I think most modern Christians and, more recently, Apostolics have failed to see all this. Preachers have preached "standards" and pet doctrines... but very little emphasis has been put on the actual teachings of Jesus.
This is a trend not only for Apostolic churches, but churches overall. You don't have to be a large church, or even a high visibility church this day and age for your pastor or leaders to be at risk.
When I was doing Church Consulting in the Church of God, we worked with many pastors even with congregations that were small with only a hudred or so people to put together not only a security plan, but also a Disaster Response plan that was known by all Church Leadership.
We worked to assess the threat level of a church, by where they were located in their city, volume of traffic by the campus, etc., and then how many entrances/exits there were to the facility as well. Also, if you have a multiple building campus, where the building are not connected, that brings you to a higher security threat as well.
We then worked with the local law enforcement to get their recommendations and to be ensured with what local laws said were possible, and then put together a plan.
We did not let the congregations vote on it though, as they would want details, and the more details of who was carrying, and what our plans were to respond to an event, lowered just how secure we actually were.
For a couple of congregations, that ran about 400 to 600, we also provided a couple of ushers with "in ear" walkie talkie devices to communicate to one another. Their pastor had been rushed while in the pulpit by a drunk who came in off the street one night.
It's sad to say, but we have to be prepared for all the devices the enemy can bring to destroy the work of the kingdom.
__________________ Brother Todd "That I may know Him... -Ephesian 3:10"
I have no issue with security or disaster planning. That's necessary. However, the willingness to use deadly force is anti-Christ seeing that Jesus taught against using violence and lethal force.
You can't compromise being a Christian to be a "safe Christian".
My husband is an officer in our town and our Pastor has approached him with this idea as well. It's sad that we have to think of such things.
But really... do we?
Is what we're facing worse than what the original disciples faced? Public stonings for their faith, boiled in oil and exiled for their testimony, crucified for their witness? Did any of them have a "security plan" that involved an armed posse ready to take down an attacker at any time and send them to eternal damnation? Do we really have to think of these things?
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Instead of studying to make sure what we believe is supported by Scripture, we MUST study the Scripture to see what IT TEACHES... then BELIEVE THAT!
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2.15 KJV
Is what we're facing worse than what the original disciples faced? Public stonings for their faith, boiled in oil and exiled for their testimony, crucified for their witness? Did any of them have a "security plan" that involved an armed posse ready to take down an attacker at any time and send them to eternal damnation? Do we really have to think of these things?
I can see having security to ensure safety, a set of eyes, perhaps someone to use non-lethal force. I was on an usher team that carried radios and maglights. We were to report anything unusual immediately and if we felt that the situation was dire we'd gladly take out a guy's knee caps. Most of the time visibility deterred any issues. My issue is with a gun carrying brigade. Not only does this help make us look more dangerous to society at large (the world will never understand us) but it contradicts Christ's teachings regarding loving one's enemy and Christ's commandments of non-violence.
The key is obedience. How much do you love Jesus? How obedient are you willing to be? Are you willing to accept that being a Christian has a cost beyond dress codes?
Is what we're facing worse than what the original disciples faced? Public stonings for their faith, boiled in oil and exiled for their testimony, crucified for their witness? Did any of them have a "security plan" that involved an armed posse ready to take down an attacker at any time and send them to eternal damnation? Do we really have to think of these things?
I guess "some" might say that it's not much different than Trusting God for A healing of a disease that there is a cure for. I'm going to drink the cure, does that mean my faith in God is less because I didn't sit back and just have faith that God would take care of me. I now have the means to protect my self from an illness.
If a man came to my church and put a gun to my childs head because he wanted to empty the purses of all the saints. Then I would have NOOOO problem with my husband pulling his weapon and blasting his head from his shoulders.
Just my opinion..... you can have yours.
Is what we're facing worse than what the original disciples faced? Public stonings for their faith, boiled in oil and exiled for their testimony, crucified for their witness? Did any of them have a "security plan" that involved an armed posse ready to take down an attacker at any time and send them to eternal damnation? Do we really have to think of these things?
Brother, much of the violence and security threats we have against the modern day church have nothing to do with persecution, which was the violence threatened against the early church. Maybe that's an issue in itself, but I digress.
Much of the security threats today are from mentally ill folks, folks on drugs, drunk, people who actually wander in from the streets, astranged husbands and boyfriends coming in to seek to do violence to the wife/girlfriend, people seeking to abduct our children while they walk between buildings, etc.
We would be poor stewards, and frankly foolish to not plan to keep our people safe while worshipping.
When the threat is because of our witness, then you have a legitimate comparison, but right now, it's apples and oranges.
And to the other poster that said Jesus taught non violence, well, not true...not always. He was pretty violent when He was tipping tables over and whipping people on their way out of the House of Prayer.
We serve a God of balance, and it is very much in balance to protect our church family. In our Church consulting, we stress, to not shoot to kill, unless that is the only choice. Scriptures do not teach that we should not defend ourselves if there is a threat.
__________________ Brother Todd "That I may know Him... -Ephesian 3:10"
. . . people seeking to abduct our children while they walk between buildings, etc.
. . .
Or their own children! These days, nursery personnel have to be instructed in some cases to release kids only to the one that dropped them off, even if the other parent tries to pick them up. Sad.
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Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
Or their own children! These days, nursery personnel have to be instructed in some cases to release kids only to the one that dropped them off, even if the other parent tries to pick them up. Sad.
We cover that as well when we work with Church Pastors that want to review their security measures as well as in our Children's Ministry workshops....there's so much to think of...
__________________ Brother Todd "That I may know Him... -Ephesian 3:10"
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