Comments

Darwyn posted a comment · Oct 30, 2017

manofword posted a comment · Oct 30, 2017
Being a Sr. Pastor for over 33yrs and a Law Enforcement Chaplain for 10yrs, I think I have a unique perspective. I carry concealed but do not advocate that from the pulpit. For me, the issue is not God & guns it is God and freedom. The cross was a violent way to purchase our freedom. Granted, Jesus reacted peacefully to His accusers, but the price for freedom was high. Freedom, in the U.S., at its inception, was paid for with gunpowder. I don't advocate violence or its use in any measure except in the protection of life. As I understand it, the 6th commandment, from a Jewish perspective, is not, "Thou shalt not kill" but it is better rendered, "Thou shalt not murder." Also, from my reading of Jewish theology, it appears that life is of inestimable value. That being the case, for me, if I can save life, even using deadly force, I may be obligated to do so. The absolute last thing I would want to do is to take a life. Could I live with that? Another way think about it is, If I could have saved a life and didn't, could I live with that? These are personal issues to deal with and pray over. So, from my perspective, the God & Guns connection is far more cultural than theological; they really aren't connected. I carry, not out of fear but from preparation or just in case or what if. If it were you or your grandchild or spouse and your life were threatened, would you hope someone intervened? The issue is the value of life, to me. I am a man of peace and have not been in a physical altercation or fight since I got saved (1976) and believe in "following peace with all men", but I haven't forgotten how to fight if needed. This, for me, is NOT connected to the Gospel, but is connected to the most valuable resource God made, and that is human life. And, by the way, my Bible is far more important to me than my Glock!

Deancooper posted a comment · Oct 28, 2017
Dr. Brown, I read in another recent post today where you said, "Can we even articulate the arguments of those who differ with us?" It sure sounds like your answer in this case is "no". Have you tried talking with the Christians who are strongly pro gun rights? You have a talk radio show after all. Maybe you should try it. Anyway, the answer to your question of why American Christians have been so associated with guns is really quite simple. The Left wants to take the guns away from us! And of course the Left is largely anti-Christian, so taking away our guns is commonly seen as a precursor to taking away our freedom of religion. You must have heard this, so I'm guessing the issue here is that you grew up in New York and haven't had this belief hammered into you all your life. Try seeing this issue from the perspective of those who have.

Royce posted a comment · Oct 27, 2017
You're spot on, Dr. Brown. There is NO connections between Americans Constitutional Right to keep & bear arms and the Gospel. NONE! Unfortunately, as you can see by the comments, any denial of that fact is often met with animosity and a fierce rebuttal/resistance to any attempt at putting distance between the two. Don't get me wrong, I love my guns and believe 100% in the 2nd Amendment but having wrestled for some time what the Bible has to say on the issue and asking myself, "What would I do if the Gov't shows up and says I have to turn in my guns because they say the 2nd Amendment doesn't protect individual ownership?"; I have come to the conclusions that God leaves me no wiggle room in Romans 13 other than to give them my guns and try to fight my way thru the Legal System to have them returned. With that said, I have NO doubt that will receive some vehement objections and responses. Which leads me to my final point. I have experienced many who hold to their guns tighter than to their Bibles. My BFF and Dearest BIC is one of those who causes me great concern in this area. Oh, for sure, there are many who are Posers that are self-professed Christians and when asked why they respond with they were raised a Christian or this is America and America is a Christian Nation or a number of other such replies that lend to a pretty safe bet they aren't Christian at all. But there are those that every indication is they were Born Again and yet they put keeping their guns before surrendering and submitting to Christ. It's gonna get REAL interesting when the time comes for the rubber to meet the road.

Bguptill posted a comment · Oct 27, 2017
Jesus said, Luke 22:36 (NASB)
And He said to them, "But now, whoever has a money belt is to take it along, likewise also a bag, and whoever has no sword is to sell his coat and buy one.
A gun is the modern day sword.
Thomas Jefferson said, “The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government."
The best reason to protect the right to keep & bear arms is to protect religious liberty from tyrannical control.
I carry a concealed gun every day for self-defense, but I’ve thought about whether it’s Biblical. Jesus said to respect and adhere to the government’s authority. However, we have a government that is supposedly of, by, and for the people in the USA. So the government is me, and you, and all of us. The 2nd amendment represents a form of civic duty to protect ourselves, our families & our fellow man. So I carry so that I may serve that civic duty... as the scripture says is proper.

Covenanted posted a comment · Oct 27, 2017
The connection is simple.... the right to keep and bear arms is among those fundamental rights necessary to the Nation's system of ordered liberty most significant to this question, that of religious liberty!

Glenn Loewen posted a comment · Oct 26, 2017
The example of Christ-filled believers over the last 1000 years who refused to hit back but went to their death
giving their lives for love is a sober reality; one not to be mocked. Our Kingdom is not of this world. We cannot fight
as thought it were....I too don't know where all the lines are pertaining to pacifism or protection. But the height of example-ship
is none other than Christ Jesus, himself and what He spoke when He was on the mount.

Wafaring Stranger posted a comment · Oct 26, 2017
Yes you can preach it without a sword, but how will you defend it? Sometimes your articles make me wonder if you have ever read the WORD with understanding. Let’s make this real simple: What did Jesus say in Matthew 5:17-18? Did he condemn Elijah for killing 450 Baal prophets (I Kings 18:40, 19:1)? Did Jesus chastise Samuel for slaying Agag (I Samuel 15:33)? It’s getting late in the day and time for many to wake up from their slumber.