Thursday, July 03, 2008

Guns

The LORD is my strength and my shield (Psalm 28:7).

Americans like to shoot things. Years ago, children pretended to be cowboys or policemen and armed themselves with toy guns; nowadays they play video games where you can shoot terrorists, gangsters, and all sorts of monsters. Teens and adults get to handle the real thing; they practice at firing ranges and spend weekends hunting various kinds of game. Guns are a fixture in the movies and on television dramas; gun ownership is even discussed in our Bill of Rights.

Why are we so fascinated with guns? I think it’s because guns are the ultimate equalizer. Before the invention of firearms, only hunters and soldiers could use weapons effectively. It takes skill to win a sword fight; it takes training to use a bow. But anyone can use a gun to defend themselves; even a novice shooter has a good chance of hitting an attacker.

Guns provide a feeling of security because they make a person feel powerful and in control. A gun gives you power over birds and animals that could otherwise escape you. A gun gives you power over a person who wants to hurt you or steal from you. A gun gives you the power of deciding between life and death.

It’s no wonder, then, that people who feel powerless turn to guns for relief. Teenagers go on shooting sprees at school because other students made them feel like helpless victims. People who are fired from their jobs go back to the place where they worked and open fire for the same reason. In a society that loves guns, firearms become a way to deal with the pressures of life.

The thing is, we don’t need weapons to protect ourselves. We don’t need firearms to give us a sense of control or make us feel powerful. We don’t need guns when we have Christ. The Son of God offers all the protection that we will ever need; Psalm 144 says, He is my loving God and my fortress. We don’t need to be in control, because He promises that in all things God works for the good of those who love him (Romans 8:28). We don’t need to feel powerful; God told Paul, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). When we trust in Jesus’ strength, wisdom and compassion, we can relax and find our strength in Him. In Christ we can have the kind of security and power that no firearm can ever provide.

Blog Top Sites
Blog Directory & Search engine
Blog Directory