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If the world is armed, must we therefore follow—or would that make us just like the world?” Edric Sng.
This morning I opened my email and saw the following message:
The Life Ministry has partnered with the Department of Public Safety
to offer a License to Carry a Firearm course. We invite you to join us Saturday, June 17, 2023, in the Fellowship Hall.
Because of the need to protect their members from danger inside the walls of their churches, more pastors are offering training on how to become licensed to carry a firearm. In fact, a survey completed in January of 2020 by Lifeway Research indicated that just under half of 1,000 Protestant pastors nationwide reported arming their members.
The survey results, along with the email I received from my church, raised several questions in my mind as a Christian: Should I attend a class my church is offering to learn how to carry a firearm to protect myself? What would Jesus do to protect himself from all the violence occurring if he lived in 21st century America? And what does the Bible say about my bearing arms?
Christian author and Bible-teacher John Piper seeks to answer my questions in his article: Should Christians be encouraged to arm themselves? Here is an excerpt worthy of discussion:
The issue is not primarily about when and if a Christian may ever use force in self-defense, or the defense of one’s family or friends. There are significant situational ambiguities in the answer to that question. The issue is about the whole tenor and focus and demeanor and heart-attitude of the Christian life. Does it accord with the New Testament to encourage the attitude that says, “I have the power to kill you in my pocket, so don’t mess with me”? My answer is, No.
He continues in his article sharing nine considerations for a Christian to consider before deciding to bear arms, extracted from his studies on the life of Jesus and his disciples. It is a lengthy article, but worth the reading.
Christians are living every day in a world that is becoming increasingly unsafe day after day. As we seek to protect ourselves from the dangers lurking within our churches and communities, may these nine considerations help us base our decision to bear arms not just on what the world tells us to do, but the Word.
Sharing my perspective,
Jeaninne
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