Comments on: A subtle undermining of the foundations http://paulmoreland.com/2007/10/27/subtle-undermining-of-the-foundations/ Faith, Family, Friends, Firearms Sun, 05 Feb 2012 14:54:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: ladybug http://paulmoreland.com/2007/10/27/subtle-undermining-of-the-foundations/comment-page-1/#comment-259 ladybug Mon, 04 Feb 2008 04:39:06 +0000 http://paulmoreland.com/?p=95#comment-259 Paul, I am glad you have thought about this long and hard. The only thing I disagree with is your statement on the "good shepherd." A good shepherd is willing and able to defend his sheep. A good shepherd also knows there is a time to flee. Case in point. I knew of a lady who's door was being knocked down and she took her children and ran. It was not time to fight. In another instance this same lady had a pistol pointed at the door ready to shoot if she needed to. The lady had no other options left for her. Thankfully the guy was apprehended by the police before anything happened. Just trust in God...this has its advantages. As far as" being prepared" ...be careful -trust me when I say nothing can prepare you for circumstances such as these except faith and the trust in the Lord. I am glad you are a shepherd. I will pray for you. As for me I am just a child of God..and will hold on to my trust in Him that He will give me the wisdom to know what to do, in what ever circumstance I find myself in. Paul,

I am glad you have thought about this long and hard. The only thing I disagree
with is your statement on the “good shepherd.” A good shepherd is willing and able to defend his sheep. A good shepherd also knows there is a time to flee.
Case in point. I knew of a lady who’s door was being knocked down and she took her children and ran. It was not time to fight. In another instance this same lady had a pistol pointed at the door ready to shoot if she needed to. The lady had no other options left for her. Thankfully the guy was apprehended by the police before anything happened.
Just trust in God…this has its advantages. As far as” being prepared” …be careful -trust me when I say nothing can prepare you for circumstances such as these except faith and the trust in the Lord. I am glad you are a shepherd. I will pray for you. As for me I am just a child of God..and will hold on to my trust in Him that He will give me the wisdom to know what to do, in what ever circumstance I find myself in.

]]> By: Paul http://paulmoreland.com/2007/10/27/subtle-undermining-of-the-foundations/comment-page-1/#comment-258 Paul Fri, 01 Feb 2008 23:05:43 +0000 http://paulmoreland.com/?p=95#comment-258 Actually, yes. I HAVE thought about it - a lot. Not everyone is apt to carry or properly utilize a weapon, that is for sure. The recent incident at the church building in Colorado Springs confirms that fact. The person who confronted and brought the murderer down was not the only person present who was armed, but was the only person present who responded appropriately in the face of evil. Her prayer as she moved forward in the face of grave personal danger was "Holy Spirit, guide me." To not be able to defend the weak against the evil would affect me terribly, it would be more traumatic to be forced to observe as evil unfolded than to put an end to an evil act. Charl van Wyck wrote a book, "Shooting Back" about his experience in bringing the carnage to a halt during the Saint James massacre in South Africa back in the 1990's. He presents a well reasoned and thought out apology for Christian defense. Yes, Jesus told Peter to put his sword away, but He did not tell him to get rid of it. The time was not right for the use of defense - and that is something that a Christian must be aware of - there's a time and a place for everything, and not all times are the time to use deadly force. Peter Hammond has demonstrated time and again the ability to know the difference. I'd suggest you look up some of his writing on Frontline Fellowship's website. I thank God that I've never had to use deadly force against anyone. And if I never have to that's what I pray for. But I also pray that I'll have no vehicle problems when travelling - and yet carry tools and common repair parts with me. If something DOES happen than I'm prepared. Folks who say that you should "Just trust God" in matters of personal defense do not tend to be consistent - most of them have medical and vehicle and home insurance, they carry spare tires and perhaps even have fire extinguishers. Where is their faith in regards to flat tires, accidents, illness and other such unpleasantness? It's kind of like the anti-hunters who decry the "senseless, inhuman, cruel treatment of the poor furry animals" - while dining on steak, pork chops and chicken. Such an attitude is hypocritical, to say the least. One must carefully analyze one's thoughts and actions. To lightly pick up a weapon and take a human life is a great crime and sin. However, to stand by and allow evil to be committed is also a great crime and sin. With God's help and guidance I will never have to take another human's life. However, should a situation arise in which deadly force must be used, then the person who's life is taken will have suffered the results of their own actions. A wise man once said "The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing." And the apostle Paul wrote, "if you do not provide for your family, you are worse than an unbeliever." Provision is not just food and clothing. It implies shelter and protection, like men of old who would take strangers in and provide for them - including protection from the evil people around them. So, yes I have thought this out carefully. And I don't expect you to take my thoughts as "gospel" - you must think through things for yourself. If you feel that you will never be faced with a need to defend yourself or anyone else from harm and thus have no need to know how to properly use a weapon - you just may face the day when unspeakable evil stands before you and you'll have no where to turn and no one to blame but yourself for not preparing properly. A good shepherd is willing and able to defend his sheep. The hireling merely flees at the sight of danger. The good shepherd is willing even to lay down his life for the sheep. Jesus gave us the ultimate example, and yet He also set up some of us as shepherds - for defense of the flock, both spiritually and physically. Are you shepherd or sheep? The Lord has set me as a shepherd, and as such He will judge me on that final day. To that end I strive to lead and feed the flock He has given me to the best of my ability as He grants me knowledge and strength. Actually, yes. I HAVE thought about it – a lot. Not everyone is apt to carry or properly utilize a weapon, that is for sure. The recent incident at the church building in Colorado Springs confirms that fact. The person who confronted and brought the murderer down was not the only person present who was armed, but was the only person present who responded appropriately in the face of evil. Her prayer as she moved forward in the face of grave personal danger was “Holy Spirit, guide me.” To not be able to defend the weak against the evil would affect me terribly, it would be more traumatic to be forced to observe as evil unfolded than to put an end to an evil act. Charl van Wyck wrote a book, “Shooting Back” about his experience in bringing the carnage to a halt during the Saint James massacre in South Africa back in the 1990′s. He presents a well reasoned and thought out apology for Christian defense. Yes, Jesus told Peter to put his sword away, but He did not tell him to get rid of it. The time was not right for the use of defense – and that is something that a Christian must be aware of – there’s a time and a place for everything, and not all times are the time to use deadly force. Peter Hammond has demonstrated time and again the ability to know the difference. I’d suggest you look up some of his writing on Frontline Fellowship’s website.

I thank God that I’ve never had to use deadly force against anyone. And if I never have to that’s what I pray for. But I also pray that I’ll have no vehicle problems when travelling – and yet carry tools and common repair parts with me. If something DOES happen than I’m prepared. Folks who say that you should “Just trust God” in matters of personal defense do not tend to be consistent – most of them have medical and vehicle and home insurance, they carry spare tires and perhaps even have fire extinguishers. Where is their faith in regards to flat tires, accidents, illness and other such unpleasantness? It’s kind of like the anti-hunters who decry the “senseless, inhuman, cruel treatment of the poor furry animals” – while dining on steak, pork chops and chicken. Such an attitude is hypocritical, to say the least.

One must carefully analyze one’s thoughts and actions. To lightly pick up a weapon and take a human life is a great crime and sin. However, to stand by and allow evil to be committed is also a great crime and sin. With God’s help and guidance I will never have to take another human’s life. However, should a situation arise in which deadly force must be used, then the person who’s life is taken will have suffered the results of their own actions. A wise man once said “The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” And the apostle Paul wrote, “if you do not provide for your family, you are worse than an unbeliever.” Provision is not just food and clothing. It implies shelter and protection, like men of old who would take strangers in and provide for them – including protection from the evil people around them.

So, yes I have thought this out carefully. And I don’t expect you to take my thoughts as “gospel” – you must think through things for yourself. If you feel that you will never be faced with a need to defend yourself or anyone else from harm and thus have no need to know how to properly use a weapon – you just may face the day when unspeakable evil stands before you and you’ll have no where to turn and no one to blame but yourself for not preparing properly.

A good shepherd is willing and able to defend his sheep. The hireling merely flees at the sight of danger. The good shepherd is willing even to lay down his life for the sheep. Jesus gave us the ultimate example, and yet He also set up some of us as shepherds – for defense of the flock, both spiritually and physically. Are you shepherd or sheep? The Lord has set me as a shepherd, and as such He will judge me on that final day. To that end I strive to lead and feed the flock He has given me to the best of my ability as He grants me knowledge and strength.

]]> By: ladybug http://paulmoreland.com/2007/10/27/subtle-undermining-of-the-foundations/comment-page-1/#comment-257 ladybug Fri, 01 Feb 2008 22:31:48 +0000 http://paulmoreland.com/?p=95#comment-257 Why do we allow ourselves to become unchallenged? You seem to have a lot of knowledge of weapons. I believe we should not conform to society...and I agree we should not live as the world lives. You write a lot about guns, the laws of, and why we should have them. Have you ever thought why we should not have them? Have you ever actually had to kill someone...or been in a situation where you might have to? Have you ever thought what that does to change a person? I had a friend who was a cop. This person had a lot of the same ideals you seem to have. Until she killed a person in the line of duty. It changed her. Completely changed her. Not only did it effect her, it effected the comunity, the dead persons family. and her family. This person will never be the same. Weapons are a deep and serious responsibility...and not everyone has the aptitude for it. Jesus told Peter to put his sword away and healed a soliders ear. King David could not build a place for god because he was a warrior and had blood on his hands. Please be careful with this love of weapons you seem to have. Why do we allow ourselves to become unchallenged? You seem to have a lot of knowledge of weapons. I believe we should not conform to society…and I agree
we should not live as the world lives.
You write a lot about guns, the laws of, and why we should have them. Have you ever thought why we should not have them? Have you ever actually had to kill someone…or been in a situation where you might have to? Have you ever thought what that does to change a person?
I had a friend who was a cop. This person had a lot of the same ideals you seem to have. Until she killed a person in the line of duty. It changed her. Completely changed her. Not only did it effect her, it effected the comunity, the dead persons family. and her family. This person will never be the same.
Weapons are a deep and serious responsibility…and not everyone has the
aptitude for it. Jesus told Peter to put his sword away and healed a soliders ear. King David could not build a place for god because he was a warrior and had blood on his hands. Please be careful with this love of weapons you seem to have.

]]>