Guns, God and You're Reading the Bible Wrong

I'm not going to waste any time getting started, because there will be a lot to unload here.  Pun intended.  But you must know.  We have a problem with guns in america.  I don't think for a second that taking them away will solve it.  The only think that will solve it is killing everyone.  But I do believe there are things we can do to help chip away at it and start to find what the issues are.  I don't think it's entirely guns, I don't think it's entirely media, video games, lack of parenting or any one thing.  It's a combination of it all.  And if we really are a PRO-LIFE people then it's time to put your money where your mouth is.  So this is me trying to make sense of it all.

     First.  I'm sick and tired of people saying that we should ban automobiles to because they kill more people than guns.  One, they don't.  Two, no one is saying ban guns that I've heard. Nearly 220 million people drive at least an hour a day.  Compare than to the population in the US which is about 300 million.  So roughly 2/3 of the population. Lets even look back to 2005, deaths were at 43,000.  So 43,000 automobile related deaths for a conservative estimate of 80,300,000,000 hours behind the wheel.  Did you catch that?  Can you fathom driving for 80 billion hours and only 43,000 people died? Granted these are quick estimates, the actual time behind the wheel is probably more than that.
     Now lets look at recreational gun use.  About 1 in 3 americans own at least one firearm.  So about 1 million gun owners in America.  Lets be honest.  How many hours a day can we guess each one is out shooting?  Honestly.  See you can't record those numbers.  But you get my point.  Also in 2005, 12,000 gun deaths via homicide.  ONLY homicide, not accidental deaths or suicide.  Factor that in if you want.  Imagine if 750,000 gun owners were out shooting their firearms EVERY DAY FOR AN HOUR.  There is nowhere near enough range space to accommodate those numbers.  I'd be willing to bet though that the average gun owner doesn't even spend an hour a year shooting his gun.
    Here's my point.  Stop comparing apples to oranges.  Cars serve a purpose other than killing.  Guns only purpose is to kill.  Like it or not, that is what is was designed and created for.  Killing.  Sure, some make great wall hangers over the fireplace.  Knives weren't invented to kill.  Hammers weren't invented to kill. Baseball bats weren't invented to kill.  Ok, enough about that.


     Christians, we are you clinging so tightly to your guns?  Where in the bible, specifically the new testaments does it say that you should have one?  Other than when Jesus told his disciples to sell their cloak and buy a sword? Because seriously, 11 men and two swords against an entire army?  There are many reasons why Jesus said that and you can believe any of them.  But we are talking about God here.  If God wanted to protect them, he could just do it.  No swords needed.  End of discussion.  Jesus said to love your enemies, how do you justify killing them as love?  Or do you decide you want to decide what he means by that.
    (this part isn't just for christians anymore)  Oh, and you need it for home security?  Really, see I don't think so.   Because if you were really into home security, you would go to just as many home security shows as you do gun shows.  You'd have just as many cool locks and alarms on your entry points  of your home as you do trinkets for your guns.  So just be honest...you want to shoot someone.  But wait, I know. You're a responsible gun owner.  I get that.  And you want to protect your family.  I get that. So you keep your gun a drawer next to your bed ready for an intruder who wants to harm your family.  I get that.  I get that it's incredibly irresponsible because more innocent people (mostly kids) die from that scenario than someone breaking into your house.  Wait though, you keep it your gun safe locked up.  So, explain to me how you are going to convince the intruder to wait while you go get your gun out of the safe and then your ammo out of the other locked safe so you can shoot him.  You aren't into home security,  You are into providing a false sense of security for yourself.  Should you be able to protect yourself, yes.  I'm not saying you aren't.  You just have to think of other, safer ways to do that.  You can't have your cake and eat it to.  I know I sound harsh, maybe that's because you know I'm right.  See, everyone is a responsible gun owner until they aren't.
      I recently posted a video to my Facebook that was by a gun owner that offered some responses on how to help slow down the amount of gun related deaths and violence.  Yes, I know they will never stop in our lifetime.  It's to late for that to happen.  Guns are all over the world and if people want to get them they will.  But we can make steps to help.  If you aren't willing to at least help or try, without anyone taking your guns away, then I would suggest that you are the problem.   What's wrong with a test.  Written and hands on.  If you want to buy a gun you are required to take an 8 hour class on everything guns.  I would even suggest that you need to be evaluated by a mental health professional as well.  If you've got nothing to hide, you've got nothing to hide.  A few extra steps is NOT taking your guns away.  If anything it will prove that their are gun owners that care about people's lives and are willing to try to make a change.


     And the all lives matter campaign.  It seems that there are a lot of people very pro-gun.  So I guess all lives don't really matter then right?  #somelivesmatter


     Yes, you are reading the bible wrong.  Do you know that nowhere in the bible does it say you can't live with someone before you are married.  No.  Where.  At.  All.  Seriously, go look.  You can make some ties to some other verses, but it's not specific at all.  And you're so sure that gay is a sin, yet you uncertain if Jesus was really non-violent.  Really?  He lived in a world where people were being oppressed unjustly and he did nothing to stop it.  He could have stepped in at any time and killed all the perpetrators.  But he didn't.  So why do we think that's our job if we claim to be christians and follow christ.  He wasn't our protector in that way.
     And you want to know whats really whack, there are a tremendous amount of people that know they won't be able to follow the whole bible but still try so hard to.  That's great.  I think that it's a good thing.  But I have also found that those are some of the same people willing to budge or try anything about the whole gun control idea.  Because you'll never be able to fix all of it.  I just don't get it.


     I think that about covers it for this morning.  And I'm pretty sure a lot of people will not like me after this.  But you know what.... 3/4 of the time I don't like me either.  So HA!

flipping tables.

Few things for starters.  I'm writing this from a Christian stand point. I'm incredibly scared to write about this.  Because I'm incredibly scared that I'm right.  And to make things worse, if I am right what do I plan to do about it?  If anything...

Secondly, this is me being me.  A lot of generalizing and reflections of my own habits. Some if it may apply to you, other things it won't.  I'm making observations from things I've heard people say.  So if it feels like I'm picking on you, I probably am.  But I'm also picking on myself.  Because I'm in the same boat. 

Thirdly, I don't have all the answers.  This isn't and end all be all.  And you don't have all the answers either.  You, just like me, only have whatever helps us sleep better at night.  And that may be wrong thinking.  You have to be prepared to understand that.  Sometimes we know deep down something is wrong and we choose to turn a blind eye.  Or we choose to do a little to appease the guilt. 

Onto my thought.  This comes on the heels of my wife's first trip to Haiti.  While she's been to Africa in the past, this will be the first time in a while for a trip like this.  I've had the chance to go 7 times over the past three years with number 8 in december.  And. I. Can't. Wait.  So I will be deliberate in how I roll this post out.  I don't know where her head is at and I want to respect that.  Because I also know what it's like to have your world rocked in that way.   So, she may or may not have been home for weeks before you are actually reading this.  It's Oct. 3 2015 right now. 

I was listening to a podcast this morning called Giving is Believing.  You should check it out if you are interested in "missions".  I hate that term, and so do they.  When I tell people about our work in Haiti they often ask if I go down on a missions trip.  This is a normal response. To which I often reply, if by missions trip you mean every day that you wake up and go about your day, then yes. If you call yourself a Christian, you are a missionary. Every day you live your life should be one continuous mission trip.  But anyway, a (I'll call her) friend that I've met a time or two in the town of Gressier at her cafe was on the podcast. Megan Boudreaux (www.respirehaiti.org) started this ministry that is growing tremendously and she is doing phenomenal work. She was talking about the miracles she's seen in Haiti and how we don't see them nearly at all in America.  You can find more about this in the book she wrote available here.  Why? I know, but you wouldn't understand until you've been there. But I began to think about my life here in the states.  So I'll begin there.  

We have a modest house, two cars, two tv's, lots of toys (for us and the kids), 3 coffee makers, a big yard with a riding mower, freedom, time to relax and so many other privileges.  Why? Mostly because we were born here.  Yes we work hard and understand that this country did not come from nothing.  I understand that people came here, stole this land from other people and created this here nation that we live in today.  I didn't ask for any of that.  I'm not saying I don't appreciate it, I just wasn't involved in how that all happened.  I'm just involved in where it is today and what I can do.  However,  I'm now infected with having seen parts of the world that don't have these privileges.  Parts of the world were people die every day and injustices happen because of ignorance.  People not knowing any better.  And here I sit, surrounded by 5 guitars, a drum set and I'm typing on a 27" Apple iMac eating from a bag of rold gold pretzels after I just ate lunch and I'm not even hungry.  You're probably even reading it on a new computer or your mobile device that you pay upwards of $150 a month for.  These are observations, not accusations.  And people are dying.

now. 

now.

now.

now.

Because they don't have food.  Or because their government is corrupt.  Or because they are being bombed by american drones.  Or they are being killed by terrorists.  We live in a bubble that I so desperately want to pop.

.

But wait!  I give money to my church!  Yes, you may.  But lets be realistic.  It's not ten percent.  It may be ten percent that week.  But only 1 out of 4 weeks.  Or maybe it's 3 percent.  And it's still something, I'm not knocking you.  I've read that on average churches only give out (I'll be generous) 8% of their income to charities outside the walls.  Compare that to the red cross who only spends about 8% on it's administrative costs.  So basically your tithe goes to your sunday morning entertainment and services.

But wait!  I buy a turkey every year! I give to the little red bucket bell ringers! I do this blah blah I do that blah blah blah.  Fantastic.  That's great.  That's the minimum.  That's barely the minimum.

I feel like if Jesus came to America and saw how apathetic, snobbish and lazy we've become here he'd be flipping our tables.  I'd venture to say that he maybe even would flip the bird!  Seriously.... Jesus did that!  He'd be pissed!  He'd look in your windows and see the three people in your house each watching a different tv or device.  We call them devices now.

I'm right there with you.  This is my life.  This is what plagues me.  I used to make excuses and justify the way I live.  Saying things like, but I go to haiti a few times a year.  We sponsor a child.  We give to local places that help.  But I'm a good person.  I DESERVE nice things.  Since when did we ever get what we deserved?  Think about it.

This is weighing on me big time lately.  Maybe I'm wrong.  Maybe I am doing enough.  Maybe I'm doing more than what's called for.  But the problem is there is so many people not even doing the minimum, looking out for numero uno, and I may even be that person too.

I'm not even gonna get started on our lust for blood in this country.  And I'm not going to go back and edit any of this.  It's getting posted.  With me being the most guilty one here.