The Arkansas House of the State assembly passed a bill that would allow concealed weaponj permit holders to carry their weapons to church. The bill was sponsored by evangelicals. Any thoughts on this? Blaine in Little Rock.
Constitutionally this never should have had to be voted on as the right to keep and bear arms is granted to every legal citizen of the United State.
Looking at this bill from a church standpoint they are private institutions where the government has no right to intrude anyway. In my opinion it should be up to the local congregation if they will be concealed carry friendly or not.
Spiritually speaking I have no problem with a person carrying a weapon for their own personal protection. I believe that our peace should be of the Lord and we should feel safe in His care wherever we are at. The issue of peace and protection are two different things. I guess for me it comes down to why am I carrying? If I need a weapon to be at peace then I will never have what I seek. If I am just exercising my constitutional/and natural right to protect self and family from criminals I see no problem there either.
Sorry this is not a very deep answer if you were wanting to go another route but this is my first feelings upon reading your post.
any thoughts?
ummm, first thought....i gotta stop reading this forum, and keep my eyes on Jesus.
i got to stop reading this forum.
adio.
I don't know about guns - I personally prefer to carry my sword to church :)
Patrick
www.jonahproject.com
My thoughts exactly Patrick.
Amen brother. I need to be more in my New Testament then on this forum it seems.
Brother thanks for your insights. What is disheartening is not so much what the Ark. House passed as the church feels such a need for this bill. The testimony from supporters said the bill was needed for protection. One has to wonder if this is not trusting in the arm of the flesh. Is Christ not capable of protecting his church.
Maybe if they brought guns to Church and told the Pastor - "Preach a good sermon or else....." - we'd have Sudden Revival.
Hope ya know I'm joking. I hate guns. Just needed to laugh a little.
Thanks!
I see humor in that, Jesus-is-God.
By the way, I have followed Voice of the Martyrs, (which Richard Wurmbrand started), since they were called "Jesus To The Communist World, Inc.) in the 70's. Richard Wurmbrand has been very instrumental in raising the level of consciousness of Western Believers to our persecuted brethren in many countries. He taught a strong message of loving your persecutor and he lived that example.
With that said, I met a Nigerian Pastor once, in the 80s, in Connecticut. He was invited to our Church. I was one that drove him around where he needed to go. During the course of many of our conversations, he told me that Muslims would overrun Christian villages and burn houses and kill Christians (and worse). I asked him what he would do and he said that they would defend themselves and would fight back. I said, "even to kill the Muslims" and he emphatically said, "YES"!
Perhaps instead of a free coffee mug and pen as a first time attender free gift they would give you the choice of a gunrack or a gunlock.
This might make a church board meeting bearable to attend :). Target practice at the range afterwards of course.
Actually I did hear of an out of the way church that did have target practice after church. The church was in Arizona. I think they would come to church with a Bible in one hand and s piece maker strapped on their hip. I am sure the offering plate got full. What got me was when the pastor would preach his peace maker would be on the pulpit. Don't think any one fell asleep and must have been a lot of sinnets dpwn at the altar repenting----chuckle.
I do read in the VOM magazine that evangelical churches in Columbia are at the mercy of FARC terrorist. They do not arm themselves but trust God for protection. What does this say for those churches who feel the need for private security or an armed congregation?
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