Power and Responsibility

I have no adequate words to describe how very sad the events in Sandy Hook have made me feel. My thoughts and prayers go first to the people in that community who were so deeply affected by the shootings yesterday.

An event like this typically triggers a backlash of heated and ugly debate over gun control laws and their enforcement. I've stayed out of the fray for the most part, but I feel that I can no longer do that. Some of the thoughts that I am going to share here have actually been simmering in my heart for quite some time now. I don't want to talk specifically about gun control laws; I honestly am not sure what the best approach to take is in that arena. I do have an opinion about it, which I will share; however, I readily admit that when it comes to the laws and regulations for gun control I am no expert, and could very well be in error.

The discussion I would like to have concerns the spiritual and emotional ramifications of owning and using firearms. I've heard a plethora of people use statements like "guns don't kill people, people kill people," and refer to guns as inanimate objects or tools as justification for the right to own them.  I will be blunt and call it as I see it - that is complete bullshit. It is true that it takes a person to kill another person, and the gun is not directly responsible for that. I won't debate that. What I want to talk about, and what I think Christians need to take a closer look into, is what the reasons and emotions are that go into the ownership and use of firearms.

I've used guns. When I hold a gun in my hands, when it fires, there is a certain feeling that comes over me. It's a feeling of power and exhilaration. It can be intoxicating. In my hands I hold something that can instantly take a life. I feel bigger, invincible even. I've even noticed it when I play some of my video games. It's an exciting sensation when you manage to find that bigger gun, and consequently can take down scores of bad guys. This is why I feel referring to a gun as an inanimate object is such a foolish statement. Holding a gun, firing a gun, has an emotional affect on a person. It's possible that the effect may change slightly for different personality types, but the fact that it will have an effect is undeniable, once a person understands what that object is capable of.

That feeling of power, invincibility, even safety, is not from God. I would even go as far as to say that it's demonic. This is why, fundamentally, I will never own a gun. Do I believe that owning a gun will cause me to go on a shooting rampage? No. Do I need a gun to feel safe in my own home, to feel safe in an area of the city that I've heard many say "I'll never live there, too much crime, too dangerous,"- absolutely not. I don't want to talk statistics here. It's possible that gun advocates may be right, that an armed society is an effective crime deterrent. My question, the question that I believe the church needs to address, is in whom, or in what, do you place your trust? Why do we believe so strongly that we need to protect ourselves from the vague and unrealistic "evil forces" of this world? Did Jesus not say "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth"? Did he not emphasize weakness over strength, and tell Peter, when he fought back against Jesus' captors, that "those who live by the sword shall die by the sword"?

When my wife and I were first dating, we broke up for a little while. I found out that the reason for the breakup was that another guy was pursuing her. We lived in different states, so there wasn't a whole lot I could do about it. Every night I went to sleep fantasizing about the many different ways I would kick his ass should I ever get the opportunity. I never did get that chance, and it's probably a good thing. It's in our nature to crave justice for the wrongs we've been done. It's part of the flaw of sin that we get angry when someone hurts us. Now, put a gun in my hand, do something to make me angry, and you've increased the chances that I may make my own justice in the situation, because now I absolutely have the power to do so. Would I actually do it? Probably not. But the fact remains that the temptation is there, the power is there, and that power is intoxicating. I want nothing to do with it.

I don't know if we need to increase our gun control laws or decrease them. There are convincing arguments on both sides of the aisle. Personally, I tend to lean in the direction of more gun control. I would like to see the ownership of handguns and assault weapons completely banned. Weapons designed exclusively for the taking of human life I find to be offensive. I could be wrong. Perhaps taking away guns will only increase violence; I simply don't know. I hope that that those reading this will see that that is not my point. I believe that Christians need to take a closer look at the spiritual ramifications of gun ownership, to really be honest about the motives behind it and the emotions tied to it. I have many friends who own guns, specifically handguns, and if you are one and are reading this, please understand, I love you, and don't condemn you because of your guns. I have wrestled with this topic for some time now, and don't claim to have all the answers. I have just grown tired of the trite statements about guns not killing people. I think the issue deserves a lot more consideration and prayer than that.

cow manure

With the 2012 election fast approaching, battle lines have been clearly drawn and the mud slinging has begun in full force from all directions. I grow weary of this, as I suspect many others do, but something else strikes as peculiar in this battle of politics. In order to secure our votes, politicians not only point out the opposition's failures and disqualifiers, but they make promises, often grand and overreaching promises. Many of these promises are never kept. They say things like "I will do this" and "I will fix that," but every time their term comes to an end many of those statements turn out to be false. This is not new; everyone has seen this. So, from what I can tell, in order to be a successful politician, you must be prepared to lie, and lie often. And we keep voting, for liars. It's all B.S., if you ask me. But, then again, I grew up in a county that uses cow manure to fertilize for growth, so maybe there is something to it after all.

I love chicken, but this does not feel like love

It's possible that I will take some flak for what I am about to say here, but that's ok.

I've been doing a lot of thinking about this Chick-Fil-A scandal that has gotten the country so hot and bothered. I have, until now, not really felt that I needed to offer any comment on the situation. However, when thousands upon thousands of Christians showed up for the so-called Chick-Fil-A appreciation day, something started irking in my spirit, and I've felt disquieted about it ever since.

Let me preface this by saying that, first of all, I do believe homosexuality to be a sin. The Bible is quite clear on that. I also don't have a problem with Dan Kathy exercising his right to free speech. He's allowed to do that. However, it's also quite clear that what he said made many people feel angry and hurt, and it is the Church's response to that anger and hurt that is bothering me.

Jesus says in Matthew 5:39, "But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also." Showing up in droves to show support about an issue that likely would have been all but forgotten in a few short weeks does not feel like turning the other cheek to me. Now I realize (or rather, hope) that probably the majority of the people who showed up for this event did not have hate in their hearts towards gays, but what I think people are failing to consider is what this reaction looks like to the ones who have been offended. It looks like hate. It looks like Christians are taking a stand against gays, and not loving them as we are supposed to. I'm not saying that homosexuality is ok and we should just ignore it, but I think we should be absolutely going out of our way to avoid doing things that could come across as being hateful.

I realize that there are times when it doesn't matter what we say or do, people will find a way to be offended and will find fault in our Christian beliefs. The truth sometimes hurts, and that simply can't be avoided. The issue of homosexuality however, is one issue that many Christians consistently approach with insensitivity, and I feel that there must be a better way.

Homosexuality is, after all, just one out of many sins that all of us struggle with on a daily basis. We, or rather, I have a tendency to forget that detail from time to time. I, or we are very good and pointing out the sins that others are struggling with but often ignore our own. We forget that we were once not any different than gays; we have all at one point or another needed to be saved out of our slavery to sin. Christ came offering salvation to the whole world so that we all might have the opportunity to be restored to a right relationship with the Father and Creator. We have not received that salvation in order to stand on a pedestal and "defend our Biblical values." God doesn't need our defense, He wants us to love the world as He did - unconditionally. Chick-Fil-A does not need our defense. Chick-Fil-A will be just fine. Their chicken, is, after scrumptiously delicious.