Do you believe that self defense is a divinely given right? Therefore, is it wrong or right to have a security team for your church?
On another thread, Oseas3 seemed to be saying that it was wrong to have a church security team. When asked, all he would do is post Bible verses. Well, I have plenty of verses that say it is right to protect your church, pastor, home, etc. with physical violence if need be. Note the following points:
David wrote, " Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight" (Ps. 144:1). When I was young, an idiot told me, "Well that was just spiritual fighting." Wait, isn't this the David who was a mighty man of war, winning many battles in a long life of war? Of course it is.
Then we have Jesus, who used physical violence to drive the wicked thieves out of his own house: "12 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, 13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves" (Matt. 21:12-13).
I have been a martial artist for over 50 years now, and have taught self defense to many. I believe this is biblical. I am currently on our church security team, and guard our pastor several times a month. I would willingly put myself between an attacker and our pastor and take a literal bullet for him. To anyone who opposes this kind of team, you have forgotten that Satan uses humans to do his dirty work. Since I joined the team, we have had various crimes of violence and larceny committed on our church plant. In this day and age, I recommend all churches to have a security team.
Last week a man came into a church in Wayne, Michigan, with a gun to shoot members with. He injured one before the security team got to him. Yesterday a youth was shot in a church parking lot. The list for just this year is long.
Years ago I preached in a country over near India. They had a full time security force. Members had been beaten up by Muslims on the way home from church. Much had been stolen from the hospital the ministry had, including by Muslim women in those burkas, which can hide a lot, so they had a fence all around the property.
Tell me what you think and I'll get back to you--maybe on Saturday.
On another thread, Oseas3 seemed to be saying that it was wrong to have a church security team. When asked, all he would do is post Bible verses. Well, I have plenty of verses that say it is right to protect your church, pastor, home, etc. with physical violence if need be. Note the following points:
David wrote, " Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight" (Ps. 144:1). When I was young, an idiot told me, "Well that was just spiritual fighting." Wait, isn't this the David who was a mighty man of war, winning many battles in a long life of war? Of course it is.
Then we have Jesus, who used physical violence to drive the wicked thieves out of his own house: "12 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, 13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves" (Matt. 21:12-13).
I have been a martial artist for over 50 years now, and have taught self defense to many. I believe this is biblical. I am currently on our church security team, and guard our pastor several times a month. I would willingly put myself between an attacker and our pastor and take a literal bullet for him. To anyone who opposes this kind of team, you have forgotten that Satan uses humans to do his dirty work. Since I joined the team, we have had various crimes of violence and larceny committed on our church plant. In this day and age, I recommend all churches to have a security team.
Last week a man came into a church in Wayne, Michigan, with a gun to shoot members with. He injured one before the security team got to him. Yesterday a youth was shot in a church parking lot. The list for just this year is long.
Years ago I preached in a country over near India. They had a full time security force. Members had been beaten up by Muslims on the way home from church. Much had been stolen from the hospital the ministry had, including by Muslim women in those burkas, which can hide a lot, so they had a fence all around the property.
Tell me what you think and I'll get back to you--maybe on Saturday.
