Guns Rn't Us
Preaching
Lions And Cows Dining Together
And 111 Other Sermon Ideas
Object:
Purpose Statement: We must explore whether guns are worth the cost of life and limb.
(Some readers will go "ballistic" over this message. But then, you still have 111 other palatable sermon ideas left that will make you one of the most popular preachers in town, unless one of your colleagues down the street also buys this book. However, that preacher may choose to use this sermon idea, and then you'll be back on top once more.) The scripture that seems appropriate is Matthew 26:52b, where Jesus says that if we use guns we will die by guns. He actually said swords, but I'm sure he meant guns. Since I am a Christian pacifist, you would expect my position to be one of anti-violence at every turn. However, this message is not concerned with war, but doing what will create the most responsible and safe circumstance for you, your family, and friends. That is one of the major concerns of the Christian: to be considerate of others and solicitous for their safety and well-being. Consequently the reason for this sermon is to offer another opportunity to do something to show love for others by our concern for their protection.
a. Why have guns? There are at least three reasons:
1. Hunting. There may be two reasons why we hunt: food and sport. Obviously we no longer need to hunt to eat. Regarding "sport," we all need to take a more serious look at what we are doing when we hunt. Do we enjoy killing life just for "sport"? An otherwise very good and sensitive person (we always hear: "he or she is a very good family person and a responsible citizen") will have certain weaknesses that need to be examined and rectified. Why does a person find satisfaction or enjoyment out of taking life? It would seem we could find greater satisfaction from hunting with a camera including just as much excitement and challenge. Photographs would make pleasant mementos instead of spoils afterward. Enhance your already sensitive side with becoming one with life and not destructive of life.
2. Protection. This almost seems a legitimate reason. Protection from what? Two enemies come to mind: intruders or criminals, and the government. Yes, I said government. There are gun owners who insist it is important to maintain an arsenal just in case the government comes to get you. I am still trying to tie this one in with patriotism and pride in our democracy. But don't we need to have a gun to keep robbers out of our homes and muggers from assaulting us on the streets? One statistic gleaned from the United Methodist magazine, The Interpreter, April 1988, (p. 32) tells us a study of FBI records revealed that our personal handgun is 118 times more likely to be used in a murder, suicide, or fatal accident than it will be used to kill a criminal! If odds mean anything to us, we are in greater danger of injuring or killing ourselves, a family member, or a friend, than in protecting our selves from criminals. Do you really keep a loaded gun accessible in your home?
3. Hobby. Gun collecting may be interesting, but there are certain things that simply cost too much to maintain. Do we want to pay such a high price in human life by keeping such destructive elements around us when they are superfluous and useless (similar to smoking, gambling, owning a vicious dog, or using alcohol)?
4. Adolescent defiance. "I have my rights!" (Okay, so don't use this one.)
b. Why not to have guns? If the above discussion hasn't moved you, then consider what Jesus may have meant when he said, "If you use the sword, you will die by the sword."
(Use statistics here that you gather from current research.)
1. The United States has more personal and private gun ownership than most any other country in the world, which should make us one the safest countries, yet we have far more personal violence with guns than any other country in the world. Our gun homicide rate (deaths per 100,000 people) is far higher than any other country in the world, and this does not include accidents with guns!
2. During the Vietnam war there were more than twice as many United States citizens killed with guns in our own country than in combat in Vietnam.
3. Guns are the fifth leading cause of death of our children in this country.
4. 92 percent of burglaries occur in unoccupied homes.
5. Homes are broken into to get guns! Roughly 80 percent of guns used by criminals are stolen from gun owners. It is the gun owners who are arming the criminals.
6. Studies show a woman carrying a gun in her purse for protection is more likely to have it used against her than to use it herself.
As Christians who love people and want a safer society, we should consider the abolition of guns, or at the least, greater gun control laws. We would not be entirely honest if we did not deal with Luke 22:35-38 where Jesus appears to instruct his followers to buy swords. This difficult passage (v. 37) is cryptic and perhaps full of sarcasms and exasperation. When two disciples say they have two swords, Jesus replies, "That is enough!" (note the exclamation point in the text) which also could be interpreted as, "Enough of this!" or "Enough, enough!" Is Jesus saying, "Stop being ridiculous; don't you understand what I am saying? I don't mean literally buy swords. What would you do with them? Don't you understand my ministry by now?" Remember the context of our text (Matthew 26:52).
(Some readers will go "ballistic" over this message. But then, you still have 111 other palatable sermon ideas left that will make you one of the most popular preachers in town, unless one of your colleagues down the street also buys this book. However, that preacher may choose to use this sermon idea, and then you'll be back on top once more.) The scripture that seems appropriate is Matthew 26:52b, where Jesus says that if we use guns we will die by guns. He actually said swords, but I'm sure he meant guns. Since I am a Christian pacifist, you would expect my position to be one of anti-violence at every turn. However, this message is not concerned with war, but doing what will create the most responsible and safe circumstance for you, your family, and friends. That is one of the major concerns of the Christian: to be considerate of others and solicitous for their safety and well-being. Consequently the reason for this sermon is to offer another opportunity to do something to show love for others by our concern for their protection.
a. Why have guns? There are at least three reasons:
1. Hunting. There may be two reasons why we hunt: food and sport. Obviously we no longer need to hunt to eat. Regarding "sport," we all need to take a more serious look at what we are doing when we hunt. Do we enjoy killing life just for "sport"? An otherwise very good and sensitive person (we always hear: "he or she is a very good family person and a responsible citizen") will have certain weaknesses that need to be examined and rectified. Why does a person find satisfaction or enjoyment out of taking life? It would seem we could find greater satisfaction from hunting with a camera including just as much excitement and challenge. Photographs would make pleasant mementos instead of spoils afterward. Enhance your already sensitive side with becoming one with life and not destructive of life.
2. Protection. This almost seems a legitimate reason. Protection from what? Two enemies come to mind: intruders or criminals, and the government. Yes, I said government. There are gun owners who insist it is important to maintain an arsenal just in case the government comes to get you. I am still trying to tie this one in with patriotism and pride in our democracy. But don't we need to have a gun to keep robbers out of our homes and muggers from assaulting us on the streets? One statistic gleaned from the United Methodist magazine, The Interpreter, April 1988, (p. 32) tells us a study of FBI records revealed that our personal handgun is 118 times more likely to be used in a murder, suicide, or fatal accident than it will be used to kill a criminal! If odds mean anything to us, we are in greater danger of injuring or killing ourselves, a family member, or a friend, than in protecting our selves from criminals. Do you really keep a loaded gun accessible in your home?
3. Hobby. Gun collecting may be interesting, but there are certain things that simply cost too much to maintain. Do we want to pay such a high price in human life by keeping such destructive elements around us when they are superfluous and useless (similar to smoking, gambling, owning a vicious dog, or using alcohol)?
4. Adolescent defiance. "I have my rights!" (Okay, so don't use this one.)
b. Why not to have guns? If the above discussion hasn't moved you, then consider what Jesus may have meant when he said, "If you use the sword, you will die by the sword."
(Use statistics here that you gather from current research.)
1. The United States has more personal and private gun ownership than most any other country in the world, which should make us one the safest countries, yet we have far more personal violence with guns than any other country in the world. Our gun homicide rate (deaths per 100,000 people) is far higher than any other country in the world, and this does not include accidents with guns!
2. During the Vietnam war there were more than twice as many United States citizens killed with guns in our own country than in combat in Vietnam.
3. Guns are the fifth leading cause of death of our children in this country.
4. 92 percent of burglaries occur in unoccupied homes.
5. Homes are broken into to get guns! Roughly 80 percent of guns used by criminals are stolen from gun owners. It is the gun owners who are arming the criminals.
6. Studies show a woman carrying a gun in her purse for protection is more likely to have it used against her than to use it herself.
As Christians who love people and want a safer society, we should consider the abolition of guns, or at the least, greater gun control laws. We would not be entirely honest if we did not deal with Luke 22:35-38 where Jesus appears to instruct his followers to buy swords. This difficult passage (v. 37) is cryptic and perhaps full of sarcasms and exasperation. When two disciples say they have two swords, Jesus replies, "That is enough!" (note the exclamation point in the text) which also could be interpreted as, "Enough of this!" or "Enough, enough!" Is Jesus saying, "Stop being ridiculous; don't you understand what I am saying? I don't mean literally buy swords. What would you do with them? Don't you understand my ministry by now?" Remember the context of our text (Matthew 26:52).
