Article: Carrying in Church

[Saddlebag Preacher]

Until recently I was an associate minister at a local congregation. For several years I have also CCW'd in church because my pastor became aware I was a retired LEO and asked me to. A couple of months ago, I paid out of my pocket to a trainer to set up a course that would resemble the type of shooting that would happen in a church setting, i.e. contact to 25 yards, setting, standing and moving, around obstacles and people. In two hours I shot 250 rounds, and have more days scheduled.

Six weeks ago I accepted a pastor position at another rural church. There is no one there that has a CCW. It is an older congregation and some physically handicapped. I had been leaving my gun in the car because I never carried while I was actually in the pulpit, my former church had other CCW people attending. But after SC, I prayed about it. During Sunday school I looked over all those innocent people and thought about if it was our church.

I went out to the car and put my gun on, and preached the sermon. I could not bring myself to look out over them knowing I might be able to help them if needed, and I wasn't able to. I do not worry about myself, but I do worry about the innocents, and my wife, who is in a walker. I have carried for 36 years.

 

[1911 guy]

There are people I respect who come down on both sides on the CCW in church issue. I won't deride someone for their personal convictions. I will, however, disagree. I know a preacher who won't carry in the pulpit. When he goes about his daily business, he often carries. But not in church. That's his personal conviction. That same man has no problem with others carrying in the same church. Again, not forcing his own convictions on others.

 

[X-Rap]

It would be interesting to know more of the history behind the church prohibitions and the carry movement. I'm sure there were groups that had to be appeased during the legislative fights so those compromises were made.
I think the Saddlebag Preacher has laid out clear reasoning for all who are able to consider carrying a gun.

 

[SSN Vet]

These are the three threats that the church I attend has first hand experience with and views as our largest security concern:

1. Non-custodial parent/relative attempting to remove a child from the nursery or Sunday school classroom and leave the building.

2. Pedophile attempting to abduct a child from the nursery or Sunday school classroom.

3. We have had three incidents where people who don't like the churches stance moral issues have threatened the pastors (and their families) if they dare to say anything against gay marriage. This includes a specific threat from a woman who said she had come to the church with a gun in her purse and intended to shoot the pastor in the pulpit if he spoke out against gay marriage.

I think that any inhibition to providing armed security at church for fear of offending those who are weak in the knees is foolish. The times are changing and any luke warm members of the flock are going to cut and run at the first sign of societal pressure regardless.... so we might as well roll up our sleeves and get serious about protecting the ones who are all in.

 

[hseII]

Christianity is NOT a pacifist religion. There are some groups (denominations or congregations) that are, but I find no Biblical support for the concept as standard operating procedure.



After the Lord Who Commands Armies gave us John Browning, smokeless powder, and machinist technology, I find it absurd to ignore His gifts.



Cees Zee mentions the interplay between Jesus and Peter in the Garden of Gethsemane (see Matthew 26:47-56, Mark 14:43-52, Luke 22:47-53 and John 18:1-11). The reason Jesus didn't allow Peter to resist is explained in John 19:11; “Put your sword back into its sheath! Am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given me?” In other words, Jesus is allowing Himself to be arrested according to His plan. This is not intended as a 'commandment' in the same general sense as "love thy neighbor".



In Luke 22:35-38, Jesus is briefing his disciples - followers - about living life without Jesus present. Essentially, Jesus tells them to be prepared for any and all circumstances. He specifically mentions money, clothing and a 'sword'.



Being armed in church may offend certain people or groups (including lawmakers)

but I find no evidence it offends the Lord.

And Quite Frankly, it's no one else's business anyways.

We are to be our families protectors and providers: I can provide for my family much better if I am alive.

 

[hseII]

These are the three threats that the church I attend has first hand experience with and views as our largest security concern:



1. Non-custodial parent/relative attempting to remove a child from the nursery or Sunday school classroom and leave the building.



2. Pedophile attempting to abduct a child from the nursery or Sunday school classroom.



3. We have had three incidents where people who don't like the churches stance moral issues have threatened the pastors (and their families) if they dare to say anything against gay marriage. This includes a specific threat from a woman who said she had come to the church with a gun in her purse and intended to shoot the pastor in the pulpit if he spoke out against gay marriage.



I think that any inhibition to providing armed security at church for fear of offending those who are weak in the knees is foolish. The times are changing and any luke warm members of the flock are going to cut and run at the first sign of societal pressure regardless.... so we might as well roll up our sleeves and get serious about protecting the ones who are all in.

Absolutely

 

[tactikel]

Christians are being martyred worldwide, we ask God's protection. My old Pastor had a terrific sermon about how God may protect us in ways we may not comprehend. Could He have inspired John Browning? Could Speer's Gold Dots be part of His plan? We pray for guidance, wisdom, courage.
My XD-45 and 14 Gold Dots just might be, in all seriousness, the answer to my prayers.

 

[SFsc616171]

re:Carrying in chrch

IN the Old Testament, the story is that when the temple was being rebuilt, the workers carried bricks in one hand, and their spear in the other.

So, that snarkiness about the god of the bible's protection being questioned means that individual needs to go back, and read it, again.

 

[GEM]

Understanding the deity as a firearms inspiration is shaky grounds for this forum. I would think it gets locked down before we decide that the god of Islam inspired the AK-47 from the godless USSR so they could use it to shoot up a beach in Tunisia.

 

[Walkalong]

We don't do religion, and this has wandered into religion vs a carrying at church question.