It is often said/written that the issue of gun violence is a "heart problem", and not a "gun problem".
I would have to agree with that and add that until
you willingly put down your weapons (whatever they may be) and submit to the
one who teaches "Love your enemy", "do not repay evil with
evil", etc., your heart problem will eventually consume you and those
around you.
Before coming to Christianity, not so long ago, I
was a person of violence myself. In fact, I was in the security industry most
of my life, an industry that oftentimes required us to use violence. My goal in
this industry was to eventually require the skills/experience to move on to
either the Military or Police.
When I read the NT for the VERY FIRST TIME in my
life, I quickly came to the realization that if I was going to sign up to this
Jesus-movement I had to radically
change many things in my life, beginning with the tough teaching of Jesus’
non-violence stance. This new radical Christian worldview means that we are no
longer supposed to be part of the Military industrial complex or it’s Policing.
This view is dealt with by the Apostle Paul very
clearly when he contrasts Christian behavior in Romans 12 with that of the state/government, Romans 13. In other words, it is the non-Christian state that “bears the sword…for your good” and not the other way around. (Cp. Matt. 26.52 where Jesus rebukes
the use of the sword by his followers and heals
the enemy.)
For me it was a relatively easy thing to do,
perhaps because I was at the end of my rope at the time and needed to make a
choice between life and death. But as I grew in the faith I quickly realized
that the Christianity I thought I
knew was not the Christian faith I was reading
(i.e., the Trinity, immortal soul, anything but
the KOG Gospel, etc.).
I also quickly realized that this particular topic
of non-violence was not only held by a VERY SMALL minority view in the
Christian world as a whole, but also by very few in my own biblical unitarian
circles. And not only that, it most often than not awoke some very heated, even violent rhetoric/actions. But it was this response in particular
that told me I was probably on the
right track to doing God's will since, as we well know, those types of
reactions/emotions are not compatible with what the NT calls the fruits of the
spirit (Gal 5.22-23).
But, like many of you, I will continue to preach
the Gospel about the KOG and the things pertaining to our lord Jesus (Acts 8.12), trying to persuade
believers and non-believers alike to what I consider to be a fundamental Christian teaching that has
all to do with our current living standards in this present evil age.
My only wish and prayer is that you at least think
about those teachings that we might read or hear time, and time again, but
perhaps not devote enough of that time to meditate on the words of our great
Pastor/Teacher; always speaking the "truth in love", always
"eager to maintain the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace." (Eph 4.3)
"You
have heard the law that says, 'Love your neighbor' and hate your enemy. But I
say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will
be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For He gives His sunlight
to both the evil and the good, and He sends rain on the just and the unjust
alike." Matthew 5.43-45
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