<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>There was no organized Christian church until many years later. Jesus spoke to mixed crowds of Jews, Greeks, and Romans and told them all the same things.
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And, if you pay attention, you'll realize the Bible never authorized any kind of organization to the church higher than the local congregation. Each was meant to be autonomous from all others, not dependent on or answerable to any earthly body, just Christ. This is why I find the anti-gun pronunciations of the PC-USA, or the the Methodists, or what-have-you, to be highly suspect. I couldn't care less about what any particular denomination has to say on
any subject, given that Christ never intended for said denominations to exist in the first place, plus the fact that said denominations often base their positions on the political views of the leadership rather than the Bible. "Teaching as doctrines the practices of men..."
I justify owning weapons, for myself, on the fact that as the husband and father, I am the protector of my family. There is no sin inherent in merely owning a weapon. It is your intent at the moment of use that makes it wrong or right. I ran across a denominational guy once whose idea of being a "protector" seemed only to mean knowing who his children were hanging out with, and what they were being taught, and what they were doing, so as to "protect" them from negative influences. While I agree that this is one aspect of it, I also believe that it means protecting my wife and children from physical harm. To be their shield, as it were. I cannot adequately fulfill that responsibility if I am unarmed. My family needs me alive, to provide for them, not bleeding-out in the hallway because the most I was able to do was take the bullet for them. How am I supposed to defend them now, considering the BG is still in the house?
All that high-and-mightiness aside, I also "justify" owning firearms by the fact they they are just plain fun! I enjoy putting holes in paper, knocking over cans, demolishing melons, and so forth. I also enjoy hunting, and look very much forward to the time when I can take it up again, and bring the fam along!
My apologies for digressing, as I am often wont to do. Sometimes I worry that the rest of y'all groan "No, not Oomodo
again" whenever you see my posts.
This has been entirely MY $0.02.
Addendum: The way I approach everything, can be summed up in this statement (actually, paraphrase, as I don't remember exactly how he said it), made by a preacher at my congregation: <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>"Pray as though it's all up to God, act as though it's all up to you."[/quote]
[This message has been edited by Jedi Oomodo (edited June 17, 2000).]
