I was reading about the shooting at the mega church in the States Sunday night thinking how sad it is that these types of things are happening more & more often.
One part of the story struck me though - the shooter at the church was himself shot & killed by an "armed security guard".
What does it say about our society when a church has to employ armed security guards for their meetings??
15 comments:
Yeah. I thought that too.
On second thought, I have to apologize to that church for thinking poorly of them and their people for having an armed guard on duty at the church.
If CF ever gets a membership of 10,000(7,000 of whom show up at an evening service !!) and I get to keep my head usher job - I definately want an armed guard (maybe 2)while I am in custody of all those collection plates.
My mind boggles at what a church that size must collect each week!!
It's a sad when things like these happen. I can recall when we were in the Tivoli, as an usher, we had to do double duty as bouncers at times. Especially when the street people started drinking and dealing drugs in the washroom and steeling the pucks in the urinal. They would melt those down and drink them too. Fond memories. Our mens group was 70 strong, so we had lot's of backup. You're right Bob, if we had 10,000 members an armed guard would almost be a necessity, or 10 guys with black belts in karate!
Oh! by the way Bob, I don't have your email and I have started my own blog if you are interested in visiting. It's www.gimmeapieceourmind.blogspot.com
PS... I put yours as a link on mine.
Dougie - nice pic of the boxer.
is that a hint for Santa??
I wish Bob. Actually I haven't figured out yet how to get my picture on this thing yet. That's my next challenge. The boxer was the only one I had on file and I'm not sure how I got that there. He is a fine specimen, but he ain't me!
I'm hoping Patti or somebody can show me how to do pictures.
Its that kind of a world, unfortunately. The ideas of security, privacy, safety are all in the forefront now and area increasingly in need of protection. There is no lack of miscreants who are very willing to use every means possible to take advantage of, cheat, steal, hurt, damage and even kill. Jesus said it would get worse before He returned. Yeah, people can joke and laugh about those who uphold the ideals of security, privacy and safety, at least until theirs has been threatened and then its a whole new crusade.
Dad, I bet a church that size doesn't collect as much as you think.
And I think that if you're arming your ushers you're also probably a bit too into yourself.
Yes, it is sad that someone died in a church.. but it is even sadder that the church returned fire.
Anonymous.......
I hear what you are saying. Security, privacy and safety are very important, but we can't allow pursuit of these things to so fill us with fear and trepidation that we become isolated from society and detained within the four walls of our own home. I know people like this in our own city of Toronto, for heavens sake. They are afraid to go out at night.
Working in public transit, I'm a sitting duck for terrorists. Our security people are always putting up warnings ( there's one up now on the clerks wicket where we sign in,asking us to look out for strange packages) There is also a threat of disgruntled employees going off half-cocked and shooting people. That happens in large companies that tend to be impersonal in their employee relations.
If I let all this stuff bother me, I could never enjoy a days peace or work. There comes a time when you have to submit to God and just let him take care of the details. If he wants me home, I'm going home, If he wants me here, I ain't going anywhere no matter what the threats are. My life is in his hands, so it's his responsibility what he does with it.
That gives me peace.
A note of clarification ... The church does not arm it's ushers. The usher was an individual legally licensed to carry a fire arm, and chose to use it on that day. That would be life in America.
It's sad that the usher found themselves at the point of needing to use it.
Further clarificaion:
If I was involved in a church that large I wouldn't arm the ushers but I think I would like some kind of security once all the offering had been gathered together.
That's got to be a substanial amount & someone's going to be tempted sooner or later.
I think I'd rather be shot in the church doing something than shot while NOT doing something.
Perhaps I just have no frame of reference for a church collecting that much money, but I still think it is disgusting that the church returned fire.
Whatever happened to "turn the other cheek"? That just for suckers?
I hear what you are saying dougie g and I agree with you. Finding a balance in all of this is the key and the Lord certainly provides us with that balance. The Lord also advised us to be wise, even shrewd as serpents but harmless as doves. So a balance in how we apply principles of security, privacy, safety, etc., is probably something Bob is trying to point out. It must be a real challenge in very large churches. I recall we had an incident last year when it was discovered that a known sex offender started to attend Crossfire and the leadership made a decision to involve police and ask the offender to leave and not attend crossfire any longer. That incident addressed the principles of security, protection, safety and privacy for the children and others in the congregation.
Yes, if we have done everything we can do to make a safe environment for everyone and leave the rest up to God, then I think we have that balance. It's not possible to account for every eventuality, which is why it is necessary to exersise our faith when we have done all we can do.
I guess those that cannot or will not have faith in God must have a continual lack of peace. Not a nice state to be in.
Hi Bob, I have put my response on my blog...
One Gunman, One Woman and a Growing List of Victims
Someday I will figure out how to do trackbacks the proper way.
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