In the News
In the early hours of last Sunday morning, a man appeared at the door of the Youth With A Mission missionary center in Arvada, Colorado. He soon opened fire, killing two young staff members and injuring two others, one critically. He then fled the scene. Police attempted to track him through the fresh snow using dogs, but lost his trail in a heavily tracked area.
About 11 hours later, as parishioners were leaving New Life Church in Colorado Springs, some 80 miles from the missionary center, a gunman opened fire on people in the parking lot, killing two teenage sisters and wounding their father. The shooter then entered the church, where he was shot by a member of the church with law enforcement experience who was working as one of several volunteer security guards for the congregation. After being dropped by the guard's bullets, the assailant fatally shot himself.
It was subsequently learned that the shooter in both incidents was the same man, Matthew Murray, who had a history of strange behavior. He had once been a participant at the missionary center, where he was dropped from a mission trip because of issues of either health or behavior (reports vary). He had no known connection to the New Life Church, but between the two attacks, he posted angry statements on the Internet threatening Christians and saying that they "are to blame for most of the problems of the world." His victims appear to be randomly chosen.
The guard who stopped Murray was Jeanne Assam, who said she ran toward the shooting, indentified herself, engaged him, and then took him down with several shots. "It seemed like it was me, the gunman and God," Assam said. She later extended her sympathy to the families of the victims "and the gunman -- and I mean that very sincerely," she said.
The church's senior pastor, Brady Boyd, said that the church had instituted additional security measures after hearing about the shootings at the missionary center. He called Assam a hero. "She probably saved over a hundred lives," Brady said. The gunman was heavily armed and had as many as 1,000 rounds of ammunition with him.
A press release from the church made it clear that Assam was not a hired outsider but "a volunteer -- this is a person that comes to our church and is a worshiper here. We have two services -- so she sits in one service and worships, and then serves in the second service as security many times."
More on this story may be found at these links:
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22914780-5012748,00.html
http://www.kcci.com/news/14829814/detail.html
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/12/11/shooter.youth/index.html
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/12/10/colorado.shootings/index.html?iref=newssearch
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/12/opinion/12wed3.html?_r=2&th&emc=th&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
http://www.newlifechurch.org/nln.jsp?id=20 (click on "Download PDF of 9 a.m. press conference here")
http://ywam.org/articles/article.asp?AID=493&bhcp=1
The Advisory Team Discussion
The Wired Word Advisory Team is comprised of subscriber volunteers who through e-mail discussion, help pick the stories to cover in each weekly installment. They represent several different denominations and are a mix of lay people and clergy. This week, the church shootings really struck a nerve. Here is some of the debate:
Member 1: I just saw the item about the killings ... in Colorado. That is tragic, and raises the specter of guns and security at churches. ... should we have security guards in churches packing iron? ... Should the church kill the gunman in the narthex? Or leave that to the police?
Member 2: It seems to me that the matter of having security guards at churches packing iron is simply a concession to the world as it is. ... Last year, at my church, a stranger came into our building during the worship hour and wandered into our nursery and junior church area where children were being taught. His movements were suspicious and he appeared to be up to no good. A man from our congregation ended up heading him off and sending him on his way, but we realized that we had to take measures to ensure the safety of our children and teachers. We now lock all our doors during the worship hour except the one at the back of the sanctuary. We put signs on the other doors directing latecomers to the sanctuary door. Obviously this would not stop a determined gunman, but not having all our doors unlocked does seem justified given the state of things today.
Member 3: Shouldn't we be asking why Americans are simply going along with "the world has changed" rather than adding armed guards? Why isn't the church looking at and speaking to the issues of poverty, domestic violence, illiteracy and other social ills which have increased and contribute to mental illness, alcohol and drug abuse, and violence?
Member 4: I think the church HAS been quite vocal in addressing these issues … In [my denomination] it's the only banjo we're playing these days. I'm not in the mood to be blaming the church for the escalation of violence in America or blaming the United States for the violence in the world, for that matter. And I see a discussion like this sliding right into the question of whether violence is EVER justified. The person who says "no" would then have to tell me that if the intruder came after his daughter he would not plug him between the eyes without the slightest hesitation.
One further note: I predict that churches will soon become the venue of choice for deranged killers. We were shocked when Columbine happened -- a school. Now it's old news. Then it's malls. Next -- to go out in a shocking blaze of glory, it's going to take a slaughter in the sanctuary to really create the next media monster …. It's going to happen in some more churches, big time.
Member 5: Isn't this all the more reason for us to discuss the point of security in church? The one place where God's love greets us -- to be replaced by a security guard packing iron! I would rather trust in God's grace than resort to a measure appropriate in the world in God's House!
Member 6: We should put ourselves in the shoes of those who were in that parking lot. ... Some of those ... who were unharmed may feel that God placed that armed security guard there to protect them. If violence increases in our churches ..., how many people who fill our churches each week are willing to risk becoming martyrs? Or to allow their children to become martyrs?
Member 3: I think this makes my point. Instead of saying "it's going to happen" we should be asking why is it happening and be heralds of good news to transform and change a society in pain and out of control.
Member 4: On the face of it, that sounds like a good approach. My problem with it is that it implies that the church is NOT already doing this now; it suggests that the church is NOT asking why it's happening and that the church is NOT heralding the news "to transform and change a society in pain and out of control" and I just don't see that that view reflects the reality … The church IS in fact doing a ton of this kind of reflection and "heralding …"
Member 1: This was not a random act, nor was it a terrorist act. Mr. Murray had a history with Youth With A Mission, and Rev. Brady acknowledges that they were on alert. The guy was posting on the Web for weeks beforehand. Should someone have reported those rants to the police? If they were reported, was anything done? ...
We are foolish to believe that firearms in church will solve the problem. That just creates another level of danger for everyone. We watch and are careful, we seek to prevent problems from arising, and we do everything we can to be peacemakers. Dr. King died being a peacemaker. But those who were there that day and those who served with him have continued his message of non-violence. Why should we do less?
Member 7: In our system of justice, even if the police had been notified, would that have made a difference? Too many restraining orders, laws, etc. are ignored by those intent on causing harm. I had a member who is a state trooper in my office on Monday who said that churches, hospitals, libraries and schools in small towns and rural communities are fooling themselves if they hold to the notion that it can't happen here.
I was not surprised when on the heels of the Omaha mall shooting, letters to the editor in Nebraska papers were filled with those advocating sidearms for everyone. I shudder to think of the mayhem in a church if folks started pulling out uzis if the sermon goes too long.
Member 8: I heard on the news last night that the gunman shot himself. ... the security guard "brought him down" with a gunshot, but the shooter then killed himself. ... It sheds a slightly better light on the situation, I think. ... And I think the church context ... heightens those questions of whether we are to represent a different reality where no one hurts or destroys. But I appreciated the comment someone else made, that there were surely those who felt God's hand had protected them BECAUSE the security guard took action.
A couple of years ago we implemented a Child & Youth Protection Policy that provides for background checks on those who work with youth and children, waiting periods, two people in classrooms, etc. This is a protection against dangers that are less about emergency but more about insidious entry into the life of the congregation by those who would prey upon the young. ... it would be irresponsible not to take these actions. ...
Our doors ARE unlocked on Sunday morning -- all around the church. A current [denominational] slogan is "Open hearts. Open minds. Open doors." As we come to terms with the realities [of the church shootings], isn't it interesting to wonder whether any of those things are true ...?
The Big Questions
1. Is it true that high-profile mega-churches have a greater security risk than small, rural churches?
2. Do you think that churches are likely to be the next venue of choice for people seeking to make a murderous statement? Why or why not?
3. How do our concerns for security in this life mesh with our Christian belief in eternal security?
4. How do we minister to those who are disturbed and have access to firearms?
5. In general, should churches routinely employ armed security personnel? Why or why not? How does this square with our mission to take the gospel to all the world?
Confronting the News with Scripture
Here are some Bible verses to guide our discussion:
Psalm 84:10
"I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than live in the tents of wickedness." (For context, read 84:1-12.)
We think this verse is especially pertinent to today's discussion. The psalmist was writing in praise of the temple as the "dwelling place of God," the location where divine worship took place. Apparently the psalmist was not able to be at worship in the temple as often as he would have liked, and so he longed for it, recognizing worship of the Lord there as the ultimate source of strength and joy. Such was the draw of this house of the living God that the psalmist said he would rather be there even in a position of service to the temple -- a doorkeeper -- than live in the self-serving way of the wicked.
The duty of the temple doorkeeper is described in 2 Kings 12:9 as "guarding the threshold" of the temple. It seems to us that that is exactly what Ms. Assam was doing at the New Life Church last Sunday. The fact that she was an active member of the church on volunteer duty and not a paid mercenary further aligns her with the intent of this psalmist's statement.
Questions: Ability to "provide security" does not appear in any of the New Testament lists of spiritual gifts that the God places within various members for the good of the church. Should it be added? Why or why not?
Isaiah 11:9
"They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea." (For context, read 11:1-9.)
For ancient Judah, God's "holy mountain" was Zion, the hill upon which the temple sat. But here, the prophet Isaiah endows the term with a wider meaning, the dawning of a great new age when God's reign would be recognized by the whole world. Subsequently, Christians have taken this verse and the passage in which it occurs as a prophecy of the kingdom of God yet to come.
And "yet to come" are the crucial words here. In that kingdom, no security will be necessary because "they will not hurt or destroy" there. But that kingdom has not yet come, and thus, in the Lord's Prayer, we continue to pray for its advent: "Thy kingdom come."
Questions: Since we are still this side of the kingdom, how should we apply this verse to our churches? To our daily lives?
Matthew 10:28
“Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” (For context, read 10:1, 16-31.)
This verse is part of a passage where Jesus is preparing the Twelve to go out on a teaching and healing mission throughout Palestine. As part of their preparation, Jesus warns them about persecution they may encounter. Jesus assures them that those who, despite persecution, remain faithful to the end "will be saved" (verse 22). That is, though they may not be rescued from the persecution, their spiritual survival is guaranteed. That eventually leads to the comment in verse 28, that the disciples should not focus on temporal fears, but instead have an eye on eternity.
In the context of the text, Jesus' remarks are aimed at helping these disciples fulfill their mission of proclaiming the gospel. He did not want them to hesitate to speak out due to fear of bearing public witness. It essence, however, Jesus' comment is about preferring eternal security over temporal security when the two are in conflict.
Questions: In what ways do Jesus' remarks to his disciples speak to our fears about earthbound threats?
Hebrews 13:2
"Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it." (For context, read 13:1-6.)
Biblical admonitions such as this one from Hebrews make it difficult for churches to lock their doors. We do want to be seen as places of open hearts and open doors.
A couple of things about the verse above, however: First, most biblical scholars believe that the "strangers" the writer had in mind were traveling Christians, not necessarily the general public. Second, if that is the case, then the reason the writer felt it necessary to include this admonition was likely because the atmosphere of suspicion created by opposition to and persecution of Christians in some parts of the Roman Empire made some Christians reluctant to extend hospitality. They may have feared that instead of entertaining angels, they were opening their doors to "devils," persons with the intent to do harm.
Question: How does your church balance the wish to be hospitable and have open doors with the need to keep everyone inside safe?
Matthew 10:16
"See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves." (For context, read 10:1, 16-31.)
This is another part of Jesus' talk to the Twelve in preparing them to go out on a teaching and healing mission throughout Palestine. He is quite frank in telling them he is sending them into danger -- "sheep in the midst of wolves" -- but he sends them nonetheless. But he adds that while their innocence should be obvious, their sense of caution and alertness to what is going on around them should remain on duty.
We live in a dangerous world. We need to work to transform it, absolutely, but to quote Jesus, we are sometimes sheep in the midst of wolves, and thus we need to be innocent as doves but also wise as serpents.
Question: Does being "wise as serpents" ever mean employing security guards packing iron?
Questions for Further Discussion
1. Violence in churches is not a new thing. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s mother was shot and killed as she played the organ at an evening service at his father's church 30 years ago. Other shootings in churches have taken place in recent years. Does this symbolize a trend or has there always been some risk in going to church?
2. What do you think are the odds that you will be shot at church? Now, compare your answer to the odds that you will be shot at home or by someone you know. People who track such things report that about 78 percent of those who are murdered are killed by someone they know or are related to. What does this suggest?
3. Respond to this statement (additionally from the Advisory Team discussion): "I doubt we can ever transform society enough to recognize every person who is descending into mental illness, paranoia, or who is hearing voices (the shooter last Sunday reportedly had) or has a huge chip on his shoulder or is a sociopath (think Columbine's Eric Harris) and get them help or get them to cooperate with help once their need is recognized. And we have few mechanisms for locking dangerous people away or forcing them into treatment before they have actually done anything threatening others. "
4. Respond to this statement (additionally from the Advisory Team discussion): "When we tire of the violence, we will take measures to stop it. America is not tired of disturbed people using guns to kill their children and citizens. Everyone complains about the violence, but no one does anything about it -- and the problem is not that the church has not lifted up its voice. Americans aren't willing -- yet -- to stop the violence."
5. Respond to other material in the Advisory Team discussion recorded earlier in this lesson.
Closing Prayer
O God, we ask that your comfort
be given in abundance to the families of those killed by last Sunday's gunman.
We pray for the recovery of those wounded in the incidents. We thank you for
the courage of the "doorkeeper" who brought the rampage to an end. We pray for
the safety of all places of worship, but we also ask that you will help us as
congregations of believers to never let our fear of potential danger deter us
from doing your will, sharing our faith, helping those who are oppressed or
in need and loving our neighbor. In Jesus' name. Amen.