I am conflicted about this one. I grew up for much of my youth on the east-side of a large New England city. I had somewhat of a baby-face and was beaten at least bi-weekly until I became part of a street gang run by my cousins who very crudely taught me the art of self-defense.
So the beatings stopped by reason of fear of my ability and gang-retaliation.
This combative way of life followed me unto the military (in the days of my youth you went to the military, college or prison as a draft-dodger).
I often went looking for fights on a personal level just for "the heck of it".
Then I was saved and everything changed. I felt then (and still do) that I could fight for the defense of my government/country because of
Romans 13:
Romans 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
But I lost all of my desire to hurt anyone without provocation and even then went out of my way to be non-combative.
However, even sociopaths have fear of deadly force being used against them.
Fear is a powerful deterent.
Perhaps, if violence against Christianity becomes bad enough and if it comes to this, those members of the church who are police officers or soldiers could come to church on a scheduled basis in uniform.
All but the front entrance locked soon before the service starts.
The halls and entrances patrolled (This part would not require uniformed members but would be more effective) after the service begins.
In the days of my violent youth, I quickly developed a fear of the police uniform and was always on my good behavior when they were in sight (well almost always). So the uniform is an effective deterent especially with a firearm attached.
This is a tough one and I am ambivalent. No wants to see their wife, children, grandchildren, pastor and brethren mowed down before their eyes.
On the other hand there does seem to be something out-of-place with firearms in the church. Especially when we see the history of the church and Christians being burned, fed to lions, dismembered, often times with their Christian consent by refusal to bow to Caesar and give a toast to a false god of the Roman pantheon.
While it might be a small percent of the churches where these murders are happening it seems to be escalating.
It is a reality.
Another reality is that God knows it is happening.
HankD
