Friday, June 05, 2009

Jesus Loves the 2nd Amendment

Nothing says "I Love Jesus" like a brandishing a sidearm in church.

A friend sent me a link to New Bethel Church of Kentucky, with the following announcement:

In Celebration of July 4 and our rights as Americans, New Bethel Church will be hosting an Open Carry Celebration for all who support 1st and 2nd Amendment rights. ..We are asking responsible handgun owners to attend this service openly wearing their sidearms.
At first, I thought this must be a parody, and a not very good one either, since it is so ridiculous. But no, it seems to be an example of Poe's Law, where you can't distinguish between some religious beliefs and outright parody. There's an AP story on it here.

17 comments:

Shay said...

Blessed are the Colt Peacemakers?

mennomom said...

Just when I think I've heard everything, comes this! Sad and disturbing beyond comprehension. Is the good pastor aware of the fact that the early forefathers and mothers of his denomination, which has its roots in the Azusa Street Revival/Pentecostal Movement 1906 were pacifist? Evidently not. Or maybe he's forgotten. Jesus must be weeping at the foolishness of those who claim the Name. I hope people leave his church in droves. I know that's perverse and unchristian, seeing as how it's Sunday and all, but I guess I'm angry too. How can one who claims to be a spiritual leader who's supposed to be a public representative of the Good News of Jesus....it's just beyond comprehension.

brownie said...

Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition!

Fingtree said...

Yeah, just like the song;
"Jesus loves the 2nd Amendment, but for only the whites in the world. black and yellow, red, not whites. We shoot Liberals on site.
Jesus loves the 'right wingers' of the world".

Fingtree said...

I like the part in the add that says; "you bring a sidearm, a friend who has a sidearm and A CANNED GOOD FOR LOCAL FOOD BANK". Big hearts, small minds.
The pastor of this church should start the sermon out with; "The good news is, we are armed. The bad news is, there is no God. But we still have our fire arms. Now lets go kill abortion doctor's at their church's". and there was much rejoicing..

brownie said...

After actually looking at their page it strikes me as not all that bad. The gathering is on a Saturday as a 2nd Amendment thing, not part of their worship service. In that context, it's really no worse than an ice cream social (unless you think their actively promoting obesity) or a fish fry (actively promoting murdering live animals).

Fingtree said...

George Harrison's (The quiet Beatle)quote on Gun Control; "If everybody who had a gun just shot themselves there wouldn't be a problem."
Perhaps they could all do it on a fish fry Saturday?

Fingtree said...

Meet me at the intersection of Church and State this Saturday, for
our annual gathering for the 1st annual 2nd Amendment ice cream social and shot gun fish fry.

Robert Sievers said...

Luke 22:36
And He said to them, "But now, whoever has a money belt is to take it along, likewise also a bag, and whoever has no sword is to sell his coat and buy one.

brownie said...

In small towns, churches serve a much greater purpose than just a place to worship. They are a social and gathering place for the community, a place to visit with your neighbors and catch up with friends. I've seen tons of non-religious events (even voting--how less religious and blasphemous can one get?) at churches, so this doesn't disturb me in the least.

Dan S said...

Bob, if you are a literalist, then I suppose bringing swords to church would be fine. I don't know about guns though.

Brownie, I don't see how anyone could interpret the violence of guns as being in line with Jesus core message of Love God and Love Your Neighbor.

The only time he seems to advocate for weapons of violence is the one Bob cites, where the pharisees are coming to get him, and he accepts two swords. Then when a sword is used to cut off an ear, he rebukes the use of violence and heals the ear. In the end, it is repudiation of violence.

The folks at New Bethel love guns more than the message of Jesus and are turning it into idolatry by worshiping those guns at church.

Robert Sievers said...

Dan,

Are you sure the people there love guns more than Jesus? If your church has a speghettii dinner, would it be fair for me to claim you love pasta more than Jesus?

Just because their church doesn't do things "your way" you are so quick to judge. Perhaps when I get to Champaign you and I can have a plank and speck pulling contest.

Dan S said...

Bob, guns are not spaghetti. Spaghetti is not against the core of Jesus' message, which is one of love and nonviolence towards others. Guns are against this core message. So, you have to choose between love of guns and love of Jesus' message. This church has chosen love of guns.

Robert Sievers said...

Dan,

guns are only an instrument of violence if you use them as such. They are tools with many other uses. Speghetti can be used to kill people if laced with arsenic.

I was under the impression that you believe Jesus teaches intent, and not outward appearences? Was I wrong?

Dan S said...

You're right Bob. Guns have many uses that do not involve the use or threat of violence. For instance, they could be melted down and made into sculptures depicting peaceful, non-violent resolutions to conflict. I stand corrected if that's what the people in this church had intended when they decided to celebrate their guns.

Fingtree said...

There is much more going on within the sub-culture of this church. Racism is another motive, these kinds of idealogy gatherings in the name of the lord have been a very negative contributing factor into our Government policies.
Ideology does not make good policy~

brownie said...

"I don't see how anyone could interpret the violence of guns as being in line with Jesus core message of Love God and Love Your Neighbor"

Guns do not equal violence. I have owned and shot guns over many years. And I have never committed an act of violence. Not even a fist fight. Unless you count hunting as violence, in which case anyone who eats meat condones violence, hates God, and is neo-con ditto head.