Churches and Guns: Should we be having more of a discussion on violence than guns?I’ve heard more and more discussion on churches and guns recently. Should churches take a stand on gun control? Should churches allow guns (conceal and carries) in their services? It’s all part of a bigger debate that’s taking place in our country since the horrible Newtown shootings.
Brady Boyd, the pastor at New Life Church in Colorado Springs was recently on the Christian Broadcasting Network. Brady should have a valuable opinion on this subject, since New Life was the scene of a horrible shooting a few years back.
According to Boyd:
“Gun control is not an issue that should be on the front line of the churches. Violence is another topic. We should be talking about violence… In fact, two Sundays ago I stood in front of my congregation and I challenged the parents who are allowing these violent games in their homes.”
What do you think?
Are we having the wrong discussion here?
Is this really about guns? Is it more about violence? Or mental health? Or, IS it about guns?
Here’s Pastor Brady’s interview on CBN:
I’d love to hear your comments… Are we having the wrong discussion?
Do you / would you allow guns in your services? Why or why not?
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I believe we are focusing on the wrong issue. Guns aren’t the problem, it’s the violence that’s overtaken our culture.
I am a pastor and gun owner. I welcome legal Concealed Carry holders to our congregation.
I totally agree. As a Pastor, Foster Father, Sheriff Dept. Chaplain, I can tell you right now, there is more to violence than just guns. I recall seeing a sign at a friends office that said, “Remember this country was settled by religious fanatics with guns”. As a kid I inherited my great grandfathers long rifle, and I can tell you right now, that I never once had the urge to run out and kill someone. However, I have kids in my Sunday School class, that I would not let handle any weapon of any kind, fire arm, cutting piercing, or what ever.
Just say’n.
We welcome conceal and carry guns in our church. They are our hidden security officers.
Has anybody thought about solving a lot of our violence with more fathers in our homes? How many violent crimes had been done by young people who had no fathers growing up?
Once again America focuses on the symptoms and tools of crimes verses the moral and spiritual underlying reasons. Our man made attempts to control guns or symptoms without confessing that we have dismissed the Judeo/Christian God who at one time set our societal standards in America.
Churches, like Christ, should focus on issues on both the macro and micro level. In this case, violence and the tools used to carry them out. Jesus taught and lived both out. He spoke out against violence and reprimanded Peter for using a weapon, and lived to die under our world of violence and weapons. I hope churches would stand against violence and the tools used that has taken so many lives.
I keep an assault rifle locked and loaded in my pulpit… just in case!