I suspect that this will not be a popular post, but some things have to be said.

Like many of you, I’m tired of responding to shootings with “thoughts and prayers,” but that’s the best option I have available, especially if it prompts us to put pressure on our elected representatives.

I’ve heard some talk of we need more people going to church armed, but I don’t think that’s the solution. Given that this Church was in Texas, I’m fairly sure that at least one person in attendance was armed, and it didn’t do any good. Furthermore, even if someone was armed and managed to respond, that would just mean more shots being fired and more innocent bystanders coming to harm. Just because someone has a concealed carry permit doesn’t mean they have the training to respond to a shooter. And then when the police arrive they have no way of knowing the difference between the “good guy with a gun” and the “bad guy with a gun.” And in addition to that, we have the example of Jesus’s own rebuke of the sword drawn in his defense.

I think instead it might be beneficial to recover the model of the Christian martyr. Christ called us to take up our cross and follow him. Our faith is worth dying for and dying in the act of worship certainly counts as dying for the faith. Some early Christians were so taken by the idea of martyrdom that the early church had to declare that martyrdom was not to be actively sought. I agree with that, but there are far worse ways to go than being shot in the act of worship. Those who died in the Sutherland Springs Baptist Church died for their faith and for that I honor them. That will be of little solace to their families and close friends, but it is all I have to offer.

Note: I’ve never had an issue with law enforcement officers coming to church armed (especially when they are on duty).