Gun control has become a central national issue in recent times, especially after the horrific shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. People were are pro-gun and pro-Second Amendment have been clashing with those who want stringent gun control laws. Where do Christians fall in this debate? As you may expect, even within the Christian community, there is not perfect agreement. Some Christian leaders have spoken out against stricter gun control legislation, but others have argued that something must be done. Still others have tried to draw the focus back to the issue of flawed human nature and how we need to do better regarding reaching the mentally unstable. Below are the thoughts, ideas, and arguments of five Christian leaders following the rise in gun violence. While there are no easy answers, perhaps reading these differing views will give us a broader picture.
Photo courtesy: ©Thinkstock/StephanieFrey
1. “I think to do nothing is to devalue human life.”
“More and more voices calling for restrictions on gun access are being heard. We are trying to curate those voices and give them a united platform to speak from.
We’ve been actively reaching out to evangelical leaders, mostly behind the scenes, and are finding many that are distressed by our seemingly unrestrained enthusiasm for easy gun access — and the perception that all evangelicals have a kind of bloodlust for firearms. That’s not true, particularly when it comes to under-40 evangelicals and their pastors.
I am concerned about gun violence in this country, because I think to do nothing is to devalue human life, to treat that which God deems of ultimate value as of no value at all,” the Baptist leader told HuffPost. “Reducing gun violence is part of what it means to love God’s people and want them to flourish.” — Rev. Rob Schenck
Photo courtesy: ©Thinkstock/STILLFX
Comments are closed.