This morning before attending the church service, I came across an article published in the “Wall Street Journal (WSJ),” with the headline “This Sunday, Some Churchgoers May Choose to Pack Guns with Their Bibles.” After hearing this shocking news, I started contemplating as to why this kind of panic seeped through Christians who believe in the Word of God?
Last year during the 45th Presidential election, we came across the shocking news that created some kind of confusion among registered voters, like me. As a result, I ended up writing my first book titled “American Confused To Vote.” In context to one of the chapters’ I cited known quotes of Benjamin Franklin, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, stating that “Those who surrender freedom for security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.” In my opinion “freedom,” that is, state of being free is a privilege given by God, and we should not abuse rather preserve it. In other words, which one has the power, a weapon or the Word of God? The discussion on this subject boiled down to one’s “faith and trust in the living God.”
I noticed that today’s WSJ published news can be a debatable issue for some, especially in the church leadership. Fear of weapon, rather than fear of God! Word versus sword! Contrasting and thought-provoking issue. I think these days, for the most part, we forget to address the deeper social and family issues. In other words, instead of treating the real disease we’re trying to treat the symptom.
What is the real disease? I think Apostle Paul diagnosed this disease and stated that “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places (Eph. 6:12 NIV).” Even Jesus Christ made it very clear by stating that “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it (Jn. 8:45 NKJV).”
Is there any treatment for this disease? Yes, the Great Physician, God of the Bible has already prescribed the dosage, which is His word. “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Heb.4:12 NKJV).”
Yes, “Word” is more powerful than a sword or weapon. Let it be our daily prayer that His word can heal the broken hearts so that we can avoid the fear of evil. I admire His servants who first provided this Word to our families.