December 1, 2011

Guns and Church Security

Heard a most disturbing story. It seems that a few churches now have a security team equipped with guns! Yes, you heard right--guns. The idea is that certain men in the congregation are trained in case a gunman enters church with the intent of hurting someone. My friend told me that the church also has an emergency exit plan for the pastor and the pastor's family.

I'm glad people care about their pastor and will make plans in case of an emergency, but the thought of men carrying guns into worship makes me wince. There are just too many people with anger issues and, frankly, PTSD, to trust that someone might not use the gun they say they will protect you with and kill you or someone you care about instead.

Am I just out of the loop on this? How common is this? Do you have a security team at your church?

Happy Advent,
Kathy

6 comments:

  1. Kathy,
    It is actually becoming more commonplace than you realize, but so is the threat against houses of worship. The Bible even says that in the end times, the love of many will grow cold, and that some will turn from the faith even becoming enemies, family member against family member. Only few select incidents ever make big headlines such as the New Life Church in Colorado or more recently in a small Baptist church in Lakeland Florida. But scarily, statistics of violent crime occurring on church property is increasing in the US.

    Here is one article:
    http://www.prlog.org/11138688-securing-the-21st-century-church.html

    Please keep in mind that these are only the crimes that get reported to law enforcement agencies. Oversees and in other countries the crime rate and acts of violence is much worse.

    If you have any questions reagarding if it is biblical, I encourage you to check out www.biblicalselfdefense.com

    The other thing you could do is set up a google search for news stories relating to church security. That is how I came across your blog today!

    Proverbs 22:3 A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences. (NLT)

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  2. Your post and the comment leave me speakless

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  3. should be speechless

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  4. We have too many guns in our society. Gun laws should be stricter. Too easy for the criminal element to gain access to high powered weapons. If no one had guns but the police, we would be just as safe. (My opinion.) Nona

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  5. Regarding stricter gun control laws. I think you should look at the crime rate of those areas that have the most stringent of gun control laws and compare it to those areas that allow for the law abiding citizen to carry guns. I think you will find that those areas that allow the law abiding citizen to carry guns have a much lower crime rate. Stricter gun control laws only affect those who obey the laws. Criminals are criminals because they do not obey the law. Criminals will always have guns regardless of the law. Examine the crime rate of London and compare the current rate to that of 10 years ago when every citizen was allowed to carry a gun. They now are forbidden by law to carry gun and the police are now outnumbered and out gunned. Case in point the London Riots a couple of months ago.

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  6. I agree with your assessment that it makes you wince when you learned about men carrying guns in church. As an ex-police officer, I know the dangers of carrying a gun and how quickly an incident, misjudged, can get out of hand. I have been a member of a semi-large church (attendance about 2400 spread over a Saturday night service and 3 on Sunday) and noticed four men in black two in the front and two in the back of the church constantly looking at everyone with ear pieces in their ears. I was perplexed and immediate inquired as to what was going on and was advised that we had armed security. The congration was never alerted that this type of action had been permited by the board of elders. There should have been total transparency and members should have been advised of the security. Innocent people could be killed through overzealous security. Even being a police officer and having gone through an academy never prepares one for mayhem at a church of God. I, respectfully disagree with the quotes from the person quoting all the bible verses. They are all taken out of context. To him or her I say the following, Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Lest you also be like him. Answer a fool as his folly deserves, Lest he be wise in his own eyes (26:4-5). If chuches are that concerned install metal detectors at the doors and do strip searches if you must. Remember, it is those in attendance and members that maintain the financial integrity of any church. Not a board of elders. As for me, I choose to worship my Lord Jesus Christ, in a church without fear. A church where trust is turned over to our Lord and to men. Otherwise, hightail it out of that church and find one where there is the presence of peace, joy and God. And not guns filled with hollow point bullets!

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