God and Guns

Should you pack a gun in church? Can you carry a lethal firearm if you are serious about your Christian faith? These are not small questions. The answers touch upon law, faith, psychology, and propriety.

Down here in the Mississippi, the propriety bit is not that big a deal. Ours is a Constitutional Carry state. In every decent crowd, a significant percentage of the adults present is armed. We don’t have many mass shooting events, either. I’m sure that’s just a coincidence.

Because of the significant prevalence of firearms in the general population, folks have become a bit numb to guns. If some little old lady sees your carry piece in the checkout line at Kroger, she’s just as likely to ask you how it shoots as to raise a fuss. However, you should still be careful.

I don’t care much for open carry myself. On the farm or in the woods, sure. However, when out and about in public I always pack concealed. If I do find myself in a sticky spot, I’d sooner not telegraph the fact that I am carrying a gun. GIs often removed the rank insignia from their uniforms in Vietnam for the same reason. Sometimes it’s best if you don’t stand out.

Motivations

On 5 November 2017, a loser whose name need not be mentioned entered the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, and proceeded to kill 26 innocent people. It was only the intervention by a local hero named Stephen Willeford with an AR rifle of his own that stopped the carnage.

On 29 December 2019, a lunatic wearing a fake beard entered the West Freeway Church of Christ packing a shotgun. He killed two churchgoers before a member of the church security team put him down with a single round from across the sanctuary. Total elapsed time from the maniac starting his rampage to his being neutralized was six seconds. That was some simply epic combat marksmanship.

As I type these words, the details are coming out regarding the CrossPointe Community Church shooting in Wayne, Michigan. Yet another loser showed up during Vacation Bible School with a black rifle in his hands and darkness in his heart. A church member saw the man approaching the church and ran him down with his pickup. A security team volunteer then dispatched the villain. One good guy caught a round to the leg, but no children were harmed. Bottom line–it really isn’t tough to articulate a need.

What Does the Bible Say?

As with any issue of morality, you have to be careful not to cherry pick your references. However, the scriptures do have a great deal to say on the subject. The discerning believer weighs the source material and then makes an informed decision.

The sixth commandment states simply thou shalt not commit murder. However, there is a clear difference between cold-blooded murder and killing in wartime or in the defense of the innocent. King David was described as a man after God’s own heart despite having ample blood on his hands.

In Matthew 7:12, Christ Himself says, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” Nobody wants to get shot. During the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well.” We are fairly clearly commanded to show forbearance and kindness to others even when we’re treated poorly. However, that seems to me to be directed at the individual believer.

The Apostle Peter lived with Jesus for three years. However, on the night of the betrayal in the Garden of Gethsemane, Peter was nonetheless still carrying a sword. Peter used his weapon to cut the ear off of the high priest’s servant. Christ restored the injured man and castigated Peter for his actions. However, even in the physical presence of the Son of God, I find it fascinating that ole Pete was still packing heat.

Nehemiah 4:17 describes the workers rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem while surrounded by hostile tribes. It says, “Those who built on the wall, and those who carried burdens, loaded themselves so that with one hand they worked at construction, and with the other held a weapon.”

As a sincere believer, I was comfortable serving as an Army officer in the combat arms. I also pack a gun whenever I’m not asleep or in the shower. That includes when I am at church. I strive to treat everyone I meet with Christlike fairness and love. However, threaten someone innocent in my presence, and I’m going to put you down. Your mileage may vary. However, I’ve pondered this a good bit, and these conclusions are mine.

Get more Gun Cranks every week!