Is Jesus Against Gun Control?

IS JESUS AGAINST

GUN CONTROL?

Could there by anything more revealing about the American evangelical church than the energy and intransigence shown about the right to own guns including assault rifles and large magazine clips? You would assume that followers of Jesus would be unquestionable proponents of a less violent society, and even, I know this is a stretch, have some compassion for many of the criminals whose upbringing had much to do with their violence. You might think that, wouldn’t you?

Oh but you would be wrong at least within the general populace of the western evangelical community. You see, we now believe in an eye for an eye. We now believe that Christ commands us to kill someone who assaults us or threatens our property or our life. You see, we now believe Jesus agrees with the Constitution even though His teachings seem to indicate otherwise. You see, we live in the real world and the teachings of Jesus are nice sayings but many of them are impractical given today’s circumstances. I mean, let’s get real here.

The opposition to even reasonable gun control which includes a demonization of President Obama and a misrepresentation of how wide the controls suggested are, is an incredible revelation of just how deep nationalism has penetrated into the mindset and heart of the church. It is both sad and disturbing. You might be able to understand the passion behind the pro-life movement, and even the traditional marriage movement, even though the gospel is our calling. But how can we understand the pro-gun movement within the church? How can we make sense of believers who say they follow Jesus and yet in the face of widespread violence, even violence against children, and yet they remain entrenched in the archaic premise of the 2^nd Amendment?

If you add up all the gun murders, all the gun suicides, and all the gun violence, and compare it with all the incidents where guns prevented those crimes, you will find some startling statistics. But when someone prevents a crime because he is armed, many hold it up as proof of the worth of guns, while they ignore the sweeping violence across the land. Of course there is no guarantee that gun control will curb gun violence, but should believers be on the wrong side of this debate? Even if you somehow believed in the 2^nd Amendment, shouldn’t you remain humble and quiet and just trust God rather than join with the mindless clamor?

But this is how far the church has strayed and walked into the carnal morass as just another clamoring voice that demands what it demands. How can that be Jesus? But in this modern expression of the faith what Jesus taught is recited to children while the adults use His name indiscriminately in almost all situations. And the byproduct of such an expression is that the lost world has come to see Christianity as a set of morals and a faith which overwhelmingly supports the American Dream. And now, guns of all things, are championed by believers. Even if you are a hunter or a recreational gun owner, shouldn’t you be concerned about the spread of gun violence? And if it means relinquishing some of your guns, is that too much of a burden or an abrogation of your rights?

But even if we believe any kind of gun control will not work, we as believers should remain silent while the kingdom of darkness accuses and excuses each other and in general fights tooth and nail to defend its so called “rights”. If you are a follower of Jesus Christ you have only one right: To serve at the Kings desire. All other rights are manmade attempts to accommodate his lusts. Even earthly freedom is misused in order to create an atmosphere where man can pursue his own happiness. And that is humanism which is antichrist.

Who would have thought that the Church of Jesus Christ would become so entrenched in nationalism that it would energetically defend its “right” to own a firearm? And in fact no one is now suggesting they do away with the 2^nd Amendment, only that certain more volatile weapons be restricted. And yet believers cannot even humbly acquiesce to that? This is a sad day in a long line of sad days for the church. We have sold our spiritual birthright for a mess of Constitutional pottage.

I beseech you, dear believer, remove yourself from all these earthly and fallen debates. Even if you do own a firearm remain humbly prayerful and silent. These kinds of Constitutional altercations obscure the gospel when believers get involved, and they significantly and profoundly misrepresent Christ. Nationalism and politics do much harm to the cause of Christ when the church gives voice to that which is temporal.

Col.3: If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

² Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
³ For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
⁴ When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

What we must do is separate the attributes of a Jesus follower from the attributes of a citizen of America. To begin with we must be aware how different they are, and at times how opposed they are to each other. Any attempt to create an amalgam will always result in a spiritual compromise as well as a dilution of the nature of Christ.

It is generally considered a good quality if a person stands up for himself and is aggressive in his earthly pursuits. Defending yourself when you are in the right is not only expected, it is applauded. Speaking your mind is a wonderful attribute, and a competitive spirit is encouraged from the earliest age. Having a formidable self image is an asset, and demanding your rights is wholly American. And as an American you must be proud of your country and you are taught that it is the greatest country in the world. All in all these and other self expressions are considered attributes for a citizen of America.

But are those the fruits of the Spirit? Are those the attributes that Jesus taught? Jesus taught a life of humility, even a humility that reflects the cross. The New Testament teaches us to refrain our tongues from unwholesome speech and a critical spirit, as well as speech that demands our rights. Our speech is to be filled with grace and mercy, and we are to consider the plight of others more important than ours. We are to consider our earthly life as completely subservient to the life in the eternal. And when we are mistreated or persecuted, we are to take it humbly, patiently, and with a sense of joy since we have been counted worthy to suffer for His sake.

Now there are two portraits, two outlines, and two images. One captures what is considered a healthy and prosperous life here on earth, while the other draws a picture of what a life that follows Jesus should look like. Can they be any different? But yet believers so quickly shrug off the spiritual and put on the earthly. We demand rights and we fight fire with fire. We are offended when we are persecuted, and in fact we take some interpretations of the Constitution as spiritual persecutions. We have created man made labels and now we see people as liberals and conservatives. No longer do we see people as lost and in desperate need of redemption because the earthly issues have clouded out the eternal vision.

And so now we have professing believers, members of evangelical fellowships, clamoring forcefully for their rights to carry guns, and even assault weapons and large ammo clips. Can there be anything more profoundly against the teachings and nature of Christ? And even if you are a hunter or a recreational shooter, how can you make this debate your own? We are living sacrifices and if it comes to turning in our guns so be it. Let the world see that this means nothing to us; ours cause is Him.

No guns? But still Christ! Higher taxes? But still Christ! Gay marriage? But still Christ! Illegal immigrants? But still Christ! Taken to jail? But still Christ! Led to the gallows? But still Christ!

Brothers and sisters who believe in and follow Jesus, do not fret! Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever! Let the kingdom of darkness have their disputes. Let them argue among themselves. Let them demand rights or take away rights. What concern is that to we who are dead to this world?

Step back and lift up your eyes. We see Jesus! Let the Spirit lift your mind and heart up from this present world and open your eyes to the world to come. Rejoice! Our fate is settled in heaven, and no man can take away our rights in Christ. We have been grafted into God’s eternal family, and the freedom we have in Christ Jesus cannot even be compared with any earthly freedom.

Rom.8: ¹⁶ The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

¹⁷ And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
¹⁸ For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Look for the glory which is from above, and patiently endure all things for His sake.