Ep.57 - When There is a School Shooting

A couple of weeks have passed since the nation was gripped yet again by a horrific school shooting.  By now we all are well too aware of the events that took place at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde Texas.  Unfortunately, the fallout from such tragic events is becoming all too familiar as well.  About 5 minutes of news coverage regarding the facts of the situation go by and then the gun debate begins.  Parents haven't even been informed of their child's death before the entire national conversation is turned into a polarized argument about what, if anything, should be done about guns.  In this episode, we will first discuss how Christians should respond during these national tragedies.  Then we will dig into our Word of the day and see if the Bible sheds any light on the gun debate.  Enjoy what Kirk has deemed the most "unsatisfying" cultural podcast ever!  

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Transcript

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right, and welcome back everyone to another edition of the Cushioning Podcast. Thank you so much for tuning in today to yet another very, very important topic. A little somber tone to the pod today, as always. I've intentionally let some time pass between the tragic events of the Uvalde Robb Elementary School shooting. Let some few weeks go by. As a nation, I think we all... are grieving such a horrific event like that and didn't want to just be another talking head throwing thoughts and opinions on top of what should be and what is a grieving nation, a grieving community of Evaldi, Texas and trying not to do the thing that we Americans tend to do and that's pile on our, you know, our preferences on certain things, onto just horrendously tragic events. As you guys know, if you've been listening for a while, I am a Christian school leader myself. Me and my wife, we run a Christian school, so the topic of school shootings is an extremely sobering topic for us. Every time it shows up in this world, it is a huge issue of concern for us as school leaders and we have school parents that reach out immediately just because it just brings horrific potential realities to the top of every parent's mind as every, you know, most parents in America send their children to some school somewhere and especially when it's an elementary school where just the youngest of the young are exposed to just such horrific evil um just unspeakable things that these kids were impacted by obviously those that were shot and murdered that is the worst of the worst and then on top of that those that had to be in that in that atmosphere and maybe even observing as i heard just uh terrible terrible stories of kids alive in that room and you know making 9-1-1 calls and just it's it's really how for us parents and anybody who's involved in a community school atmosphere like I am every day it's it's the nightmare scenario there's really nothing else in life in physical life that you can think of that really rivals the the horror and the terror of something like that so I Anyways, just trying to give that reality some breathing room and trying to pay it some due respect, trying to practice what I'm going to be preaching here a little bit. So anyways, if you're tuning into this, I'm sure by now you know what happened in that elementary, Robb Elementary School. And you're probably, I have a tough time watching the news coverage, so I've kind of just tuned into it minimally, again, because it does hit extremely close to home. We obviously, me and my leadership team, we use these types of tragedies as case studies to improve our security plans and things of that nature. But other than that, it's really hard for me to To dive into the details and the specifics of the horror that this community is facing, because I don't need all those specifics for my heart to go out and my prayers to go up. So that's what we're talking about today, because we've all now experienced what is now kind of the... knee-jerk reaction to these horrific tragedies in school shootings where it's you don't get three minutes in the news coverage to get some talking head on some side of the political spectrum using it as opportunity to stump for their preferred legislation in regards to guns and things of that nature and And then it quickly, what should be a sustained period, in my opinion, what should be a sustained period of grief and concern and really reaching out, outreach to a community, it's almost immediately it's turned into a political backlash of this side versus that side. And so that's really what... I want to speak into today and try to bring some biblical Christian sanity for us that have been redeemed and saved by Jesus Christ. That we could engage in this reality in a way that really is faithful to what the Bible that we believe as our ultimate authority really lays out for us and really my hope and prayer not to get caught up in the cultural, secular tug of war that happens often, I mean, every time now. And so, anyways, all that to say that this is probably going to be the most unsatisfying cultural podcast on a controversial subject in the history of podcasting. So, that's really, as I kind of outlined some notes. I was like, this is not going to satisfy anybody's just zeal for specific political action when it comes to guns or these kinds of issues that come out of mass tragedies like this. And so this is the review that I would love to see written on the political discussion in the history of the internet that's that's what I want that's because if you're going to dial in for as long as we're going to talk about this today and if you have you know we all we all show up with our biases I do too we all do we all show up with our political priors our ways that we think the country should handle situations like this the best and what I found that that Jesus isn't there to satisfy any of that. He's not there to put his stamp of approval on really any of it. So if you're coming looking for the kind of the biblical hammer, the biblical drop the mic, yeah, that's exactly what... That's exactly what I thought. You're not going to find it here. Whether you're a liberal and you want every gun taken off planet Earth tomorrow, or you're a conservative and you want your closet packed with as many guns as humanly possible so that you're ready for any potential dangerous situation. Again, you're going to walk away unsatisfied. If that's what you need... to have kind of tickled and addressed. I'm going to make the biblical case that it's not in the Word. Those kinds of issues, we will continue to honor the political stance this podcast has been kind of founded on, which is there is room in the Christian faith for all different ways types of political philosophies and ideas when it comes to guns and things. We'll show you that that again reigns true, but I pray that we all walk away from this discussion seeing those things as far, far, far, far, far secondary to the more important things that, excuse me, the Bible has plenty, plenty of direction and plenty to say. So, If you haven't rated or reviewed this podcast, I just gave you the greatest review that I would love to see one day. I want five stars for being completely unsatisfying. I just think that would be the coolest ever. Anyways, like I said, a quick reminder that Christians, we have a completely different set of ethics and responsibilities that take priority over our political preferences. We just, as Christians, we have to drill that down in order for us to really do what we try to encourage on this podcast that's Christian well, that's really lift up the name of Jesus above all live our lives Monday through Saturday in full accordance with the Word of God, we have to recognize that in these moments where there's high tension, high contentions, and we have our own biases, we have our own ideas, we always have to submit ourselves to the reality that there is... I'm a Christian. I have a much higher set of responsibilities than... These secondary things that I'm not saying they're not important. I'm not saying these discussions are... I'm not one of those Christians that's just like, if you're a Christian, you can't be involved at all in the political sphere or giving your opinions on legislation and things of that nature. That's not at all what I'm saying. It just has to be done in a way that our true faith and our true... priority in christ is shown forth very very clearly and that's the trick there i don't have a prescription for that i just what i've found is the deeper we get in the word the more our hearts are tuned and aligned to those greater priorities and then just as we engage it just exudes out of us and so that's it's something just to keep in your mind and it's just a good good test a good thing to be always thinking through man when I'm on if I'm online and I'm having comment spats back and forth on Twitter or whatever or you know I'm harping with my neighbor who agrees with me on everything or at my church and I'm rallying support emotional support for what I believe are these greater priorities of the word as anybody would anybody be able to tell that those things matter to me in that process. So what are those things? We'll get into that before we get into our word of the day. We'll just talk about just some overarching attitudinal things, and then we'll get into our word of the day. But really what grieves me the most in these situations, specifically this Evaldi school shooting, It's really for us Christians, woe to us if we immediately run to our political preference on the issue of guns. Every time I experience it, every time I see it, I just feel the spirit in my soul just grieving that... I just really feel like it's a woe to us. Christian, if that's our initial reaction is, how is this tragedy going to impact my chosen side of the gun debate? We're missing it before we even start. And it's really either side. And conservatives, to my conservative leaning people, I get it. It's frustrating that every mass shooting event becomes an assault on gun ownership. I get it. As compassionately and kindly as I can say, all I can say is get over it. Get over it. It's just going to continue to happen. And to the liberals, I get it. It's frustrating that a conversation can't even be had about guns at all, that some people just can't even acknowledge its presence in these horrendous shooting events and that these weapons play a role. I get it. I get it. It's frustrating that that just can't even be hashed out in any sort of call on the common sense matter. All I can say to you is get over it. As a Christian, we have to be bigger than those frustrations. Yes, they exist. Yes, they will poke at your biases and get emotional response out of you. But we as believers, we put those things aside. by the wayside and we move forward with a better attitude, a better perspective. Because first, I just, I got to remind us as Christians, what's first and foremost to us is there are dozens of families grieving the loss of complete innocent life. And there's an entire community that has lost a sense of normalcy, security, and much, much more. I don't know what it is to be a resident of Uvalde, Texas, a small, tight-knit community. From what I understand, I've never been there. I can only imagine what it is for that school, that elementary school community, because elementary schools become the hub of community activity today. for young families. It's just, it's where you see your friends. It's where parents connect with one another. It's where kids play sports with it. It's, it is the hub of community activities. So that being completely flipped upside down while people are grieving for little children that they would see daily running through the place. It's just like, that's, that's, That's it for us Christians. That is it. That is primary. Those are the prayers we throw up. Those are the questions we ask. What does that community need? Is there anything in my community that I need? I need to try to help offer because it's, like I said, it's a nationwide grieving when this happens because we see that school and we see it like every other school that we drive by on our way to work or every school that we drop our kids off. There's nothing unique about Rob Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. That could be my school. That could be your school. And we all realize that. And there's such a deeper need here than just... pivoting immediately to all guns must be banned from the world or if you try to take my guns then you're trying to take my freedom and just I just, I can't I can't we have to we have just a much greater responsibility in moments like these and a couple verses just to kind of hope motivate us you know unfortunately there's probably going to be a next time because we still live in a fallen evil world where evil is going to continue so we as christians realize that you know so when these things happen we grieve but we're not like perplexed as to why we understand the bible explains these things so we as christians we can be way more prepared for the for the emotional toll that this is going to take. And Romans 12, this is like, I don't know, I just, some people read like a proverb, a chapter of Proverbs a day, and you know, you can get through all the Proverbs in a month. And it's just this great way to just equip yourself with some, just some real perspective of wisdom. I just think that middle section of Romans 12, it's, it almost at this point for an American Christian, we just need to read it daily. Because it just realigns everything and everything that we experience. Romans 12, 15 says, Rejoice with those who rejoice. Weep with those who weep. Again, that's in this moment. That's our priority. That's what Christians do. But look at where it picks up 16. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Oh my goodness, there's just wisdom in everybody's own perspective all over the place. And everybody's so proud of their wisdom. And they just can't wait to tweet it and Instagram it and podcast about it. But we see clearly... Romans 12 just reorders this. We would never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in sight of all, if possible, so far as it depends on you. Live peaceably with all. Those are our priorities in a moment like this. Those are our priorities in every moment. But especially in moments like this where... The disruption of peace of a small community turns into this disruption of peace across a nation. And we add to it by disrupting our political peace. And it's very clear, the Bible is very clear, as far as it depends on you. So all I can do is take ownership for my role. I can't change people that are going to freak out about guns and other... But as much as it depends on me... It's my job to live at peace with all. especially in such a trying time. And then Galatians 6, 2, which we know well, bear one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ. There is a burden and community right now in Ivaldi. And so that, again, that is the primary. When I say we as Christians, we have a much greater responsibility. Those are the types of scriptures that we need to run to to help get our marching orders. And what you don't see in any of those verses is a gun debate of any kind of any kind pro against that's just not what we focus on now again that doesn't mean that the time doesn't come to cast our vote according to what we believe is the best course of action we're gonna we're gonna transition there now it's just i think you guys are seeing what i'm seeing and Even for us Christians, we're getting swept up in the immediacy of having to make sure our chosen political priors are protected in the midst of a tragedy. I've read this book cover to cover, and I just don't see that. I don't see that for us as believers. Those that don't hold the Bible as their authority, of course, they're going to be taken by any whim out there, any emotional whim or any political whim. So we get all that. We get all that. We get over it. Like I said, that's what we do. We get over that so that we can go straight to what is primary and most important. Now, having all that said, and I think that's important, there are As we transition to the right time to cast our vote or maybe cast our speech, our advocacy for a certain way that we believe this country should be governed. Again, we live in a very weird time in biblical history. Our opinion has been asked of us. We've been asked to participate in the ruling class of our nation. Again, that's a very, very weird time. in the context of the biblical authorship. We've talked about this before, but that's just the time we live in. So there is a time for us Christians to engage in these kinds of issues. So all that that I said earlier isn't to say that we just never speak wisdom, because I would love Christians, sober-minded, spirit-minded, indwelled, spirit-empowered Christians to be on the forefront of trying to solve these issues. So I am a big advocate for Christian engagement in the political process. It's just there's a way in which we do it, and there's a Savior in which we make sure the world knows we have our faith in first and foremost. So where the day is going to come from Matthew 26, because we'll dive into... what is there a biblical perspective on guns and weapons and things of that nature and so so we'll go in so we're gonna we're gonna look at famous passage matthew 26 starting verse 47 this is when jesus is betrayed in the garden um and just i want to let you know that i'm using this the scripture as illustrative not descriptive um meaning I see when I read this specific narrative story, I see the combining of just systems of theological knowledge put on display in a very poignant, moving, but simple interaction between Jesus and his disciple. And so, again, I'm not... I say all that, the conclusions that we're going to point to out of this passage is more of a combination of kind of systematic thought throughout all of Scripture, Genesis to Revelation, that I see are just put on display perfectly, obviously, in Christ as he interacts in a very tenuous moment of his life in a very... violent and emotional moment of his life. You just see the full wisdom, manifold wisdom of God kind of on display here. But all that to say that I want to make sure I'm not using this narrative as a description. It's more I'm seeing it as an illustration of what the Bible clearly describes. lays out Genesis to Revelation. So there's a million other footnote scriptures to back up these statements. But again, just for the interest of time, I'm just going to get the ideas out, show that it is grounded and founded in scripture, and then let you draw your specific conclusions on how to apply this stuff and trust the spirit that's alive in you. So We'll look at Matthew 26, and then we're just going to draw three overarching conclusions that I see illustrated in this text, specifically about weapons and guns. There wasn't guns in the moment when Jesus was in the garden. The weapons were more ancient, barbaric at the time, knives, swords, clubs, things of that nature. However, the instrument of violence is the principle that we're going to be looking at. But we also understand, though, that there's a much different degree talking about a sword versus a high-capacity assault rifle, things of that nature. I get all that. I understand all that. And that's where I'm going to trust you to draw those really specific conclusions. But I think if these broad overarching biblical ideals are in our hearts, we will be in just a much better place to be helpful and to be useful in life. such trying times because I know we all agree that if especially as Christians if any one of us could wave our Jesus magic wand and make sure there's not another innocent child gunned down by an evil mass murderer we would all wave that wand we all would irregardless what you feel if you're at odds about the subject of guns so that's that's where we can find our commonality and that's where we can kind of move forward together and have some some really hopefully useful dialogue about this issue but so let's get in matthew 26 we're the day uh starting verse 47 while he was still speaking judas came one of the 12 and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs important to note the way matthew records this narrative weapons is a primary detail that is included in the description of of these things so that's where so we can draw some some clear conclusions regarding the issue of weapons here so came a great crowd with swords and clubs from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Again, let's notice that this is not a law enforcement situation. This is not an organized army of Caesar. These are the religious people. The religious people picking up their swords and clubs to go and Obviously, the intent was to do some violence to Jesus or to make sure that Jesus was put in his place or whatever was supposed to happen was going to happen. Verse 48, Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, The one I will kiss is the man. Seize him. And he came up to Jesus at once and said, Greetings, Rabbi. And he kissed him. Jesus said to him, Friend, do what you came to do. They came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him. Again, laid hands on. That's very common vernacular for kind of forceful, violent touching. And they seized Jesus. That word implies force. And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand. In this moment in the narrative, it doesn't identify who. And verse 51. And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. And here is the kind of the verse of all verses that This statement has just been on my mind every day since the Texas shooting and just kind of tuning into all the fallout from it. Then Jesus said to him, put your sword back into its place for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Or other version says those who live by the sword will die by the sword. But here at ESV, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my father and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? And we'll stop there because that gives us plenty to weave through for now. So, first thing, again, here comes the unsatisfying part. And You open your own Bibles and see if I'm missing it or if you have other passages that you just think are far more descriptive and informative than this illustration that I'm using. First conclusion we see is the use of weapons, not the presence of weapons, is what is addressed. Crowd comes, swords and clubs. Jesus' disciples apparently, according to the narrative, have their own weaponry, have their own sword. We know of one disciple who drew his sword and notice Jesus' instruction to him was put the sword back in its place. The rebuke wasn't, why do you have a sword? The rebuke was, you have used this sword in the wrong time in the wrong moment for the wrong reasons it was the use of the sword that that jesus clearly had a problem with because his instruction was put it back in its sheath sheath it put it back on the belt it's this is not the time for drawing swords again i think this is this isn't again this isn't a descriptive text where jesus is teaching His beliefs about weapons, so I'm trying not to draw too far, but this is where I say I see it illustrating what clearly is laid out in other portions of Scripture that it just kind of all shows up here in this one moment, that it's not the presence of weapons that Jesus has an issue with. Apparently, according to this scene, not... weird or uncommon for the disciples to be walking around with swords. Otherwise, I think that would have been illustrated differently. So, all that to say, here's the unsatisfying part. There isn't a biblical stance on should citizens have armament, have weapons, own weapons. You won't. You can search Scripture and It's not the presence of these things that is the issue. It's what is their purpose for? How are they used? When? How? That is where you will see, especially in this text, this is where you'll see the instruction to the heart for us Christians. Okay? So that's the first important thing. I don't see a biblical stance on the ownership of weaponry. Now, like I said, you can draw your own conclusions as we clearly understand that the disciple here doesn't have an AR-15 with a 30-round clip. So we don't... We can't use this as purely, we can't draw a clear line from this text to the modern experience of mass killings because of high-capacity assault weapons, things of that nature. That's where we have to let our heart just get informed by the truth, and then the spirit can help us navigate these things. these extra biblical realities that aren't, you know, we're just in a different time. So it's, you know, what does, what does Jesus's allowing of his disciples to have swords on them? How does that directly apply to, you know, 18 year olds running around with AR-15s? You know, You shouldn't draw a direct line to that. We have to use some spirit-led wisdom, biblically informed wisdom as well. So, it's the first point, the use of weapons, not the presence of weapons, is what is addressed. Secondly, here's what we see. The presence of weapons gives tremendous power to the execution of evil and the defense of good. Sorry, more unsatisfaction for you. In this illustration, in this story, very important story of the Passion Week of our Savior Jesus Christ, the presence of weapons gives tremendous power to the execution of evil. A crowd showed up with clubs and swords. That brought power. for them to execute the evil plan to arrest, punish, and at this moment they didn't know he would be crucified, but the eventual crucifixion of the only innocent man to walk planet Earth. The presence of weapons gives greater power to... That evil act, those evil desires to take this man who has done nothing but good, heal, do miracles, preach good news to the poor, and the human sinful condition sees it as blasphemous and wants to do away with this man that is evil. That is kind of the biblical definition of evil there. And weapons... allows that gives a greater power to make sure that happens however also you see a disciple whom jesus christ knew and loved you see him draw the sword in an attempt to do good he knew jesus as the son of god as the savior as the messiah so he did his knee-jerk reality that a lot of us do in the vein of doing what is good, of protecting innocence, which always warms our hearts when we see of these mass shooting events that are thwarted before the death count can pile up because somebody driven by good steps in, intervenes with their own weapon or their own brute force and is able to handle the person intent of doing evil so here in this illustration that's that's what's so interesting about this this particular story is you see the power of weaponry used for tremendous evil and an attempt to do tremendous good to spare the life of the innocent okay so here's Here's the freedom we as Christians can have in this discussion, and I don't know why this question doesn't get asked, but because of this biblical conclusion, we get to ask this question, and I think it's the most useful question in this gun debate. Is there a way to reduce the power of the execution of evil while upholding the defense of good what what a crazy question i just feel like that question could produce some really helpful really helpful answers because here again we see biblically the truth that we know about the weaponry that exists it can be a force for evil and that's what the liberals are like these things are evil and evil people use them to do terrible things and then the conservatives are just like but since there are evil people with with guns we need good people to be armed and have guns so that they can stand in the way so they're equipped to stand in the way and the discussion never gets past that it never gets past that and it's that's why we're we're stuck we're stuck in this situation Because there's a much better question that I see us as Christians able to be sober-minded enough to ask, to say,

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hmm,

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we see biblically and in real life all around us every day that weapons bring tremendous power, both to the will to do evil and the will to do good. Is there a way in which we can reduce that potential of evil while upholding the power to do good hmm let's let's dive in on that see it's the perfect question but yet you see right now in your own kind of maybe emotional response based on your political priors it's so unsatisfying because nobody wins no side of the argument wins nobody gets the drop the mic moment and say told you Weapons should have been banned, or boom, told you, arm the good citizens. And that's, again, that's a condition. That's part of our human condition, our self-centered, very haughty view of our own thoughts and our own perspectives. That's the political debate right now. Everybody's looking for the mic drop. Everybody's looking for the political victory as opposed to just asking the questions that could actually meet our nation in the reality the way the world actually works. That weapons can do some tremendous good in the protection of our our nation and the protection of innocence. But at the same time, they do horrendous, horrendous evil. So is there a system out there? Is there some legislation out there? I don't have the answers. I just know the answers aren't going to come because we don't ask better questions. And this is a question I'm just dying for someone to ask. And I'm waiting for an entire... group of leadership to buy into this question. Is there a way to reduce the power of execution of evil while upholding the defense of good? Are you willing to have that conversation? If you are, I think you're cushioning well in this situation. You're putting what is your political priors as far secondary to the more important meaty issues of how does the Bible actually lead us in this situation okay so that's second point the presence of weapons gives tremendous power to the execution of evil and the defense of good last thing and then we'll get you out of here this is where verse 52 comes in 52 53 here our faith in christ makes us overwhelming lovers of physical peace and spiritual warfare. We see here, our savior, put your sword back in its place for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. There is a truth, a wisdom, the manifold wisdom of God is spoken by Jesus in the most succinct possible way that we all know what's true. If you preserve your life by having a weapon in your hand, if that's your strategy for keeping yourself alive, you ultimately will die by that same weapon. That is just a universal truth of the creation of God. If that's the means by which you keep yourself alive, Ultimately, you will meet your demise through the very means because somebody will have a bigger, better weapon than you at some point, or someone will catch you in a moment when you're not ready or you don't have your weapon right by your side. That is the reality of war. Once you pick up the gun to protect your nation, there's always the possibility that There's going to be loss of life and there's going to be the potential of defeat all at the hands of different strategies of weapon use. And so Jesus clearly tells Jesus' people that is not our primary means. That is not how we protect life. Now he's not saying there's not a moment. There's not a reality in which that sword should be drawn. Notice he doesn't tell him to throw the sword in the lake. He just says in this moment that this is not the time and place. And there are moments that we as especially men, leaders of our family, if we find ourselves in these moments potentially tragic situations, we are called to be ready to protect our children, our family, things of that nature. But I haven't personally, I'm 46 years old, I haven't faced that yet. Not saying I won't, I haven't faced that yet. So the fervor of the gun debate makes it seem like that happens to everybody on the weekly. And that's where you know you've lost your way if you're that pro-gun. To where it's like, I can't even imagine living another day without my guns. That's where you would be in violation of the wisdom that Jesus says. Because what you're attesting to is that my life can't continue without the protection of these things. And he's saying if that's the attitude, if that's your mindset... um you're that's probably how you're going to meet your demise because you're going to be leaning on weaponry in the wrong situation in the wrong moment at the wrong time and you will get yourself in trouble this is i don't know if i've shared this on the on the podcast but you know my family and i we've been talking about guns and we do we we own a hunting rifle you know our my my My kid's uncle takes him out every year hunting. We have four boys, so it's a great kind of activity for young boys turning into men to engage in. So we have that. We've talked about a family, if we should get a self-defense weapon, things like that. Like I said, I'm not against any of that. But what I've told my family is we're not... We're not purchasing a gun until we have a clear understanding of the types of situations that that weapon gets pulled out. Because my firm belief, and I think I shared this on the Kyle Rittenhouse episode, is you don't take a gun out unless your full intent is to pull that trigger. I think too many American... people out there are kind of feel stronger or you know more intimidating with a gun on their belt or across their chest holstered on their chest and and their their strategy is showing up showing a gun and assuming that that will just win out the moment and I think that's the kind of stuff that Jesus is addressing here. If that's your strategy, is I have a gun, everybody will back away, and I won't have to shoot it, which is what Kyle Rittenhouse is kind of... He had his AR attached to his chest, made him feel invincible, and then once that strategy was put to the test, he ran, which put him in even greater... greater issue. That's where, for me, I will only draw a gun in a situation in which I know it's the right thing to do to pull the trigger. Otherwise, a gun's going to stay locked up and it's safe or whatever. I don't see... enough of that kind of conversation had about guns as well if it's there for self defense make sure you know you've defined for yourself situations to where self defense is absolutely needed otherwise you will live by the sword and potentially die by the sword that's the issue now Like I said, the logistics of what that all... That's just kind of an example from my heart, the way I'm trying to lead my family in these conversations. But the wisdom is clear. The wisdom is there. So, our faith in Christ makes us overwhelming lovers of physical peace. That's Christ. He is the Prince of Peace. He came to bring peace... to those who are at hostility with God. So we can't be preachers of the gospel of peace without being exemplars of physical peace. Again, I'm not saying if there's not evil trying to interrupt that peace in a completely evil way that we have to just be pacifists and take it. That's not my point, but... We're also not just gun crazy where our lives are protected because we have guns. That's not who we are either. Like I said, that's where both sides are. It's a very unsatisfying reality. So if you're unsatisfied by that, you've just probably heard something biblical. So we are lovers of physical peace. But look at verse 53. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my father and he will at once send me more than 12 legions of angels? And that just reeks of Ephesians 6.12. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. We, as Christians, we know there is spiritual weaponry that is far more important and effective and powerful. So, again, we have a greater priority. We look at this handgun in our hands and say, this can only take a physical life. I have spiritual weapons of prayer, of... the truth of God's word, I have this ability to call on, like Jesus said, legions of angels through the authority given to me in Christ to supernaturally change circumstances, change situations. We've all, as Christians, we've heard so many stories of this, that when we're When we're in the mood for some war, when we're in the mood for some action, that's the action. It's like, why would you, you know, the old saying, bring a knife to a gunfight. That's part of the wisdom that Jesus is laying out here. You know, we crazy freak out, you know, gun lovers. What Jesus would say is, I've given you power to actually transform a human soul, the power of the gospel. I just think of this 18-year-old that walked into this school as evil and messed up as this young man was. I know the truth of the gospel that someone, somewhere, somehow could have supernaturally spoken, prayed, and brought the gospel of the truth of God's love into that young man's life. And it could have completely changed him, transformed him, rearranged all his priorities to where that young man could have been an agent for peace instead of walking in and taking the lives of 18 innocent people, mostly children. That's the power. So we Christians aren't pansies. We're not wusses. We just understand we have a nuclear bomb of God's supernatural power. And so we're like, why would I not employ this against the evil of the world instead of this little pea shooter, you know, these AR-15 pea shooters? We have a much clearer priority. And if you think that's a bunch of hogwash, I don't know what to tell you. I'm not sure if you're truly putting your trust in the God of the Bible then. Because the Bible is clear. We are fighters. We love physical peace because Jesus came to bring peace. So we love it. We're advocates for it. But we understand that there is an evil enemy out there and we are willing to unload the heavenlies on it. And we know what that power is, what the tools, what the weapons are, how to use it. And so we do. and we pray and we share the gospel till our lungs fall out and we get on our knees and we do all these things to see evil abated to see the legions of angels come down from heaven and do our bidding and that's that's that I don't really know what else to say so So yeah, we're not pansies. We're all in for warfare. We just know we have a far superior arsenal than what secular man can offer. And so our engagement in these issues reflects that. It reflects that. So yeah, those are, I think, three important conclusions that if you understand and you engage with these things, and these are guiding you, that I think you'll be... more useful to the cause as as issues like this unfortunately um are probably gonna continue to pop up they've been you know murder has been part of human history since cain and abel and so it will continue until jesus returns so This wisdom, I think, gives us a unique place at the table for a country that's looking for leadership, looking for wisdom, and just not getting any of it. So let's not fall to that, and let's rise up and be exactly it is that the Word shows us we can be. All right? Hope that helps. Hope that's useful. If not, thank you for at least hanging in this long. Again, the most unsatisfying podcast in the history of the world. But we'll keep giving the people what they don't want. All right. So that's it for now. Thank you guys for tuning in. Appreciate you so much. Yeah, until next time. Christian Well, everyone, we love you. Have a great, great

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week.