My Letter to Statesville Churches

Dear Statesville Community,

            Over the past few weeks I have been in conversation with numerous communities of faith across our great city. I want to write you all and plead for your careful consideration in the safety of your church. The realities of a 21^st century community where violence and evil are real threats to towns like ours have caused many of us to question how we worship, how we understand gun violence, and other issues that frankly need to be addressed. However, I am afraid that paranoia over safety does not lead to a safer church. Steps can be taken by churches in our community to address these needs. I have outlined a few below.

·         Theologically speaking, there is no room for guns in our churches; Jesus never advocated violence of any kind. If you want the reality of what Jesus thought of violence against others look at the story of Peter in the Garden of Gethsemane. In Luke 22, ⁴⁹When those who were around him saw what was coming, they asked, “Lord, should we strike with the sword?” ⁵⁰Then one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear. ⁵¹But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him. ⁵²Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple police, and the elders who had come for him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as if I were a bandit? ⁵³When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness!”

·        Realistically speaking, we no longer live in Jesus’ contextual time. I realize that I come from a perspective that would be content without the Second Amendment, I also realize, however that there are varying opinions on the Second Amendment. That is a wonderful reality in which we live! I loved what the White House said when the Press Secretary remarked, “Don’t forget our First Amendment rights when talking about the Second Amendment!”

·         All of our conversations, no matter how hard they are to have, must be done out of love, grace and a sense of peace. Our world may be crumbling around us but that doesn’t mean you have to!

·         Practically, safety should always be a priority of the church. The Statesville Police Department offers classes to churches and helps them review their safety procedures to make sure congregations are safe and secure while worshipping.

·          Finally, friends, remember where we are. The original meaning of sanctuary was a place of safe-haven, worshippers should not be welcomed with security guards armed with weapons of war, but with a grace that allows for safety, not only of our physical bodies but our spiritual ones as well.

Friends on a personal note guns scare me, if you need to have a conversation with someone whose family was directly affected by guns look no further. Losing an uncle to suicide changed my perspective on things. This tough conversation about gun control must be coupled with a tough conversation on caring for our mentally ill. When we begin to talk, to work together across the aisle of churches and party lines, we see God at work. Isaiah 2:4 reminds us of that wonderful day, “He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.”

            Pro-guns and anti-guns, we’re all children of God. Treat each other as such. Let’s get to work having this conversation, and let’s do it in the spirit of grace, truth and love.

Grateful, I remain,

Rob