A "Mandate" or "Knee-Jerk" Reaction

In the following article on World Net Daily, Gary Cass, chairman of the Christian Anti-Defamation Commission, made the following statement;

Church shootings on rise in U.S. 'Leaders must be prepared to defend congregations'

"Self-defense is not just a right, but a Christian duty. Jesus told his followers, 'if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one,'" said Cass. "Christians are not to be a soft target for the hateful and deranged. Church leaders have a duty not to allow a crazed gunman to come and shoot up their congregation. Thank God for security officer Jeanne Assam and for New Life Church's security preparations."

This is a classic example of someone taking scripture out of context to try and make something that Jesus said to His disciples a mandate for all believers. Take a look at the whole conversation;

Luke 22:21-38 "But behold, the hand of the one betraying Me is with Mine on the table. "For indeed, the Son of Man is going as it has been determined; but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!"
And they began to discuss among themselves which one of them it might be who was going to do this thing. And there arose also a dispute among them as to which one of them was regarded to be greatest. And He said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who have authority over them are called 'Benefactors.' "But it is not this way with you, but the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant. "For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves. "You are those who have stood by Me in My trials; and just as My Father has granted Me a kingdom, I grant you that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel."Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers."
But he said to Him, "Lord, with You I am ready to go both to prison and to death!" And He said, "I say to you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know Me."
And He said to them, "When I sent you out without money belt and bag and sandals, you did not lack anything, did you?" They said, "No, nothing." And He said to them, "But now, whoever has a money belt is to take it along, likewise also a bag, and whoever has no sword is to sell his coat and buy one. “For I tell you that this which is written must be fulfilled in Me, 'AND HE WAS NUMBERED WITH TRANSGRESSORS'; for that which refers to Me has its fulfillment."
They said, "Lord, look, here are two swords." And He said to them, "It is enough."

Now, maybe it’s just me but I don’t see (or hear) Jesus instructing all of the disciples (the new CHURCH LEADERSHIP) to go out and make sure they all buy a sword to defend themselves. If anything, that was going to be the exception because He had already told them that many of them were going to suffer persecution and death all for His Names sake.........minutes before;

Luke 21:815 And He said, "See to it that you are not misled; for many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He,' and, 'The time is near.' Do not go after them. "When you hear of wars and disturbances, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end does not follow immediately."
Then He continued by saying to them, "Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be great earthquakes, and in various places plagues and famines; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven."But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for My name's sake. "It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony. "So make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves; for I will give you utterance and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute. (emphasis added)

So what’s it going to be…………….what is going to be YOUR testimony to this world as they watch on the evening news. This writer has to disagree with Mr. Cass, I don’t think we should have armed security guards as part of our witness (martyr in the Greek) to this world who needs to see the "real" Jesus. The Jesus that was willing to lay His life down so that the world would have a chance to be saved from the penalty of sin. He passed this onto His Church.......that He is building......

G3144 μάρτυς martus mar'-toos
Of uncertain affinity; a witness (literally [judicially] or figuratively [generally]); by analogy a “martyr”: - martyr, record, witness.

Yet another "spirit" thing

The following excerpt was taken from;

Colorado Church Gunman Sought Revenge After He Was Kicked Out of Missionary Training


"It appears that the suspect had been kicked out of the program three years prior and during the past few weeks had sent different forms of hate mail to the program and-or its director," police said.
KUSA-TV in Denver reported late Monday that Murray posted several rants on a Web site for people who have left evangelical religious groups. The most recent post was on Sunday morning.
According to the station, which did not identify the site, Murray wrote, "I'm coming for EVERYONE soon and I WILL be armed to the @#%$ teeth and I WILL shoot to kill. ...God, I can't wait till I can kill you people. Feel no remorse, no sense of shame, I don't care if I live or die in the shoot-out. All I want to do is kill and injure as many of you ... as I can especially Christians who are to blame for most of the problems in the world."
According to KUSA, if the time on the posting is accurate, it was posted after the 12:30 a.m. shooting Sunday morning in Arvada and before the 1:10 p.m. Sunday afternoon shooting in Colorado Springs.
After the events of the past couple of weeks there really seems to be no doubt now that the spirits of murder and suicide have been poured out in abundance upon this nation. There is also no doubt that the things Jesus said were take place before His return are coming about ………..right on His schedule.

Matthew 24:8-13 "But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs. "Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. "At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. "Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. "Because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold. "But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.

We must make absolutely sure we are following the right Jesus and listening to the right Spirit! We must also make absolutely sure we are presenting the right Jesus and follow up in discipleship to make absolutely sure they receive the right Spirit. It was obvious in this young man's so-called "Christian" walk that he was deceived by the wrong spirit...........and wound up doing that "spirit's" bidding.

"Packin" for Jesus !!!!

In light of the church shootings in Colorado yesterday I would imagine by now that the great theological minds of our time are set to debate. Church administrators (who don’t usually have Mondays off) are searching out former TSA workers to bolster their staff. Businesses are already considering the great expansion of metal detection equipment and x-ray machines set up in church foyers. Pulpit manufacturers have their plans for the “shield”, and pews are being fitted with armor plating behind the fancy, soft cushions. Our major automobile manufactures are pressing their design teams to come up with the “ultimate in safety” minivan for Christian families to drive to and from church, complete with bullet proof glass, armor plating & GPS tracking, And of course, for that long walk to and from the sanctuary, the fully armed, former SWAT team member, “security” employee in his high speed, armor plated golf cart.

Now this may sound a bit “out there”, but with the progression of events that we see happening all around us today I truly wonder……. where does it all end in regard to “peace and safety”! Paul reminded his readers within the “church” at Thessalonica that these days were coming;

1 Thessalonians 5:3 While they are saying, "Peace and safety!" then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.

He also reminded them of something else;

1 Thessalonians 5:4-6 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.

Paul was writing and speaking to them as one who knew what he was talking about. If there was anyone in scripture who could have used “security” personnel with him on his travels it was Paul.

2 Corinthians 11:24-28 Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches.

But, I venture to say, he had the greatest “security” Person with him 24/7, just like his brother David;

Psalm 4:8 In peace I will both lie down and sleep, For You alone, O LORD, make me to dwell in safety.

Now I ask you………..how far will you go for “peace & safety”. And who is your “peace and safety” guy?

Think about it! And then think about taking a risk and “being the church” instead of searching out the ultimate “safe” church to “go to”.

Are you “packin” your bag for Jesus………or are you “packin” something else!

Could it be a "spirit thing".....ya think!

As we awoke this morning we were greeted with the big question;

What Drove Young Killer To Commit Mall Slaughter?

I am quite sure that this will be the main topic of all the TV news casts and radio talk shows in the hours to come. They will of course bring all of their so called “psychological experts” in and banter back and forth as to what mental condition this young man suffered from. They will discuss his upbringing, his social skills (or lack thereof) and, of course, any medications he has been on in his short 19 years of life. But, in light of 2 Timothy 3, I am wondering if so much of what we are seeing could be a direct result of the evil spirits we have allowed to operate pretty much unabated within our so-called Christian society (and I use the term “Christian” very loosely). Take a look at what Paul foresaw of the conditions man would be in as we got close to the “last days”;


2 Timothy 3:1-5 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.

Now if you take every one of these character traits and let them run their course in a person’s life you will have a pretty messed up individual. However, you interject some of these “spirits” into the mix and you come up with circumstances like happened in Omaha.

Let’s take “lovers of self” and stretch it out a bit. You begin by allowing your focus to be shifted off of God & His Word and onto yourself (remember, Paul is writing about so-called “Christians” here, “holding to a form of godliness”). Once the focus is shifted then you give opportunity for spirits to influence your thought processes (remember, the battle is in the mind, or physique). Once spirits have access they can run their course until they get their final results, which is usually death of the one being influenced and perhaps even some innocent individuals around him or her. Abortion is a classic example of this. A woman gets her focus off of “Truth” and puts it on “self”. This will run its course until something (or someone) gets in the way……..like a BABY! Once the mind has become so influenced that you become the center of all things, then spirits will take the opportunity to give you an alternative to your situation……….which results in murder…….of the BABY, Once the murder is accomplished then these same spirits convince the person that “it’s just a blob of cells” or “it’s your god given right to choose what you do with your body” (you will notice I used a small “g”). The result is that the baby’s “GOD given right to life” was over trumped by her “god given right to self”. If these "spirits" do their thing well they will then heap huge amounts of guilt on the woman until she ends her own life to end her mental (physique) torment. If it wasn't for God's grace intervening I personally believe there would be a suicide for every abortion taking place today.

One of the most “selfish” acts in our current society is suicide. I just wonder how much of the young shooter’s physique had been influenced by these “spirits”of murder & suicide. And, as we see this pattern being unfolded almost every day now, where will it end.

I can’t even imagine the number of “spirits” that have been poured out on our decadent society…………and what these spirits are capable of……….and what’s to come before Jesus returns to put these “spirits” in their “place”.