Is It Sinful To Take A Life?
Is it ever permissible for a Christian to take someone's life, whether in self-defense or to protect others? Can Christians participate in or support wars?
Proverbs 6:16-19
There are six things which the Lord hates,
Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him:
Haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
And hands that shed innocent blood,
A heart that devises wicked plans,
Feet that run rapidly to evil,
A false witness who utters lies,
And one who spreads strife among brothers.
To take a life is an abomination to God, as stated in Proverbs 6:17. One of the Ten Commandments, found in Exodus 20:13, tells us, “You shall not murder,” so the case is closed, right? Not so fast.
PERSONAL (self-defense and defense of others)
We must understand that God hates the shedding of innocent blood. The Commandment given to Moses was “do not murder,” which is not always a synonym for killing—one involves premeditated intent to take a life, while the other does not. The Hebrew verb רָצַח (ratsach) used in the Ten Commandments specifically refers to premeditated murder.
Vengeance belongs to the Lord (Deuteronomy 32:35; Romans 12:19); thus, taking a life in revenge, which is premeditated murder, is always a sin. God values life (Genesis 9:5-6), and we should too. Taking a life is not something to be done lightly.
What if a Christian has no choice but to take a life? Is it permissible to kill in self-defense or to protect another?
No case illustrates this divisive topic more than a recent article by John Piper, who argued against Christians owning firearms. In it, he claimed he’d rather watch his wife be raped than kill an aggressor if someone broke into his home1. Let’s analyze this, shall we?
In that troubling post, Piper rebuked the apostle Paul for escaping persecution. If he’s making a case against Paul, he’d be hypocritical for not also rebuking Jesus for escaping when the Jews sought to stone Him to death.
Becoming a Christian doesn’t make you a punching bag. You should turn the other cheek to insults2 (Matthew 5:39), love your enemies (Matthew 5:44), and not fear dying at the hands of others (Matthew 10:28). All this is true, but we are not to throw our lives away needlessly—Christ died for His people so they may live, and it would be remiss to discard that gift.
To see your family or friends in danger and do nothing contradicts Christ’s words: “Greater love has no one than this, that a person will lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). Defending your family is a duty, even if it means risking your own life.
In that misguided article, Piper also argued it would be wrong to call the police on his wife’s rapist, claiming that if he’s willing to call the police, he might as well own a gun. You aren’t “showing Christ” to a rapist by sparing his life and refusing to intervene while he defiles your wife. Rather, you’re acting cowardly by failing to prioritize the one you are “one flesh” with over an evildoer’s life. God is clear that rapists should face death (Deuteronomy 22:23-29).
If you see someone in danger, it is your duty to defend them (Proverbs 24:10-12). Sadly, in today’s world, where evil is called good and good is called evil, many laws punish those who act to prevent evil. We often hear of heroes who do what is right only to face punishment, but it is better to risk imprisonment or death than to stand idly by and let evil prevail.
Scripture is clear: if you kill someone who breaks into your home, you are free from guilt (Exodus 22:2)—they forfeit their life by choosing to break in. Killing the innocent is one thing; killing those who commit crimes is another (Jeremiah 2:34).
You cannot enable evil; you must hate it. Scripture declares, “Hate evil, you who love the LORD, Who preserves the souls of His godly ones” (Psalm 97:10).
GOVERNMENT (wars)
How should a Christian view the horrors of war, especially when killing on a mass scale is organized by one’s government?
When considering war, Christians adopt three primary viewpoints:
Pacifism: No war can be justified, and Christians should abstain from all violence.
Activism: Christians must support and participate in any war their government undertakes.
Just War Theory: Christians may support or participate in defensive wars against evil aggressors.
Charles Spurgeon opposed war and preached that Christians should not join the military3. Personally, like many believers, I adhere to the just war theory, which I will explore here.
Two key passages shape a Christian’s perspective on war and capital punishment. The first, 1 Peter 2:13–14, instructs us:
Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right.
This aligns with Paul’s teaching in Romans 13:1–7, which states:
Every person is to be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; for it is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a servant of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for the sake of conscience.
Evil must not go unpunished. God has ordained governments to reward good and punish evil, even with death if necessary. The ultimate role of government is to protect the innocent from evil, even if it means taking a life. This applies within a nation’s borders, but can large-scale military operations beyond those borders ever be justified?
The thought of tens of millions killed in the two world wars sickens me, and the prospect of World War III claiming over a billion lives is even more harrowing. Yet a nation cannot stand idly by as another attacks its sovereignty or slaughters its citizens.
Scripture declares, “Wisdom is better than weapons of war” (Ecclesiastes 9:18). Restraint is always preferable, and a nation should avoid being the first to wield weapons. However, a government’s duty is to protect its people. If foreign forces commit evil against its citizens, a government would fail in its God-given role to “bring wrath on the one who practices evil” (Romans 13:4) by doing nothing. Initiating aggression is one thing; defending one’s people is another.
CONCLUSION
I used John Piper and Charles Spurgeon as examples here, but disagreement with their point of view doesn’t mean I consider them heretics. For instance, Spurgeon is hands down my favorite preacher, though I don’t agree with his pacifistic view. Similarly, I’ve learned much from Piper in the past. However, I disagree with Piper’s views on self-defense, gun ownership, his belief that King David raped Bathsheba4, and his stance that Christians must get the Covid-19 vaccine5, as well as many of his recent problematic takes.
Not every disagreement with someone makes them a heretic.
https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/should-christians-be-encouraged-to-arm-themselves
https://www.bibleref.com/Matthew/5/Matthew-5-39.html
Charles H. Spurgeon, “Inaugural Address at the Sixteenth Annual Conference of the Pastors’ College Association,” in The Sword and the Trowel, vol. 16 (London: Passmore & Alabaster, 1880); Charles H. Spurgeon, “The Love of Jesus, What It Is—None but His Loved Ones Know,” Sermon No. 112, in The New Park Street Pulpit, vol. 2 (London: Passmore & Alabaster, 1856); Charles H. Spurgeon, “The Comforter,” Sermon No. 250, in The New Park Street Pulpit, vol. 5 (London: Passmore & Alabaster, 1859); Charles H. Spurgeon, “The War of Truth,” Sermon No. 984, in The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, vol. 17 (London: Passmore & Alabaster, 1871); Charles H. Spurgeon, “The Heart of the Gospel,” Sermon No. 1026, in The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, vol. 18 (London: Passmore & Alabaster, 1872); Charles H. Spurgeon, “The Last Sermon at the Tabernacle,” Sermon No. 3386, in The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, vol. 57 (London: Passmore & Alabaster, 1911)
https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/did-bathsheba-sin-with-david
https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/a-reason-to-be-vaccinated-freedom