I’m not a big fan of guns. I don’t even allow them in my house because of how I was raised and the violence I witnessed when I was little. We will never have one in my home. There has been more than a few times when guns were aimed at one of us kids. This is just one of many reasons I left home when I was 14.

Lately, I have been thinking on all of the incidents that has been going on in the world and it breaks my heart to hear that it is becoming almost a daily event. So my thinking is that even though I don’t like guns, is there a place for them in church? There will be all kinds of answers and viewpoints on this one I’m sure.

What would you do if an armed gunman broke into your church and starting attacking your friends with weapons in the middle of a worship service? My church isn’t anything like the Wild West, even though we have some members that would be OK with that, lol. My city is relatively safe compared to areas like Chicago and Los Angeles. Just because it is safe, that doesn’t mean we are immune from bad things happening to us.

As a Christian I know that God will be there to protect me and all the others in church. As we have seen in the news, man is the one killing, not the guns. He has given us the tools and ability to protect ourselves . God allows us to protect our families and those who need protecting.In the Bible there is no specific scripture when it comes to arming ourselves, unless we are putting on the armor of God. Which by the way is the best armor we can possibly have. The Bible does point out that there has been many mentions about the use of weapons during wars and battles (Genesis 4:1-26).

There are mentions in the Bible where weapons were used for protection against robbers and thieves. I can’t find a place where carrying a weapon is condemned.

In Luke 22:35-38 is says, “And he said to them, “When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “Nothing.” He said to them, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one. For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors.’ For what is written about me has its fulfillment.” And they said, “Look, Lord, here are two more swords.” And he said to them, “It is enough.”

My own personal feelings about guns are just that, they are personal. There is nothing wrong with Christians or anyone else using guns. I do think that we all have a right to protect ourselves and those we love. It’s a shame we live in a society that is fast to use guns as a way of killing others. As long as they are trained in how to use them, I see nothing wrong with them having them. Guns are not the problem, people are. From the time man was created, people have been killing other people, with and without weapons.

The Constitution gives people the right to have a firearm. There are times I have gone into a church or public place and I get a very uneasy feeling when it comes to behaviors and such. The church in Charleston, S.C. had this young man sit with them during a Bible Study. I am feeling more and more that if someone has a concealed weapon permit and choose to bring it with them, they have the right to protect their church family and anyone else from disaster. Before I would have said there is no way I would attend a church where members were armed. When I think of church I think about love, peace and happiness as I worship Jesus Christ.

If someone came into my church with a gun or other weapon intending on killing those who are there to worship, I would hope there would be someone there that could protect those who can’t protect themselves. By the time the police arrived to save the day, lives would have been lost. Within minutes all lives would be lost. As citizens, we need to protect those we love and be willing to die for them if need be. Some churches believe that if church members bring guns to church, we would do more harm than good. I don’t agree with that. I think that if members have a concealed weapons permit and have been properly trained, they should be allowed. I’m not talking about carrying pistols around like in the old west days. I don’t think if someone is carrying a concealed weapon that everyone needs to know that because of the potential panic that would ensue.

I want to close this post by sharing one of my favorite passages in the Bible.

Ecclesiastes 3:8

There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven—
A time to give birth and a time to die;
A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.
A time to kill and a time to heal;
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
A time to weep and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn and a time to dance.
A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing.
A time to search and a time to give up as lost;
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
A time to tear apart and a time to sew together;
A time to be silent and a time to speak.
A time to love and a time to hate;
A time for war and a time for peace.

So, if its a time for everything is it also a time for Christians and churches to protect themselves and others?