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That seems so contrary to his words in Matt 10:28...



We shouldn't fear man. Is self-defense supported in the new testament at all...? That kind of violence is given over to our messiah who is responsible for laying the "smackdown" when he returns and again during the Great White Throne judgment for those who didn't believe. The new covenant mission is to tell everyone to believe him and repent so they don't have to experience that, not "kill people if they threaten your life". We're suppose to flee, not shoot. If we're following in his footsteps, we'll be giving life (our own or leading people to the eternal kind), not taking life.

I don't care one way or another...

When I carry a weapon, I don't really carry it for myself, but to protect my family or friends...

As for Matt 10:28

When I carry, I am not afraid. LOL... but really, I don't carry at all because I am afraid I could die... I carry because I want to reaffirm and ensure my freedom.

now that I am a little more awake... I will restate my stance.

I don't own a gun, but I grew up around them... I could dismantle and clean most shotguns, rifles, and revolvers; then reassemble them. Although, I have never killed a living thing before... I can fire the said weapons, depending on caliber, with decent accuracy. I know the limitations of the weapons systems. I also know the best safety for any weapon, is the one in your skull. I am aware of a number of events in history, where the gun saved lives and helped people protect what was theirs... the same is true for the reverse.

Never before in history, was there such a weapon that could be used with such little training. Even the spear, the first weapon and simplest of weapons, required years of practice to use of the weapon with any ability.

My fear isn't that people carry weapons, I fear for the world we live in, if we feel that we HAVE TO carry weapons. And slowly, that is the world we are becoming. Not, where random acts of violence are random, therefore rare ... but that they are becoming an everyday thing.

Maybe I lived a sheltered life... or was too blind growing up... maybe it is a sign of the times, 6 billion people means there are tons of psychos.

I've heard about this before and had to laugh a bit. Mainly because that seems to totally contradict the sole purpose of Jesus' teachings: pacifism. Jesus specifically said that when someone is slapping you, turn the other cheek. Don't slap them back. Churches are relatively safe places, so I have no idea why someone would be inclined to bring a gun there. My own church has a fire alarm and a basement and such, so I think we'd be okay if there was an intruder or something.
As for my position on gun laws, I'm neutral. I personally would not like to own a gun or a gun license because I am a klutz. I could never kill a living creature. If you own a gun, cool. I won't try to make the government take it away from you as long as you are responsible with it. But I really don't see the point in Conservatives wanting more leniency towards guns. It's right there in the American Bill of Rights that you have freedom to bear arms. You don't need to take your guns everywhere you go. Besides, other items such as frying pans are just as effective. razz Of course, I suppose in church you could hit an intruder with Bibles or whatever. biggrin

I'm just going to go where my thought train went on this one.

I can see where being Christ-like would definitely not agree with this. But I feel like God would understand defending themselves. I mean, when we look in the old testament, there's a lot of God's vengeance, his anger,his being upset and diasappointed... and more vengeance. I can't help but wonder if Jesus was just as necessary for God as he would be for man. A mediator for both sides. It seems that way to me because after all the wrath, the loving God had punished so much, it could be quite despairing. And then he sends us Jesus to make the new way. It's as if Jesus, fresh of purity,mercy, and understanding, would be better suited than what God had done thus far. I know to some, this might suggest a flaw in God, for having failed. But that's not it at all. The people were flawed and did not respond to God's wrath and vengeance as they should have.

I mean, that's my take on it, for what it's worth.

Why do we need physical things to make us feel safe?! Better yet WHO CARES?! I believe in Jesus and this is not the life I want to live in but with Jesus so I will not fear death!

I understand that sometimes precautions needed to be taken for other people safety... but then I remember what Nick said.

If you don't know who Nick is, I suggest you go on Google and look up "Man with no arms and no legs" He'll be there and you can go on youtube and hear his testimony

Anyways, I went to Kingdom Bound this year and got to see him and he had this to say.

"I was in Afghanistan one time and I got a message from a terrorist saying that if I preached in the church with all the Muslims that he would outright kill me. I went to that church that day and preached to 100,000 Muslims and among the ones who turned to Jesus was the terrorist who threatened to take my life."

I will not fear those who judge against me, or who threaten my life because my life is not here... it's with Jesus.