Do you carry a firearm in church?

I don't need to take my firearm to church. There's plenty of guys who bring theirs as they carry daily.

Servant68 said:

With the current threat in the national news of the domestic terrorist from Wisconsin threatening to target churches and schools, was wondering if you carry a firearm in church.

I used to go to a Baptist church in Idaho in which the preacher always had a little Glock 26 concealed on him, even when preaching. He said it was well within Biblical teaching to do so.

I never felt particularly threatened in church and just wasn't comfortable carrying a firearm while worshipping, so I didn't.

A few months ago, a local pastor was gunned down by a crazy guy during services.

And since the election, tensions have increased between the two political sides as noted by the previously mentioned person.

I think it is prudent to be prepared against evil men, but I do not begrudge anyone who feels differently as I likely felt the same just a short time ago.

*Edited the post to remove any language that may be construed as inflammatory towards a certain political ideology.

Click to expand...

No! I carry a sword.

Just a trebuchet

FrankDux said:

Just a trebuchet

Click to expand...

Must be difficult concealing that thing.........

I've never carried in church but I used to go to one where several retired police officers carried, acting as security. Never considered the right or the wrong of it as such.

kajun2 said:

No! I carry a sword.

Click to expand...

I actually do! Welllllll I'm embellishing a little...let's say a mini sword ESEE Izula II

No.
I've only known one man who did...

He was a Police Detective who was required by state law to carry a firearm at all times.

My weapon of choice is the walking stick. I have studied techniques in Tai Chi Chuan, Jodo, Bartitsu, and other more esoteric martial arts.

Since I always have a cane or walking stick with me, I suppose that I could consider myself armed to the teeth all the time (if I was of that particular mindset.)

HowdyDave@ said:

No.
........
My weapon of choice is the walking stick. I have studied techniques in Tai Chi Chuan, Jodo, Bartitsu, and other more esoteric martial arts.

Since I always have a cane or walking stick with me, I suppose that I could consider myself armed to the teeth if I was of that particular mindset.

Click to expand...

Have you ever seen Raiders of the Lost Ark?


My answer is....I'm not going to answer. You'd never know if I was carrying just by looking at me, so your best presumption is that I am (and anyone else you don't know for sure as well). I will say this though, prior to going into the clergy, I am former military, former law enforcement and I am currently a firearms instructor.

To those who use Peter in the Garden of Gethsemane as an example of why followers of Christ should not carry a "sword" (John 18:10-11 - where Jesus rebukes Peter only because it interferes with him drinking "the cup that the father has given me"), let me refer you to Luke 22:35-38.

Servant68 said:

With the current threat in the national news of the domestic terrorist from Wisconsin threatening to target churches and schools, was wondering if you carry a firearm in church.

Click to expand...

I would be extremely grateful if you could provide a link to substantiate this claim. I could not find any in google. I agree it is possible for some crazy atheist (possibly with friends) to launch such a campaign. However I am confident that all American atheist organizations would denounce such a campaign and cooperate with the police wherever possible.

Rev. Thomas said:

We don't allow guns in our church. If anyone other than a officer enters with a gun, we call 911 right away. This policy has never caused us any problems to date.

Click to expand...

Why would you call 911 if no law has been broken? That's getting close to bearing false witness, and it certainly violates the "golden rule".

Posts #119 & #120 can be combined...there are some good sword-canes out there!

Not very effective beyond 6 feet though...

NicholasB said:

I would be extremely grateful if you could provide a link to substantiate this claim......

Click to expand...

I presume the Wisconsin thing is this.....

Wisconsin Manhunt

"Police had stepped up patrols of church neighborhoods over the weekend after analyzing Jakubowski's 161-page manifesto, which "expressed some anti-religious views," a news release issued through Rock County Sheriff Robert Spoden's office stated."

<staff edit>

I, Personally wouldn't carry one myself. Yet, that's just me. I see no murderous hearts if someone else does under usual circumstances.

There are many circumstances in the Bible in which people prepared to protect themselves from those that were coming to harm them. Many other stories of people being prudent in regards to their safety, and of others as well. Heck, there is even stories of people in the bible righteously killing another.

Darkhorse said:

Posts #119 & #120 can be combined...there are some good sword-canes out there!

Not very effective beyond 6 feet though...

Click to expand...

Of course not at that distance...

As I have learned it, the key to using a stick weapon is the element of surprise when you make your first strike (almost always a move to disarm or disable the opponent.)

I'll leave this nugget to chew upon as well......


Dr. Norman Geisler and JP Moreland:

…to permit murder when one could have prevented it is morally wrong. To allow a rape when one could have hindered it is an evil. To watch an act of cruelty to children without trying to intervene is morally inexcusable. In brief, not resisting evil is an evil of omission, and an evil of omission can be just as evil as an evil of commission. Any man who refuses to protect his wife and children against a violent intruder fails them morally.

The Life and Death Debate: Moral Issues for Our Time, by Dr. Norman Geisler and JP Moreland, Greenwood Publishing, 1990

rjpkrp said:

Have you ever seen Raiders of the Lost Ark?

Click to expand...

Sure have...
The only places they use all of that razzle-dazzle are in the movies or at the circus!

rjpkrp said:

"Police had stepped up patrols of church neighborhoods over the weekend after analyzing Jakubowski's 161-page manifesto, which "expressed some anti-religious views," a news release issued through Rock County Sheriff Robert Spoden's office stated."

Click to expand...

Najee Ali, a community activist in Los Angeles and executive director of Project Islamic Hope, said he knew Anderson as a pastor who attended community meetings.

"He was a deeply religious man,” Ali said of Anderson, who sometimes preached on the radio and joined community events. “
...
Anderson walked into Smith’s special-needs classroom and opened fire, fatally wounding her before turning the gun on himself, police said. One of Smith’s students, an 8-year-old boy, was also struck by the gunfire and died. A second child was injured.
---

It would be bearing false witness to say that this is typical of Christians. Or Atheists.

I live in a country where carrying a firearm into a church is unthinkable. Some schools do have them, for the shooting team, but they are kept under at least as strong a security as the dangerous chemicals used in science labs.

If I lived in a barbaric society where carrying weapons was only prudent, I too would carry. Or emigrate, if I could.

jimmyjimmy said:

Why would you call 911 if no law has been broken? That's getting close to bearing false witness, and it certainly violates the "golden rule".

Click to expand...

It's against the law in my state. I plan to keep it that way.

In Jesus' Holy Name

Amen

Rev. Thomas said:

It's against the law in my state. I plan to keep it that way.

In Jesus' Holy Name

Amen

Click to expand...

Do not ever raise a hand against a neighbor. Please do not allow your anger to overtake your actions. "to live is Christ, to die is Gain' Philipians 1:21. Living as Christ is not raising your hand, having the strength not to retaliate in violence.