Tuesday, April 24, 2012

GUNS, GOD, & the CHURCH

Much has been said about guns and the current administration's position regarding guns in American.  The recent shootings of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, Trayvon Martin, the Oakland, CA school and many others have again brought the gun discussion back to the forefront.  I don't believe the guns are the problem.  It is the people who posses the gun that is the problem.  I believe that stronger legislation on guns could be helpful.  However, I am more of the persuasion that we need to focus on helping people be better people.  The focus seems to be on "problems" rather than "people".  We seem to spend time trying to legislate problems when in fact we should seek to lead people.  The question then may be who should lead them and where should we lead them?  I think the church is going to have to take a more active role in the community in seeking to lead the efforts of leading people to Christ and better relationships with people.  We, the church, are so busy trying to make people inside better, that we forget to help the people outside.  The people who are not a part of the "church" but should really be the focus of the church.  Yes, let's get guns out of the hands of people who don't need them, but let's also get God in the same people.  Talk to me bloggers!

19 comments:

  1. Pastor Davidson I agree. We have to be better disciples and move the "church" beyond the walls and into our communities. As the old adage says, "guns don't kill people, people kill people". For those who exercise their right to bear arms -- if they had more of God in their lives and in their hearts, I believe they would make better decisions; will listen to the voice of God and know how to deal with confrontations in a different manner. I don't know the answer but I know that God is definetly the way.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Good day Pastor,
    This is a tough topic. The progressive church ministers to the people. The community is broken and today's progressive pastors have the God given ability to evoke positive community empowerment. However, there is a divide when we mix politics with religion. I believe that it is necessary to be political as an agent standing for positive change in the community.
    Too many guns are in the wrong hands is only one example. Who better to address this problem than the church?
    My questions are:
    1. What happens when my political views differ from my pastor's views?
    2. What happens when my pastor takes a political stand and/or publically speaks on a community crisis or political concern that I may have a different opinion?
    3. How can the pastor speak, lead, and minister to a membership with various political points of views?
    4. Does this mean that I abruptly move my church membership and support?
    5. Is politics the only way a pastor can make an effective difference in the community?
    6. Should I leave my weapon at home when I attend church?
    This is tough. Once again, there are as many opinions as there are readers, thinkers and doers.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There maybe many opinions, thinkers, readers and doers but there is only one answer Jehovah. A pastor should never be political. His job is to bring lost souls to GOD.

      Delete
    2. "The progressive church" please define progressive.....

      Delete
  3. Lead others to Christ...that is the key. There are MANY conservative, devout, pious, believing, gun-toting people in this country that have an aim-and-shoot mentality...all in the name of God. This country was founded by church folks - not necessarily Christians - with the same characteristics.

    It is paramount that we "check" our individual selves. Are we really Christian? Are we Christ like in our day-to-day activities? We can lead by example. There are far too many angry, hurt people going to church and leaving the same way they came. As we grow/evolve, we can become stronger & more instrumental as agents of change.

    WE the people must find a way to move through the hurt, anger, fear, & disappointment. Once we find compassion & understanding, I think we'll be more likely to discuss our issues versus "solving" them by picking up a weapon. It is our role to lead others to Christ...which will lead them away from destructive behaviors, including using a deadly weapon to resolve issues.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'll take pious over pacifist any day!

      Delete
    2. Point well taken. I choose God over guns any and every day. I do respect the right to bear arms, just don't believe ones right to bear arms also gives them the right to take another persons life. There are way too many guns in the hands of people that make bad desisions with how they use them. I wish this society could embrace a healthier respect for LIFE.

      Delete
  4. As a male my perspective may be a little different....Often times I do attend church with my gun legally. Yes Vicki I’m one of the "MANY" conservatives that carry my "piece" with my Bible & if the liberal media & others of that mindset thinks that's pious or out of touch then so be it. What MANY non-conservatives fail to understand is this Earth not paradise! Here people have something called FREE WILL. They can choose to attempt any amount of wickedness they desire. When they decided to follow the enemies influence they are responsible for the repercussions that come.
    Again it's amazing that in the places where you have law abiding citizens Christians or not with guns you have the lowest crime rates.....why??? predators look for easy targets!
    I will Serve & Protect my family. if I loose my life doing so that's fine, but I will protect by all means necessary…….lethal force included.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LB I also have a permit to carry a concealed weapon, but I think it is ungodly to carry a gun to church. When you pull into the parking lot of your church that is part of God's house and that is HOLY ground. I feel and I am quite sure God feel the same way there's no need to have a lethal weapon while worshiping him.

      Delete
    2. Maybe you should look up the amount of church shootings that have happened in the past decade...it may change your opinion

      Delete
    3. 2 wrongs don't make a right, it just make the matter worst.

      Delete
    4. As I read thru some of these comments I thought 'Why on earth would anyone carry a gun into church." It wasn't until I read your comment LB, that I could 'somewhat' understand that reasoning. I guess I am naive in believing that God's
      house is a peaceful place of worship; and that I should not be concerned about people packing guns in church?

      Delete
  5. I totally agree with you Pastor Davidson. It is time for Christians to take Jesus from the Pulpit top the pavement. We are to busy trying to fix the people inside of the church but it is the people who do not come to church that we should minister to. Guns are here to stay, so is violence.We need to change the hearts of men, to do the two things Jesus asked us to do;1) Love God with all our hearts minds and souls and 2) Love one another as we love ourselves.If we follow the teaching of Jesus there would be no need for guns. I took the survey and was shocked to see that people thought it was the church job to get guns off the streets. The church job is to bring lost souls to God, and the police job to get guns off the streets. If the church save enough souls there's will be no need for guns.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Great Points

      Delete
    2. The world is made up of people. We are the problem. As we get better through a intimate relationship with Christ, we have to help us know Christ intimately. Intimacy with Christ change our character which change our conduct. I believe the problem is selfishness. We are too selfish to Comfort and care for the lost

      Delete
  6. I think you make very valid points Pastor Davidson. I think for many of the various complexities in our lives, we need to focus on the "person" so that we will be biblically empowered to make sound decisions.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I am elated Pastor MDD chose to blog uninhibitedly about real life issues from a spiritual perspective. I concur that unless people have a genuine relationship with Christ, people are the real problem.
    However, I have a slightly skewed view on Guns. I think all guns should be banned except for use by law enforcement & the military. Hunters should rent & return guns. Simply because it is impossible to discern who should own a gun and who should not.
    The typical serial killer, domestic violence perp and mass random snipers are people who had No prior criminal or mental health records. But they had easy access to a gun and then they snapped. How can we justify selling AK-47's, Uzi's and other Assault rifles and guns in gunshops in a civil society?
    I am perplexed when I think about Columbine, the Keller family tragedy, Trayvon, the Hudson Valley Mall Shooting, and the millions of other senseless gun related tragedies by lawful gun owners. I am certain the outcomes would have been less fatal without the guns in these aforementioned tragedies.
    Every morning when I say my prayers I am mindful to ask the Lord to keep our malls, workplaces and highways safe from the terror of random violence by irratic gun owners. Now after reading the Pastor's blog, I will pray that the NRA and other gun enthusiast develop a genuine relationship with Christ.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thank you Pastor Davidson for this topic. As a violence prevention advocate, I am opposed to guns but do respect the right to bear arms. Just as I am opposed to certain moral issues, but respect the rights of people to make personal choices.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I agree with U 100 percent. It's a little to late to change the laws for gun sales. In my neighborhood if a riot breaks out, U see more guns in people hands then what U see on tv. I see a new thing now happen in church,
    God is putting mentor's out in the park and city streets, church is going back to the streets.

    ReplyDelete