Erich Pratt on Defending God-given Rights
In today’s increasingly turbulent times, the question of when Christians might be justified in taking up arms against tyranny is not just a matter of theoretical debate, but a matter of urgent, practical concern. The attacks on our God-given rights are relentless, and the pressure on those who hold to biblical principles is intensifying. It is in this context that we turn to the insights of Erich Pratt, the executive vice president of Gun Owners of America, an organization dedicated to the preservation and defense of the Second Amendment.
Pratt was interviewed by Joe Wolverton on his weekly radio show 2A for Today, which is sponsored by The New American and broadcast on more than 50 stations. The transcript that follows includes the portion of that interview pertaining to when Christians are justified in resisting tyrannical government, even to the point of armed resistance. Pratt’s insights, drawn from both Scripture and the wisdom of our Founding Fathers, offer guidance in navigating these perilous waters. This is a conversation that every believer — and every patriot — should take to heart, as the stakes could not be higher.
The New American: We have quite a topic for today, so I’m just going to jump in to give you plenty of time to opine and teach us, and maybe preach to us a little bit as well, given the topic. Today we’re talking about something that is on the minds of many Christians: When is it justified for a Christian to take up armed resistance against the government? Because today, no one can avoid seeing the news, reading the news, hearing the news, or just going outside and going to the grocery store and paying $7 for a gallon of milk and realizing that things are different than they have been. It seems like things are getting worse, and the attacks by the government on our rights are getting more severe, constant, and sustained. Many people, many Christians, are wondering: At what point are we justified in taking up arms as our fathers did at Lexington and Concord? Should Christians be gun owners? Should Christians be pacifists? Should Christians be actively involved in resisting tyranny? Where are these lines drawn? Erich, I know you’ve mentioned before on our show that you’re a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, as am I. So, I would ask you, as a Christian and as the leader of the nation’s premier Second Amendment-protection organization, what do you think about this question: Christian disarmament and Christian pacifism — when are we justified in taking up arms against a tyrant?
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