Guns at church. I have been shocked each time I’ve learned (that’s almost a handful of tragic circumstances in 2009 alone) that someone has shot someone at a church – around our “peaceful” nation.
Recently a pastor in Kentucky announced a “potluck” for gun-owners to bring their weapons to church. Evidently, this is a positive promotion of responsible gun ownership. I am all for responsible gun ownership. However, guns at church?!?
Serving the Prince of Peace, I am all about peace-keeping, and peacemakers do utilize guns, at certain times, in specific circumstances. But at church? I don’t think there should be guns at church for any reason.
More tragically, last Sunday a person was shot while passing out bulletins, peacefully, at his church. As you’ve certainly heard, it was Dr. Tiller, (in)famous abortion doctor. Stop.
Wait. Set aside motives, any sense of retributive justice or “holy war” – and ask yourself a simple question. Does God want Christians to kill people?
Does God want us to kill people in His House?
Another news report: 40 people were killed in a mosque in Pakistan – while peacefully at prayer. And it seems we dismiss those sorts of acts as jihad, terrorism or some other foreign factor. “We’re better than that in America, as Christians.” Really?
Almost 20% of that number of people have been killed in churches in America in 2009. (And it’s only June.)
What’s going on here? Who are we really: disciples of Christ, the Prince of Peace – who never struck down another person, tho’ he had power to do much more than that! Or, are we American-individualistic-ideologues, bent on doing God’s “dirty work” for Him, on our own terms?
What do you think?
I’d love to hear from you on this one. But let me kick it up a notch.
Supposedly, the man who shot Dr Tiller was a Christian, allegedly killing him for religious reasons. Dr Tiller certainly considered himself a Christian.
Do you think these two people will meet in heaven? And what sort of God might you believe in if that eternal circumstance were possible?
“With God all things are possible.” ~ Jesus
June 5th, 2009 at 11:09 pm
Wow.
June 25th, 2009 at 1:48 am
Hi Pastor Jason,
You ask “Guns in Church”? Would Jesus bring a gun to church, we all know the answer is no. We as christians are here to spread the word of Christ, and God wants us to live Christ like. So guns in a church are out of the question for christians. Church is a place where communities come together to worship God, its a place where everyone knows peace.
In Gods eyes, it’s not for me to judge whether Dr. Tiller is christian or not. One day Dr. Tiller is going to have to answer what he has done in this world good and bad. No man shall take another man’s life, both the abortionist and the shooter will have to answer to him. It just goes to show that God can take you anytime so you have to be prepared.
Do you think these two people will meet in heaven? Well it all depends if Dr. Tiller accepted Jesus Christ as his savior. If both have accepted him as their personal savior then I would say yes. Heaven to me is a holding place. Hell is a holding place. Heaven and Hell are places where people will wait to be judged when that day comes. Paradise is where you will be forever if you have accepted Christ as your savior. If both men were to meet in Paradise then I would say they wouldn’t be aware of what has happened on earth. If the two men remembered what happened on earth then Paradise cannot be pure. God gives us the vision of Paradise as a place where sadness, hurt, feelings, grief will not exist, but love, beauty, and happiness will be felt all over.
There’s one question that everyone in the congregation should think about, and it’s not a hard question to think or even answer. The question is “If Jesus were to come back right now, are you ready”? I know I am
September 5th, 2009 at 11:49 am
That’s a tough one…on one hand we have the Christians who believe their “way” of Christianity is more righteous and, therefore, more befitting of entrance into Heaven. On the other hand, we have grace which helps us “fill in” the gaps we have in virtue due to our our imperfect state as born sinners.
Trouble arises when we think we have to avenge anyone or anything on God’s behalf either as Christians or as Mujahideen seeking to slay “infidels.” I believe this “justification” for violence is wrong. Vengeance or retribution on God’s behalf is different than defending one’s self, family or freedom/nation and resorting to violence to do so.
I’m sure one could find a proverb in the Bible (especially Old Testament) that they could interpret as justification for such heinous acts. That’s why I go to the Word of Christ…where peace prevails.
As far as those two meeting in heaven…I would think that, yes, they would. There are many people who have broken other commandments who I believe will be there (including my grandmother, grandfather and my dad). But then, that leads to a whole other discussion about “levels” of sin.
I am still a mere toddler in my spiritual growth, but I know that as humans, our inferior brains will continue to struggle to reconcile God’s will. That’s where faith comes in–knowing His plan, even if I don’t understand it, is to be trusted.