Pistol At The Pulpit

For all who take the sword will perish by the sword.

A Church or place of worship is where people gather in peace and worship without fear. It is a community where churchgoers expect love, hope, fellowship, and feel a sense of belonging. But that feeling of security is shattered by a series of Church shootings in recent years.

· In Charleston, South Carolina church shooting on June 17, 2015, nine African Americans were killed.

· 11 People were killed and six wounded at the Tree of Life Congregation synagogue in Pittsburgh.

· 26-year-old Devin Kelley opened fire at the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, Texas, killing 26 people and wounding 20 others on Nov. 5, 2017.

· On Sept 24, 2017, One woman was killed six other people were wounded with gunshots at Burnette Chapel Church of Christ in Nashville, Tennessee.

More than 70% of the time the mass shooter had prior personal grievances or have a history of mental illness or have substance abuse problems. And they blame some group of people for their misfortunes and failures. Some have issues with a girlfriend or a spouse who attends the church. Some other perpetrators of mass shootings have ethnic or religious hate like anti-immigrant bias, Islamophobia, anti-Christian sentiments, and anti-Semitism.

Pastors and leaders were looking for ways to keep the sanctuary secure. A popular idea floated was to arm the pastors and keep a pistol at the pulpit. But some members think Pastors carrying a weapon into a House of God is inappropriate. People openly carry guns inside a sanctuary is also not proper. Seeing strangers display guns makes people around them nervous and uncomfortable.

Posting trained security guards in the parking lots and at the front door as greeters are the first line of defense against mass church shootings. Once inside the sanctuary, deacons and ushers, strategically positioned, should watch the congregation for any warning signs. Church members should inform the church leadership of any possible trouble a family member or friend may cause. Members should be vigilant against a domestic dispute spill into the church that may put lives in danger.

People gather in a place of worship for prayer, mutual edification, and fellowship. Shootings or violence have no place in such a serene and peaceful atmosphere. Times have changed and gun culture became a part of society. But pastor as the head of the local church should lead his congregation in promoting love and kindness. He is not there to display macho behavior or to start a gunfight like the wild west. He should delegate the security of the sanctuary to trained professionals. Pistol at the pulpit should be avoided.