhie adia nẹẹn. Deghẹ ọ ma rhie adia nii, ọni rhiema wẹẹ ẹi rhie igiemwi esi yotọ. Ọtẹn vberriọ i sẹtin gha mwẹ ukpamuyọmọ ne kpataki vbe iko. Erriọ vbe nọ ne ọtẹn nọ ru iwinna ne a na loo osisi. Ọ wa gualọ iwinna ọvbehe ẹre ọ maan sẹ. *

Vbene ẹmwata, dọmwadẹ Ovbiotu e Kristi ẹre ọ khian tobọre ru atamuolọyan ọghe vbene ọ gha ya gbogba gae egbe ẹre, ẹgbẹe ọre kevbe emwi nọ mwẹ, erriọ vbe nọ ne aro iwinna nọ hoo nọ ru. Vbọrhirhighayehẹ, te ọ khẹke nọ lele ilele ni rre Baibol rhunmwuda ne Osanobua na hoẹmwẹ ima, ẹre ọ zẹe ne ọ na dia ima. Ọna ẹre ọ zẹe ne Ivbiotu e Kristi ni deziẹn vbe odẹ ọghe orhiọn i na ye osisi gbogba gae egbe iran rhunmwuda emwa dan. Iran rẹnrẹn wẹẹ iran gha mu ẹtin yan Osanobua, iran na vbe ya ilele ọghẹe gha ru emwi vbe arrọọ ọghe iran, iran gha miẹn agbẹkunsotọ vbe etẹbitẹ.—Psm. 97:10; Itan 1:33; 2:6, 7.