Why Gun Control Makes Sense….
Until you Think Biblically
We all
watched in terrified unbelief as the events of the Sandy Hook Elementary School
Massacre unfolded before us on the news.
How in the world, in our civilized society, and at our point of advanced
human evolution, could someone just walk into a school full of innocent
children and fire off 156 shots in a matter of moments, killing 26 people? How could a person just walk up to beautiful
and innocent children and blow them to pieces?
What is wrong with a society in which something like that could happen? These questions are not easy to answer
immediately, but it is the answer to these questions that will help us
understand and prevent this kind of tragedy in the future.
After the
crying, hugging, funerals, and the candle light vigils, many people have been
moved to action. We cannot allow this to
ever happen again. We must do
something! This feeling echoed through
conversations at the supper table, the water cooler, and town meetings. What can be done to prevent this unspeakable
evil from ever occurring again? Soon the
answer came quickly. We must eradicate
all the guns responsible for this crime.
If we make these guns unavailable, then perpetrators of these kinds of monstrous
acts will lack the tools to accomplish their evil intent. On its face, this idea seems to make
sense. If there were no pesky second amendment
zealots, this would have already been accomplished. What is wrong with a society that would abide
by the slaughter of the innocent just so some could continue to have access to
these grotesque tools of barbarism? This
kind of hysteria is understandable, but there is another, deeper, set of truths
that must be considered. Why would
Americans be so quick to surrender the blood bought freedoms guaranteed by the
Second Amendment? The author would like
you to consider that there are three major underlying reasons that American
society is willing to surrender their Second Amendment freedoms.
1.
As
a society, we refuse to acknowledge or comprehend the extent of Human
Depravity.
We
human beings are a narcissistic lot. We
are so sure that we are the epitome of virtue and morality. Just look at the “counseling” one receives on
Face Book. MIME after MIME proclaims
that deep inside you is an angel, or that you are the source of light to
brighten the world, or that all you need for things to work out, is to follow
your heart. If we humans are so
wonderful, then how in the world can events like Sandy Hook or Columbine take
place? It must be the guns! They are the problem! It must be the video games… they are making
our wonderful citizens into killing machines.
It must be mental illness… no one in their right mind would do this kind
of evil. So then this is what we must do…
we must ban violent video games, confiscate guns and fund better mental
illness. That works… until you consider
the Bible.
Jeremiah
17:9 (AV) The heart is
deceitful above all things, and
desperately wicked: who can know it?
Proverbs
14:12 (AV) There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Romans
3:10–13 (AV) 10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not
one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They
are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is
none that doeth good, no, not one. 13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their
tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
You see, we humans are rotten to the core! Every one of us starts out dead in our trespasses
and sins. We cannot make a move toward
God or morality on our own. Sure, if we
can pass this darkness off onto something, anything, other than our own
depravity, then we can be comfortable once again. Governor Malloy said it right when first
responding to the events of Newtown:
“Evil has visited this
community today”
Now that we have identified the true culprit for this kind of
bloodshed, the presence of unspeakable depravity locked deep inside every human
being, let us expose another misconception that allows Americans to surrender
their Second Amendment rights.
2.
As a society, we need to find a scapegoat to
blame when evil is manifested.
If
there is some other thing we can blame, some inanimate object responsible, then
we do not have to face the prospect that this evil resides within all of
us. If we can identify a scapegoat, then
we do not have to take responsibility as a society for the existence of this
evil. Let us consider the logic. A group of metals and polymers shaped in the
form of an AR-15 in and of themselves become the embodiment of evil. This kind of superstition was embraced
centuries ago in pagan cultures. Some
imagined that certain colors or symbols, or even musical intervals contained
evil. Have we not moved past that kind
of ignorance? Some would say that video
games, a collection of plastic and metal parts, are evil. Really?
What
does the Bible teach about inanimate objects being evil? The Apostle Paul was doing battle with
Gnostics that viewed all material things to contain evil. His thoughts in Romans 14 are very
instructive:
Romans 14:14 (AV) I know, and am
persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that
there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing
to be unclean, to him it is
unclean.
So
in our effort to release ourselves from the evidence of innate human depravity
we have found an inanimate scapegoat.
The Bible teaches us that guns, like all inanimate objects are neither
good nor evil. It is not an unclean gun
in and of itself… it is neither clean nor unclean. It depends upon how it is used. Now let us be very cautious. Once we accept the premise that it is ok to
find a scapegoat to blame, then the next step is to graduate from blaming
innocent metal to blaming innocent groups of people.
Autistic
children all over America were stigmatized by the media after Sandy Hook. Sure, it is easier to blame a mental illness,
than to address the presence of Evil lurking in all of us, but it is not
just. It is not a great leap to then
make a religion, a race, or an ethnicity the scapegoat for the next great evil
that presents itself.
3.
As
a society, we have a strong aversion to accepting personal responsibility and
accountability for our actions.
We
look at the thugs who shot up Columbine and blame the other kids for bullying
them. We look at the violence in our inner
cities and blame poverty. If only there
were more social programs. If only we
could stop the bullies. If only we could
get rid of the video games that create mass murders. Hold on!
As human beings we have free will!
We all make choices whether or not to feed the darkness lurking within
or to keep it locked up so our inner monster never gets out! We must get back to the simple law of action
and consequences.
Galatians 6:7–8 (AV) 7 Be
not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he
also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap
corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life
everlasting.
Our
government is charged with dealing with evil doers. It is not to be a terror to the innocent or
to the good. It is a violation of God’s
trust in our society to allow Government to usurp the rights of the innocent in
order to control the evil.
Romans 13:1–4 (AV) 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.
So
here we are in Connecticut, ready to do great violence to the constitution in
order to protect us from future Sandy Hook tragedies. Guns are not capable of evil, people are. Control evil people by ensuring swift and
final consequences for those who perpetrate evil without blaming great masses
of people, making them simply guilty by association. I thought we have evolved past that kind of
behavior.
If
you agree with these thoughts, please pass it on. Let people know on Facebook, Twitter, or
anywhere that people will listen.
