Should you really bring a gun to church? Maybe the question should be “Can you really stand by and do nothing if someone attacks your congregation?”
Pastor Killed, 2 Hurt in Illinois Church Shooting
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The last link has a different ending. “It seemed like it was me, the gunman, and God,” said Jeanne Assam, describing her feelings as she confronted a man who charged into her Colorado Springs church Sunday firing a weapon.Assam, a church security guard with law enforcement experience, fired her own weapon at the invader and stopped his attack, police say.”
It made all the difference.
For pastors, some compare it to the shepherd protecting his flock. It seems a little extreme or overboard. Until that person is needed. Then it just makes sense. But before you decide to carry a gun to church. You better train. Not just pass a training course, but regularly train. Carrying a gun to Church is a personal choice. But it seems to be a wise choice for some.
2 responses so far ↓
Jack // May 4, 2009 at 1:31 pm |
Thanks Ryan for coming by my website and being in conversation. Your passion for God’s word is evident and I hope he continues to guide you!
About the guns – there do seem to be two competing ideas.
- There are people in the world who will cause harm and be incredibly ungodly people. Our BEST response is to prepare for these people. And especially because
- God’s wish is for peace, joy, grace, and all the goodness to be known by everyone, especially in a church during worship. Our BEST response is to offer this constantly without regard for the cost.
These two world views compete constantly. Its really hard to say which is more intelligent (certainly there is something wise about both responses?), but it is not as difficult to ask which is more Christ-like.
I only say that because I could see Jesus jumping in front of a bullet for me (or anyone), but I couldn’t see him whipping out his own 9mm and going for the heart.
Your thoughts?
jimryanjackson // May 5, 2009 at 2:31 am |
Jack,
I don’t believe we would ever see Jesus shoot someone. It might make an awesome comic book story but not in reality. But then again, who I am to say what Jesus would do. I just wouldn’t expect him to do it.
While the whole situation seem rather unlikely, we must remember that Jesus was not unfamiliar with “self defense.” In Matthew 26 and John 18, we read about Peter cutting off the ear of a soldier in the group that had come to retrieve Jesus.While Jesus told Peter to put up his sword, it must be acknowledged that Peter and the other disciples carried swords daily for self defense against robbers, wild animals, etc. Jesus acknowledged their possession of weapons but never told them to give them up (Luke 22:38). As a matter of fact Jesus instructs them to get a sword in Luke 22:36.
Let me give you a certain scenario. I work with kids every Sunday. Typically there is myself, a high school helper, and occasionally my wife. We are in the gymnasium with the kids. The rest of the church is in the sanctuary during service. We are separated by a long hallway and in that hallway are the two main entrances to the building. So lets say that the worst case happens and someone decides to come into the church and do harm to the people inside. As soon as the attacker walks into the church they have to go right or left. Go one direction and they end up in the sanctuary full of adults. Go the other direction and they end up in the gymnasium with 30 kids and at best 2 adults and a high school student. THAT SCARES ME.
I love the kids I work with and I believe I could put myself in front of a bullet for them (actual situation may be way different than what I believe, all I can do is pray for courage). But what happens after I take a bullet. The attacker is almost certainly going to have at least 5 more (depending on type of gun), probably many many more. So now there is no protection for the kids except to run.
To me, it almost makes sense to be prepared to stop an attacker rather than just stop 1 of his many bullets.
Like I said, it is a personal choice for everyone to make. But when I think about the consequences of the choice. I know what I choose. I just pray God is at work in the situation.
Jim