Monday, March 16, 2015

On the theology of self-defense -- even in church. Perhaps, given current reality, most especially in church.

No Guns In Church In Alabama?
(BTW, with the crippling of the Alabama teacher's union and the Alabama Democrat Party well on it's way to becoming extinct everywhere but in the black precincts, this proposal has a snowball's chance in hell of passage. Still, Herschel's commentary is a valuable one.)

8 comments:

FedUp said...

So, why do law enforcement agencies have more faith in Glocks than in God?

PO'd American said...

Last year I saw a sign on the entrance of my church, "Carry Bibles, not Guns." This sign was illustrated in the same manner you see with business stating that no guns are allowed (red circle with a diagonal line across a pistol). I questioned one of the elders why this sign had been placed there. His answer was that some folks might interpet permission since our state has a law of "open carry," and that the elders wanted to know who was carrying. I told him that I carried and if the sign was not changed I would not come back. They grudging amended the sign by slighty modifying the language, but left the crossed out pistol. It was still ambiguous and leads people to believe that carry was not allowed nor welcomed. I also told this elder that it was none of the church's business who was carrying if they were legally doing so and not brandishing their weapons. I have since left this church, not just for this problem, but other issues as well.

Carl Stevenson said...

The bible also relates Jesus telling his deciples to sell their cloaks if necessary to get the money to buy themselves swords. He clearly was commanding them to be prepared to defend themselves (and presumably the weak and vulnerable as well).
Yes self-defense (and the defense of the innocent against predators) is a biblical obligation, from the Old Testament through the New Testament.
Any preacher that tells you to be defenseless, and to submit to violence and injury rather than to meet violence with righteous self defense, is a servant of evil, not good.

Dave said...

The Mormon church has been invoking state violence or the threat of it against congregation members who exercise their God-given right to self defense in Utah churches since 2004. The state law that allows them to do this was carried by Sen. Mike Waddoups, a Mormon republican. http://www.deseretnews.com/article/590038317/Text-of-letter-from-First-Presidency-on-guns.html

Anonymous said...

Early drawings and surviving records indicate that the Puritans (Pilgrims) carried their personal weapons to church services regularly, in the 1600s.

Records indicate the purpose of this was for protection of worshipers, and that it occurred without ill effect. I don't see what the difference is today, except the type of marauder to keep at bay.

Ed said...

In the early Plymouth Colony and Massachusetts Bay Colony, the same buildings served for religious meetings, town meetings, militia training facility and fortified blockhouse. Church services were on Sunday mornings, with militia drills in the afternoon. You showed up armed and prepared to stay for the day.

Dave said...

Ed, I've been researching this issue and would like to learn more. Where is this information found? Thank you!

the Plinker said...

I may be the only person in our congregation who 'carries', but our pastor is aware of it, and he, my wife and I are the only ones who know. God forbid it ever has to change because of an incident. And I never open carry anywhere because I refuse to give up tactical surprise.