Warning:  If you are adamantly opposed to Christians owning guns that you will find this highly offensive, you may not wish to read it.

 

I recently read a post from a Christian that was very upset because she didn’t feel a Christian should own a gun.  Why?

I realize that those that believe as I do will pretty much accept what I am writing.

There are those of you, who I really do call close friends, who will not accept this and will actually be upset by it – I do not expect to change your minds, and you will not change mine – I just need to put into print my thoughts you don’t have to read them.

There is a lot of debate, among some people, about a Christian even needing a weapon – that if they are killed for want of one, it is the will of God.  I do not share that philosophy. 

While I do agree, as Christians, we must endure hardships up to and including death, that doesn’t mean that we must just give up – especially if we believe our calling of God is into a ministry to protect others.

Every police officer must understand and accept that one day he/she may be called upon to draw their weapon, shoot and the result may be another person dies.  It is not an easy decision to come by and much more difficult when you are a Christian and all life is sacred.

But that doesn’t mean that as a Christians I can’t be a police officer because I may have to use a weapon.  Matter of fact I would think that most people would want Christian police officers and the standard of conduct to which they ascribe.

Every person in the military has that same contradiction, knowing that, as a Christian, they may be called upon to use a weapon against other human beings for their country.  While they may not think about it when they join up – many, of course are young – before they are finished with basic training they know that may be the case.

There are people who have a protection mindset – many find themselves in the military and/or law enforcement.  This mindset doesn’t go away after they leave the service – especially when they have made a lifetime career of that service.  Their instinct is to go towards the danger, not run from it.  Their instinct is to protect people, not watch as they are attacked.

But they are not the only ones, others have chosen a different profession, but have that same desire to protect the innocent; and will risk their life to help others.  Some have chosen non-violent means to accomplish this – others have violence cast upon them by circumstances and confront the offender, even if it means danger to themselves.

I know some Christians are opposed to the ownership of guns, while I respect they feel that way, that doesn’t equate a Christian owning a gun is somehow not a Christian.

With VERY few exceptions gun owners, including Christians, own them for hunting, recreational shooting and/or protection.  They have no intention of using them against innocent parties.

It reminds me of the time I was speaking at a Middle School.  I was asked if we ‘shoot to kill.’  I said yes. 

That was the term then used for training officers - if you have to shoot, don’t get fancy, don’t try to hit someone in the arm or leg, shoot for the largest target – the body - and understand if you use deadly force you very well might kill the person.  Shooting was/is to be done only in defense of you or another person; even drawing the weapon implies you will use it – and you better be willing or it could be taken from you.

I don’t remember how the conversation got to this point, but I realized the student thought we HAD to kill the person we were shooting at.  I explained that we only shot in defense of ourselves and others AND if we didn’t kill them we would not be standing over them and shooting them to be sure they were dead.

As a matter of fact, once they are down, the officer will do all he can to help save them, applying first aid, getting medical assistance, etc.

The officers are now told to shoot until the threat is stopped – meaning shooting, how many ever shots are necessary, to keep the criminal from advancing or continuing their assault.  It is understood that in doing so the person might die.

The argument may be, ‘well as an American Police Officer or as a military person you must use a gun, but other Christians shouldn’t be armed.’

As a Christian AND a retired law enforcement officer I have no difficulty with private citizens owning a weapon.

One of the main mandates on government is to protect its citizens – and while we in America have come to see that as not allowing people to make choices on what to eat, etc. it really means protection from violence or other criminal activity.

While that sounds very good, and I believe that employees of the government, specifically Police, will do all they can to protect the citizens they are sworn to protect – there is no guarantee, and the citizen does not have a ‘right’ to expect unconditional protection at all times. 

There are insufficient numbers of law enforcement officers to be able to give that guarantee – and it would be impossible to develop the size of a department where there would be sufficient numbers.  The cost would be prohibitive and then we really would have a ‘police state.’

Even the best response time from an officer, responding to a call of help in the case of a violent crime, is going to be dependent upon when the call was made – before, during or after the incident – how the call was made from the victim or from someone seeing the violence taking place (which usually means a longer period before the call is made;) how far away the officer is from the scene – and what he is doing that he might have to break away from to respond.

Even in the largest cities response cannot be instantaneous, it takes time, and sometimes there isn’t any.  It is even longer in rural areas.  For instance, in Wasco County there are areas that even if a Deputy responds as quickly and safely as possible with blue lights and sirens it will take well over an hour to get to the scene – and that is if the weather is good.

I once was asked the question, “Do you really think Jesus would carry a firearm?  He told us to turn the other cheek.”

Luke 22:36-39   Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.

³⁷ For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end.

³⁸ And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough.

³⁹ And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him.

This was Jesus to His disciples as they left the Last Supper.  They were not soldiers, they were not members of government, they were private citizens some carrying a sword as instructed by Jesus.

Why did he have them bring them?  I don’t know.

He chastised Peter when he lopped off the ear of one of the guards, however, He did have them bring them – AND they had them in the room where the supper was eaten.

They were the weapons of the day, carried by those that used them for defense; and obviously at least two of the disciples carried them.

I don’t believe that the two statements, bring a sword and turn the other cheek are necessarily incompatible.  They can be two separate issues – and I realize that there are those that will argue – with good authority – that I may be wrong.

There is far more verses that proclaim we must rely on God for our protection – however, I also believe that He authorizes and works through men and women to accomplish some of that protection.

There are always those that cannot protect themselves for one reason or another; there are always those that will take advantage of the weak, in one way or another – and there are always those who God has chosen to protect the former from the latter. 

I am not advocating the use of firearms to rise up go on the hunt for violent criminals – I am advocating that every law abiding citizen has a right to defend themselves, their families and neighbors if the need arises; has a right to hunt or use firearms as a recreational instrument.  

So far, I have addressed my thoughts on law enforcement.  However, there is another issue.

We do not have sufficient military forces to combat armed invaders in our country.  If we are attacked we are almost in the same position as we were after WWI where the military was downsized and had to spend years getting enough military people trained to fight in Europe and the Pacific.

If we had not responded to those threats as a nation, our country would look far different that it does today.  Just ask the European and Asian citizens what it was like living under the tyrannical invaders that took over their country, until they could be defeated.

One of the deterrents of invasion of America is that fact that at least a third and quite possibly a lot more of the population has a firearm in their home – and know how and when to use it.

If you don’t wish to possess a firearm, that is okay, hopefully someone close by does and will defend you if they can.

If you are a Christian and you feel that your beliefs do not allow you to own a weapon, that is fine with me – hopefully God has placed someone close to you can help defend you.

But don’t expect to convince me and millions of other Christians that we aren’t Christians because we have those weapons.

Who should and should not be allowed to own a firearm – with very few exceptions – felons of violent crimes and those that are mentally ill – I believe anyone should be allowed to own a weapon.

That doesn’t mean that everyone should. 

I am thinking of our John, our Jail Chaplain.  John was a dedicated preacher and served those that were down and out with compassion.  He frequently walked along the railroad tracks giving food, clothing and blankets to the hobos.

One day he came into my office.  I could tell he was upset.

He asked me to issue him a concealed weapons permit.  We issued thousands in our office and I can only think of a couple that we had to confiscate back due to criminal activity – when a person asks for a permit they go through a rigorous background check before it is issued.  That background check is well-known and those that know they can’t pass it don’t usually apply.

I had no problems issuing a permit to John, however, I was concerned as to why he wanted one; it was out of character.

He told me that it was becoming a different world on the tracks.  There were more young men who were violent.  A few days earlier, he had been walking the tracks, doing what he normally did, talking to them – finding out about their needs and sharing Jesus with them.

One young many pulled a knife on him and started to threaten him, and came close to attacking him.  Some of the older guys stood up to the young man and told him that John was a good guy and was just there to help.  John thought if he had been carrying a gun he would have been safer; he would be able to use it to threaten the offender.

He was afraid; he wanted to start carrying a gun to protect himself.  We talked a while about that.  John had faced murders in the past as well as other violent criminals and this was the first time I had seen him frightened.

I knew that John would not be able to fire the weapon and to just have it to ‘frighten’ off an offender would not work, he would be more apt to lose it to the person and creating a bigger problem.

In the end, he decided he would not carry a gun – however, he was more careful about the hours and where he went along the tracks.

Not all people have the mindset to have a gun – that is fine, that is their choice, but all people (with few exceptions) should be able to own one.

Just one other thought, I genuinely can’t understand, why so many people (many calling themselves Christian) that are angry about civilian gun ownership, have no problems with abortions that kill hundreds of thousands more people every year. 

Later, Art :-)

From the ColumbiaRiverGorgeous
May Our Good Lord Bless and Keep YOU....’til we meet again