God’s Blueprint for Self-Defense: A Christian Woman’s Guide to the Law

For the Christian, self-defense isn’t just legal—it must be Biblical.

Hi Daughter,

I’m so glad you’re here. Today, we’re diving into an important topic: how God's Word and the laws of the United States align and differ in self-defense. As Christian women, we know that our strength comes from the Lord. But in a world where threats are real and danger can be sudden, how do we balance faith, wisdom, and legal responsibility?

Did you know that legally, you could face criminal and civil charges if you're involved in a self-defense incident? Just because you claim you're acting in self-defense doesn't mean the law will agree.

That's why self-defense isn't just about physical strength or owning a weapon—it’s also about spiritual discernment, legal awareness, and practical preparedness. Recognizing how these layers connect will help you stand confidently in faith and within your legal rights when it's time to defend yourself or someone you love.

The Principles of Self-Defense

The principles of self-defense are the fundamental legal and ethical rules that determine when and how a person is justified in using force to protect themselves or others from harm. Let’s look at some core principles of self-defense and how they appear in Scripture and modern law.

Imminence

Legally, you can only use force when a threat is immediate. You can't strike first just because someone has verbally threatened to hurt you in the past or in the future. If you strike first, it is usually considered retaliation or a preemptive force, which isn't protected under self-defense laws. In 1 Samuel 17:48, David didn’t act until Goliath made a move.

“As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him.”

In Exodus 2:11-12, Moses intervened only when he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew slave. Although it’s not explicitly stated, I genuinely believe he had often heard the Egyptians threaten the Israelites, especially because they subjected them to harsh labor. However, he only used physical force when there was an immediate threat. Though Moses satisfied the imminent principle, his use of force was not proportionate; thus, it wasn't justified.

Proportionality

Legally, your response to a threat must be proportional. As the saying goes, “You can’t bring a gun to a fistfight.” In other words, if someone throws a plastic plate at you, the appropriate response isn’t to escalate by throwing a glass plate—you respond with equal or lesser force, such as deflecting or walking away. The law generally does not allow you to respond with more force than the threat justifies. This principle of proportionality is also found in Scripture. Exodus 21:23–25 says:

“But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.”

Notice how the verse begins with “if there is serious injury,” emphasizing that deadly force is only justified when there is an imminent threat of serious bodily harm or death. This highlights an important exception: in situations where you are attacked by more than one assailant, the risk of serious injury or death is heightened. In such cases, using equivalent force may be legally justified.

Jesus teaches us how to properly use proportionality when He responded to Satan’s temptation with words alone (Matthew 4:1–11). I used to wonder why Jesus didn’t just cast Satan back to hell immediately. But now I realize—true power is in the Word of God. Jesus didn’t need to show force or perform any grand act. He simply quoted Scripture.

Sometimes, the Word of God is all you need to silence and defeat the enemy completely.

Please remember that as Christians, if you are threatened and can avoid harm by walking away, you definitely should. There is no need to engage in every conflict. Wisdom often involves knowing when to retreat peacefully instead of fighting without reason. This brings me to the next principle, necessity.

Necessity

Force is only justified when no safe alternative exists. If you can retreat safely, the law may require you to do so. I say “may” because some laws, like Stand Your Ground or the Castle Doctrine, permit you to defend yourself without the obligation to retreat.

We see examples of applying necessity in the Bible: in Matthew 2, Joseph takes Mary and Jesus to Egypt to flee from Herod, and in Acts 9, Paul escapes by being lowered over a wall to avoid being killed. Both Joseph and Paul could have chosen to confront their enemies; however, they wisely decided to retreat because they had the option.

Stand Your Ground & Castle Doctrine

Depending on where you live, these laws let you defend yourself without the duty to retreat. The Castle Doctrine covers your home (and sometimes your car), giving you the right to protect your personal space.

Stand Your Ground laws go further, permitting you to defend yourself anywhere you are legally allowed to be. This means you cannot stand your ground while trespassing or committing a crime. Some states have Stand Your Ground and Castle Doctrine laws, while others do not. It’s essential to check your local laws to understand how they apply to you.

Spiritually, Ephesians 6:13 encourages us to stand our ground.

“Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”

Just as some states recognize your right to stand your ground physically, you also have the right to stand your ground spiritually when faced with an attack. If you ever feel overcome by sickness, depression, or any form of burden, you have the authority to command those things to leave you. However, physically, God would always expect you to retreat first if that's an option.

Reasonableness

Reasonableness refers to what an average person would find appropriate or justifiable in similar circumstances. In self-defense law, reasonableness is an objective standard used to evaluate a person’s beliefs, actions, or decisions. It’s not only about how you felt at the moment, but whether your response was based on clear and factual circumstances.

We see this principle applied in the life of Samson, whose final act was a response to real danger and oppression (Judges 16:30). After being mocked and used as entertainment by the Philistines, he called out to God for strength one last time. He pushed down the pillars of the temple, collapsing it on himself and his enemies. His actions were a direct response to a hostile situation where his life was under threat.

Initial Aggressor Rule

In self-defense law, you become the aggressor if you start a fight. Therefore, you can't claim self-defense if you are the initial aggressor. If you escalate the situation, neither the law nor Scripture will justify your actions. True self-defense is a response to an unjust threat — not an excuse for retaliation or aggression.

We see this principle illustrated in Genesis 34, when Dinah’s brothers, Simeon and Levi, avenged her violation by deceiving and slaughtering the men of Shechem. While their anger may have been understandable, their response was excessive and unjustified:

“Three days later, while all of them were still in pain, two of Jacob’s sons, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brothers, took their swords and attacked the unsuspecting city, killing every male.”

-Genesis 34:25–26

Their father Jacob later rebuked them for their violent overreach, highlighting the consequences of acting out of vengeance rather than justice.

Continuum of Force

The law does not universally require a strict, step-by-step escalation of force. However, legal standards do require that the use of force be reasonable and proportional to the threat faced. This means that if you are verbally attacked and it escalates to physical force, you are justified in responding with proportionate force.

Interestingly, this mirrors how God dealt with Pharaoh in the book of Exodus. God didn’t immediately bring the harshest judgment. Instead, He gave multiple warnings and sent progressively severe plagues to persuade Pharaoh to release the Israelites. The first signs were relatively mild, like turning water into blood, and only after repeated refusals did the consequences intensify, leading to the death of the firstborn.

Defense of Others

Legally, you’re allowed to defend others as if you were defending yourself – if they are in immediate danger. This is known as the defense of others, and it follows the same principles as previously explained. In John 8-7, Jesus stood up for the woman caught in adultery, preventing her from being stoned by challenging her accusers:

“Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw  a stone at her.” 

In the same way in the book of Esther, Esther courageously intervened for her people, risking her life to stand before the king:

“And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

 -Esther 4:14

While the law doesn’t require you to intervene, spiritually, we are often called to step in for others. Failing to act can lead to consequences—not only for those in danger but also for ourselves, especially when God has placed us in a position to help.

Defense of Property

In self-defense, you may use reasonable force to protect your personal property from unlawful interference, theft, or damage. However, you are not allowed to use deadly force solely to protect property—unless you are in danger of serious bodily harm or death.

This means that if someone enters your store and steals something, you cannot use lethal force, such as a firearm, to stop them. You may physically try to recover your property, but you cannot use deadly force. There are exceptions, and each situation must be assessed individually. For instance, if an armed robber approaches you with a firearm, at that moment, you cannot know if they are only there to steal your property. Therefore, you might be justified in defending yourself. I say “may be justified” intentionally, because ultimately, your defense lawyer would need to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you genuinely could not tell the robber’s intent was limited to theft.

In very rare cases, if you live in a state that recognizes the Castle Doctrine and someone enters your home to steal something, you might be legally allowed to defend yourself. Be sure to check your state laws to understand how they apply to your situation.

The Bible recognizes the importance of protecting one’s property—it values fairness, justice, and the right to keep what rightfully belongs to you. However, Biblical teachings stress that safeguarding property should never come at the cost of human life or peace.

While the Bible supports safeguarding possessions from theft or damage, it limits the use of force. For example, Old Testament laws (such as those in Exodus 22) specify that anyone who steals or damages property must make restitution. However, deadly force is not justified solely for protecting belongings.

Consider Exodus 22:2–3:

“If a thief is found breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no bloodguilt for him, but if the sun has risen on him, there shall be bloodguilt for him.”

This means that if a thief is caught during the day, killing them is considered wrong. However, if it happens at night, there’s a chance they might harm you without you being able to see clearly—so defending yourself might be justified.

Please note: Self-defense laws differ widely across states. What’s legal in Texas might get you arrested in New York. That’s why it’s critical to understand local laws wherever you live or travel. It’s not just about knowing what’s right; it’s about knowing what’s legal.

Principles of Spiritual Battles

The rules of engagement in spiritual battles differ from those in the physical realm. Spiritual attacks are not occasional; they are ongoing, imminent, and intentional. This is because the devil is actively on a mission to “steal, kill, and destroy” (John 10:10). It's important to remember that the devil has always been the first aggressor, which means you are fully justified in fighting back.

Unlike in earthly conflict, your spiritual response doesn’t need to be proportional. You are encouraged to fight back with greater spiritual power—through the Word of God, prayer, fasting, worship, and unwavering faith. These are your weapons, and you are called to use them boldly and relentlessly.

“The weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.”

-2 Corinthians 10:4

That said, you need to build up your spiritual arsenal. Just like soldiers train for battle, believers have to be equipped and stay spiritually disciplined. In future blog posts, I’ll go into more detail on how to strengthen these spiritual weapons.

Final Thoughts

As Christian women, we often bear a unique responsibility to protect children, elderly family members, and usually serve as the emotional backbone of our homes. Yes, we pray. Yes, we put on our spiritual armor. But we must also take practical steps like learning self-defense laws, understanding our rights, and, if needed, owning self-defense tools.

Daughters Of Defense is a safe space for Christian women committed to self-defense in all areas—physically, mentally, and spiritually. If you want to learn more about self-defense, Join The DOD Community.

Remember this: Women are called to be helpers, never to be helpless. STRENGTH.

Disclaimer

This content is for educational purposes only and does not replace legal advice. While self-defense is legal in many areas, it may still result in legal consequences depending on how and when it’s used. Always follow your local laws, use self-defense tools responsibly, and consider self-defense insurance programs for protection.

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