Mar

Tuesday Town Hall 22…Jesus’ Preferred Caliber

Posted by: Sonny in Church, Jesus Christ, Responsibility, Townhall Tuesday

tues-th In case you haven’t heard, another useless church slaying occurred Sunday. A pastor was shot and killed during service and a couple of others were wounded. The story can be found here and other places.

This was just another senseless attack in a ever increasing string that has occurred lately. No one so far even knows what the motive for this one was. This murderous interruption to a worship service has many in the church discussing the issues of church safety and the carrying of weapons in church services. There are also larger issues to discuss. So if you would, I would like to read your feedback and answers to these questions.

Do you think Jesus is okay with any of his followers shooting someone in self defense?

Do you think it would be wise for just anyone to carry a gun in church? Would you?

If you would carry a gun, under what circumstances would you use it?

If you are against all of this, carrying weapons and using them, then what do you think is our role in protection of ourselves and others?

Finally, what caliber would Jesus recommend?

jesus-ar15 That last one is just a light hearted one meant to keep us from getting too angry in case we disagree. But this is a very serious topic and I have read a lot of opinions already.

Care to share yours?

Love you all

Tags: caliber, Church, jesus, Murder, pastor, protection, Self, self defense, Service, town hall, Tuesday, Weapons

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 10th, 2009 at 12:05 am and is filed under Church, Jesus Christ, Responsibility, Townhall Tuesday. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

13 comments so far

Tammy

Do you think Jesus is okay with any of his followers shooting someone in self defense?

Okay, NO! Open to forgiveness, of course.
It is sad that this question is no longer considered ‘way out there’, but more commonplace.

Do you think it would be wise for just anyone to carry a gun in church? Would you?

No, and probably not! However, I am not opposed to a church in a high crime area having a security guard or police officer on duty (or on staff if they can afford it) with a gun!

If you would carry a gun, under what circumstances would you use it?

I hope I never feel comfortable carrying a gun to church even to protect my family. More so, I hope I never find it necessary.

If you are against all of this, carrying weapons and using them, then what do you think is our role in protection of ourselves and others?

I would be naive to think that this is not an issue in some parts of the world, including the US, and seemingly getting closer all the time.

Finally, what caliber would Jesus recommend? the .45, that is the HOLY (4) BIBLE (5)

It seems strange to even think of the need to carry a gun into our churches, but we do not have a problem with them any other place when they are to protect our families.
I listened to Focus on the Family last week, they were talking to 2 families who had been devastated in a certain situation. One family was getting into the van after church when a gunman starting shooting at them. The husband was seriously hurt and is in a wheel chair, and 2 of his daughters were fatally shot. That makes me see things a little differently. The other family was the gunman’s parents, who lost their son that day as well, yet there was so much forgiveness between them. Am I capable of that kind of forgiveness?
Had I been in that parking lot, with a gun close by, would I have seen things differently. Maybe I would have wanted to stop him! I really do not even like to consider that I would be willing to shoot someone even in the direst of situations.

March 10th, 2009 at 12:35 pm

Sonny

Thanks Tammy for sharing your thoughts. Not many seem willing or maybe it’s just a slow day.

Love you

March 11th, 2009 at 1:41 am

Christie

No we should not have to carry a gun to church. We have the Holy Spirit and our Godly Armour. If that is not enough then God is ready for us to come home anyway. Are we just giving lip service in regards to our faith? I have been studying on the spirit of fear, once we let it in our lives, it will control us. I know because I had gotten to the point of being scared of everything. Fear is not from God, but from Satan himself. So I ask this question, who do you want controling you?

March 11th, 2009 at 10:27 am

Anthony

I do not think we should carry guns into church either. I do not personally have a pistol. I do want to get one though.

Isa 54:16 Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the fire of coals, and bringeth forth a weapon for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy.
Isa 54:17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of Jehovah, and their righteousness which is of me, saith Jehovah.

What I take from this is not only spiritual but also physical. In this passage it says, remember that I have created the smith to make weapons and the army to destroy. Do I think that I shouldn’t defend myself with a weapon? No, but I also think that defend in the same manner that someone is attacking. If someone comes after me with a knife trying to kill me, should I not try to take the knife away and defend myself? If from there the attacker continues to try to kill, should I not defend myself, and my family enough to kill for protection?

With every attack comes defense. If you do not defend yourself, will God keep you from death? He can, but will he? If you are driving down a road and you have to turn instead of going over a cliff, will God always turn the car for you? Probably not. Usually he will keep us safe from harm, but not always to the extent of our own stupidity.

March 11th, 2009 at 12:06 pm

Mark

Not every one should have a gun. Think about it.
By going to the doctor for check ups are we not protecting ourselves?
Wearing a seat belt.
Making sure your gun is empty before you clean it.
Do we look both ways crossing the street or do we let the Holy Spirit guide us?
There is difference between fear and being smart and safe.

March 11th, 2009 at 1:18 pm

Shannon Mimbs

Questions that come to mind… “What witness does the Holy Spirit empower me to bear as a member of the People of God?” As a follower of Christ, whose calling is to advance the Kingdom of God (which is basically the “reign of Christ’s love”), does using weapons of violence advance God’s Kingdom (whether in “self-defense” or otherwise). When thinking about how God wages war against evil, what weapons does he use? And as members of God’s Kingdom (under the reign of Christ’s love), what weapons must we use? What warfare are we engaged in?

I don’t have time to unpack this, but I think oftentimes what seems to be “common-sense,” “practical” answers to the issue of evil and violence, in many ways, undermine our identity as a people who are called and empowered to bear worshipful witness of Jesus Christ. Admittedly, this is a dynamic issue and can be debated from various perspectives. However, I am saddened when our responses seem to be filtered by worldly “common-sense” and not “Kingdom-sense.” (I use the word “our” in a general sense here) Hands down, “Kingdom-sense” looks ridiculous in the eyes of the worldly system (and those who maintain its worldview). Yet, the driving force of our lives (as Christ-followers) must be Jesus’ love and the ultimate revelation of God which he bears (esp. when contrasting his life(style) with Israel’s narratives).

Peace

March 11th, 2009 at 2:07 pm

Connie

Do you think Jesus is okay with any of his followers shooting someone in self defense?
Well, I don’t think that He would want me to just stand there and allow someone to shoot me without shooting back “if I had a gun”. This will never come to pass for me though…..I do not and have not ever owned a gun or wanted to. So I guess I would just be shot cause I know I couldn’t outrun a bullet (or a turtle).

Do you think it would be wise for just anyone to carry a gun in church? Would you?
I don’t think it’s wise unless like Tammy said, if they are a security guard or something. No, I personally wouldn’t take a gun anywhere.

If you would carry a gun, under what circumstances would you use it?
See above.

If you are against all of this, carrying weapons and using them, then what do you think is our role in protection of ourselves and others?
I am not a gun control freak. I just don’t like ‘em. I would probably kill myself trying to shoot somebody. If a loved one or I am under physical attack, I would remove myself from the situation if possible, if not…then I guess I would pick up something and wail the heck out of ‘em while praying really hard (and loud)….or call the police if possible. They have big guns.
I have been in some pretty rough places before. Sometimes the Holy Spirit led me right through the middle and sometimes He let me know to beware and stand back. I do believe in protecting myself however possible. Usually a person doesn’t know how they would react when fear takes over until it happens. With or without a gun.

Finally, what caliber would Jesus recommend?
What is a caliber