Christian Gunslingers

Hot off the wire! "Kentucky church cherishes guns."

The Associated Press article began, "A gun-toting Kentucky pastor says it's OK to pack heat at church - at least for one day." It referred to an event held at the New Bethel Church in Louisville that was designed to promote gun safety, celebrate the Second Amendment right to bear arms, and demonstrate that there are many legal, civil, intelligent and law-abiding citizens who also own guns.

The piece ended with a note that "a coalition of peace and church groups staged a gun-free event across town at the same time." Although the article didn't elaborate on it, the gathering probably extolled peace, non-violence and love, and decried the shooting deaths that happen every year.

I don't own a gun, but I've fired them enough to respect them and appreciate the skill involved in shooting accurately. I also know hunters who take pride in their abilities - and in gun safety - who believe guns are necessary to protect themselves and their loved ones. They're not criminals.

Which group reflects Christianity?

Jesus taught peace, love, turning the other cheek, loving your enemies and lots of other things that indicate he abhorred violence. It seems reasonable to infer he wouldn't have condoned gun use.

But other passages temper this. The Bible allows the killing of thieves who enter a victim's house at night, Jesus himself commanded his disciples to carry swords (the contemporary equivalent of guns), and the righteous are admonished not to "give way before the wicked."

Love and peace are transcendant Christian ideals, but how do we apply them when we get into particular situations? If your wife is attacked, do you seek peace by doing nothing but showing love for the perpetrator? Or do you show love for your wife and restore peace by stopping the crime? Depending on your size, condition, age, martial arts proficiency and the number of assailants, a gun may be your only option.

Jim Farley is a retired firefighter and Christian who tells of a time when burglaries were happening in his neighborhood. He had a handgun in his night table and was ready to defend his home. One night he got his chance when he and his wife heard an intruder downstairs. He got out of bed, got the gun and went out the bedroom door. With impeccable timing his wife shouted "JIM, DON'T SHOOT HIM!!" at which point the burglar fled.

Without the threat of a gun, his house certainly would have been robbed, he may have been attacked, and his wife might have been, too. It's a case where a lawfully owned firearm prevented a potentially terrible incident. (On the other hand, you could say that all he really needed was a recording of his wife yelling, "Jim, don't shoot him!").

The inferred point of the AP article was that guns and Christian faith are incompatible and that the church in Louisville was acting hypocritically. But this betrays misunderstanding on the writer's part. The Bible offers ideals for us to aspire to, but it also provides for realistic responses to real-world situations. Self-defense is acceptable, and Christian gun owners see no contradiction between their faith and their weapons.

The idea that gun ownership somehow delegitimizes the owner's faith is simply untrue. There are cases to be made on both sides of the gun issue, but it's a civil matter - not a religious one.

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