You know the reason why

Why don’t people want to come to church?

It’s because it isn’t about wanting to come to church until it is about needing to come to church. In our neck of the woods, before the hurricane got near, people weren’t waiting all day in gas lines. But as it approached, people were scrambling all around this county trying to find anywhere that had gas. It was limited, it was running out, and people were running out of patience, and hope. Everybody was willing to wait in the gas lines then. People were up at all times of the night, looking anywhere and everywhere, hoping to see a tanker at a station, going from station to station, checking their GasBuddy phone app, and trying to get a good place in line. You needed gas to get your family out of town, gas for your generator, to hunker down, gas to drive, and gas to stay alive. You had to have it. People don’t come to church when they aren’t convinced that they really need it. But if you know you must have it then you will want it. And you’ll do whatever it takes to get it. People don’t want to come to church because they think they can be good with God without it. But that only proves they aren’t.

Why don’t people walk away from their sin?

Because when you know how sinful sin really is, what it is really doing to you, you won’t walk, you’ll run from it. When you aren’t convinced that it is really doing what it is really doing, you play with it, you tolerate it, and you relish it, instead of running from it. People don’t walk away from sin because you never walk away from sin. When it comes to sin, you don’t just need to see the light; you need to feel the heat. If you saw your sin as the monster it is, eating your soul, and then you saw God as your only protection, you’d run all right. When you see your God, and you see your sin, you’ll run to him.

“Living For Today With An Eye For Tomorrow”©

Should Christians Carry Guns?



Q: My husband has insisted that I get my conceal carry permit and is insistent that I carry once it is approved. Is this a good thing? Should Christians carry guns? What should I do?

A: Firstly, regarding your husband’s insistence that you carry, you should submit to that. He isn't commanding something God forbids or forbidding something God commands. And it is hopefully your combined wisdom and discussion on the matter, with his leadership a product of that. As far as Christians carrying, there is a lot to think through, which you are obviously doing, and I am thankful you asked me about it.

Personally, I am trying to process what I have seen and read. There are many differing and nuanced opinions on this matter, and I want to incorporate what I have understood previously with wisdom. There is a distinction to be made about gun ownership in general and the person who is responsible and wise enough to use a gun. Then there is the issue of being a Christian.

For the record, I am certainly pro 2nd amendment. I have no issue with people carrying a gun in general. However, I am also grieved by the tendency (of people in general but especially of professing Christians) to a fighting demeanor, a false sense of confidence, and fearful and overly suspicious souls. And it isn’t as simple as “get your gun, get your training, and get with it”. 

We need to be asking some important questions. Would Jesus shoot an intruder? Would Jesus carry in public? We need to make some important and careful distinctions here. The case of the missionary in 1870 is much different than the homeowner in 2015, for instance. And carrying in public is different than a gun in the home. These are important considerations as we face the ongoing disintegration of freedom and safety in an increasingly anti-Christian world.

The use of force is irresponsible without the use of wisdom. Individuals and their particular personalities play an important part, and the answer to “should I carry a gun” will be different for different people. An angry person with a gun and a certain prejudice should have the right to protection, but their issue might manifest as someone who claims to be a victim while actually being a perpetrator. With anyone, even those who are trained and responsible people, what is the proper and appropriate use of force becomes entirely subjective in the moment of crisis. And it is far worse when someone is all out of proportion to begin with.

Proportion, prudence, discretion, and discernment are the products of wisdom. And so very many people, let alone Christians, have little to none of those. If everyone were armed then everyone would have their own ideas about the proper use of force, and some would shoot to kill someone else who was vandalizing their car. What about someone like me, a small man, who was forced to fight? I might just pull the gun, and let that be the end of it. But might I be tempted to pull the trigger as well? Of course, we could go on and on with both negative and positive examples. 

This doesn’t mean no one should carry a gun just because some will not be wise with it. It means that while it is right to protect yourself from others, others may need to be protected from you. 

For many Christians, even without carrying a gun, they already have a fighting demeanor, a false sense of confidence, and fearful and overly suspicious souls. For them, they need to think first about dropping their weapons and denying themselves.

For all Christians, if you’re going to carry a gun, you must first make sure that you are carrying your cross.

That’s the most important factor.

“Living For Today With An Eye For Tomorrow”©

Rest in Peace?

… it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment

Hebrews 9:27

Many people speak of an afterlife, and talk of heaven. But it becomes quite evident that many don’t know what they are talking about. They may say that they believe what the Bible says about it, but they obviously haven’t searched it out.

They speak of a heaven that conforms to humanism (as if everyone goes to heaven).

They speak of a heaven that conforms to worldly pursuits (our friend is up there playing golf, or gardening, or whatever their favorite hobby or pastime was).

They speak of a heaven that conforms to popular but unbiblical notions (they are an angel now, or that they can hear us now or help us now, as if they can interfere and intercede).

Their notions of eternity are not grounded in God’s Word, but in sanctimony, sentimentality, and superstition. Some might be sincere, but sincerity is no substitute for truth.

So what do you do when someone you loved or knew well dies, and someone else brings their condolences to you, and they say something like this...?

• Well at least she isn’t suffering anymore

• She’s at peace now

• She’s with God now

• She’s an angel now

• God needed another angel in heaven

• She’s with the angels now

• She’s looking down on us now

• She’s in a better place

This is an opportunity. Say something like this (make sure to look at them in the eye).

Thank you for showing kindness. I really appreciate it. Well, I know God will do what’s right. And we all know that we can’t judge anyone’s heart. But I also know that if someone hasn’t made peace with God through Jesus Christ in this life, then they won’t have peace in eternity, and it will be anything but a better place. It’s the same for anybody, including me, or you. You know that, right?

This could lead to a fruitful conversation, and it is a faithful, loving thing to do. Some might feel as if this is an inappropriate time for this type of thing. However, it is just the opposite; it is the perfect time for such a thing. You see, at times it might be inappropriate if you are the one who is talking to the person who is recently bereaved, grieving, mourning. But this is a case of where you are the one who has suffered the loss, and the other person is coming to you. So it is the perfect time to show your faith, share the gospel, and witness for the Lord.

“Living For Today With An Eye For Tomorrow”©