Guns and God
Pastor Ken Pagano of the New Bethel Church, an Assemblies of God church in Louisville, Ky, has come up with a rather interesting approach to the upcoming celebration of Independence Day on July 4. He is encouraging “responsible handgun owners” to wear their firearms inside the church on June 27. There will be a handgun raffle, patriotic music, and information on gun safety. The pastor says, “We're just going to celebrate the upcoming theme of the birth of our nation. And we're not ashamed to say that there was a strong belief in God and firearms — without that this country wouldn't be here.” (See http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31111096/ for MSNBC News coverage of this story.)Now I’m by no means an anti-gun fanatic. I enjoy target shooting and, while I couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn with a baseball, I manage to do fairly well with a .22. As a law-abiding citizen, I believe I should be allowed to "keep and bear arms". The Constitution does, too. The only kind of gun control I unwaveringly support is keeping guns out of the hands of criminals, crazy people, and, especially, crazy criminals. Unfortunately, I don’t think legislation will achieve that end; people who are willing to use guns in the commission of robbery or assault or murder aren’t very likely to stop using guns simply because they’re illegal.
Certainly Pastor Pagano has a point in asserting that firearms and faith form a part of our history as a nation. The impetus behind one of the first great waves of immigration to the New World was a desire for freedom from religious persecution. And this freedom was purchased by the blood of brave souls with the courage to sacrifice their lives for the ideals we cherish in this country. I thank God for them.
But really now.
I’m having some problems understanding what a handgun raffle and gun safety have to do with the fundamental purpose of church. I thought maybe I was confused, so I did a bit of research and found that the scriptural passages most often cited in describing the purpose of “church” are as follows:
So I guess I’m still a bit at sea here. I find myself struggling to verbalize just why having a bring-your-guns-to-church day makes me uncomfortable, but it does.Acts 2:42-47 – They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Ephesians 4:11-13 – It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets,
some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
What do you think?
Is Pastor Pagano on target here?
I’m really looking forward to your comments!
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