GOD AND GUNS

I Was Just Thinking About - - - 

A Headline Story in the Christian Post on July 22, 2015 was: “Potter's House Pastor Chris Hill Explains Why His Denver Megachurch Needs Armed Guards.” The rationale for the armed guards is: “The Charleston (South Carolina) shooting was certainly not the first time a church had been targeted by a gunman. In 2012, a former employee of Creflo Dollar's World Changers Church International in College Park, Georgia, had walked into an early morning Bible study and shot a member point blank while he prayed. In 2009, late-term abortion Dr. George Tiller was murdered while serving as an usher at Reformation Lutheran Church in Wichita, Kansas. In fact, Carl Chinn, a former Focus on the Family safety manager and a church security expert, tracks "deadly force incidents" at faith-based organizations. According to Chinn's data, there have been 971 such incidents between Jan. 1, 1999 and Feb. 15 of this year.”

Are armed guards and the use of weaponry justified by New Testament teaching and the words of Jesus Christ? A text that is often cited is Luke 22:35-39, “And He said to them: “When I sent you without money bag, knapsack, and sandals, did you lack anything? So they said, Nothing. Then He said to them, “But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one…they said, Lord, look, here are two swords. And He said to them, It is enough.” What did Jesus mean when He said, It is enough? Was He stating that two swords among the disciples was adequate? Or, does it mean what the Reformation Study Bible states: “The disciples take the words about the sword literally, and Jesus’ reply means, Enough of that sort of talk!” The problem with the disciples’ understanding (or at least with Peter) is what immediately ensues. Matthew 26:50-53, “Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. Put your sword back in its place, Jesus said to him, for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?”

What is Paul’s approach to the use of weaponry in ministry? In II Corinthians 10:4-6, Paul emphasizes, “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.” His basic approach and thesis is stated in verse 3, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.” In other words, we are not doing spiritual ministry in a secular manner. The focal point is the use of reason and logic. In the spiritual realm, this would necessitate having an Apologetical base as one presents the Scriptural message to religionists, agnostics, atheists, cynics and all other opposition dialogue or antagonism.

Paul’s clarifying statement of ministry purpose and intent is given in Ephesians 6:10-13, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Even though the Biblical Christian is living amid cultural chaos, evil and wickedness, we should not allow ourselves to depart from the words of Esther 4:16 who pled the case of the Jews before the King, “I will go in to the king, which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish.” Despite the well-intentioned thoughts of carrying a weapon on one’s person for protection against ant-Christian elements, perhaps a secular song (ditty) from the past would be a good mantra for the Biblical Christian - “Lay that pistol down, Babe - Lay that pistol down! Consider these things with me!