A bit conflicted

Interesting how Americans, Christian or otherwise, respond to turbulent times. So many are in need as financial engines grind to a halt. In strange counterpoint, so many Christiians, not being satisfied with what they have, think the priority is to go on a spending spree at the gun shop as a fearful response to political threats to the Second Amendment. I make this observation as one who used to be an avid shooter and collector of (inexpensive) firearms, as one who even competed for a brief season in IDPA. (1911A1 in .45ACP) I also find no fault with such interests in proper context. We can disagree while maintaining unity in Christ over issues of gun ownership and the role of such in self-defense. That issue is not the thrust of this post. What does interest me is what people place their trust in. As a public confession, if financially able and at the place now where I was spiritually just a three of four years ago, I am ashamed to say my overriding priority in these current political circumstances may have been to buy things before they were banned.

If a reader of this post is a shooter and a collector of firearms, I am not beating you up. Though currently inactive in both collecting and shooting, I am not, as said earlier, condemning those activities. I do question the priority of those who call on the name of Christ who, by their words, seem to be more concerned about and elevate Second Amendment issues above the Gospel. And yes, this post is born from the thoughts that have risen after more than one relatively recent conversation. Though at one time I may have chosen to die on the hill of the Second Amendment, I would not chose to do so now. There are other hills of far more ‘strategic’ importance.

That all being said, here is another poll for you. You get a new hammer, everything looks like a nail. You start using the WordPress poll feature, every issue, every post, needs a poll. The following poll does pose a serious question, at least for me. If, as a Christian striving to be faithful to the Word, the government says you are turn in all your firearms, what do you do as one who is Biblically called to be obedient to the law?

Some rather randomly assembled, ill-knit together, stream-of-consciousness thoughts and questions, some of which are rhetorical:

• I absolutely trust in sovereignty of God knowing that He often works through human agents. Often, I do not understand why Abba Father allows many things to happen, but my faith and trust abide.

• My thinking now is that, yes, I would turn in my firearms. I would not like it and hope that I am never required to do so, but I am now compelled that such is the obedient, Biblical response.

• Does the government have that right to take away effective means of self-defense without the reciprocal promise to provide for one’s protection? Do you feel some tension with the first ‘bullet’ point?

• That being said, I affirm that I am also, as the covenant head of my family, their protector.

• Do some trust their firearms more than they trust God?

• Do some trust political processes more than they trust God?

• Some decisions are easy (though costly, perhaps to the point of loss of life) If living in WW2 Germany, then no, you absolutely do not aid the government in The Final Solution. In hypothetical 2010 America, do you aid the government by your obedience to the law, to some draconian measure, that may lead up to something worse further down the road?

• In regards to the poll, I think that Christians who love the Messiah can reach different conclusions.

• I acquired my concealed carry license about six years ago, though I do not carry as often as I once did. Knowing that I can legally carry the means to take a life weighs increasingly heavy on me. I know, too, that states issuing concealed carry have experienced lower rates of violent crime.

• That I, at one time, cared more about the Second Amendment than about the holocaust of abortion is to my great and never-ending shame.

Could ramble on for hours, but for brevities sake, I will refrain

Luke 22:36 “He said to them, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one.”

Romans 13:1-7 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.

Hebrews 13:5 (ESV) Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”