"Brick - thanks for the offer, but I think I would cry and run away at the site of a gun. Not ever interested ever. Sorry.My previous response employed the traditional tools of rhetoric (logos, pathos, and ideals). I tried to appeal to her sense of right/wrong, attempted to tug at her emotions, and reason with her.
If God's will is for me to be gone tomorrow because I couldn't protect myself in a bad situation and the lesson that other's learn from my death is strong that I would be completely at peace with my life and the blessings that he provided along the way.
Again - this is a long time stand. Nothing recent has changed or grown my statements from last week. My statement to my husband 13 years ago was that I could never live in a home with a gun - ever.
I value my friends' opinions and everyone's rights to carry as the laws allow today. Everyone has an opinion and a right to feel safe.
Thanks for sharing everyone -"
But it is hard to argue with faith. I understand her point, but I can't believe God wouldn't want me to protect my family if I had the option. I went so far as to look for Biblical support for my stance. I found several verses and interpretations that support my view. Being fair and balanced, I searched for counter-arguments and found several including the official position of the United Methodist Church on guns. (More on that in a later post.)
I decided that I would not reply to her. I appreciate that she did, but I felt like we were just in two different places in our beliefs and faith. Neither one of us is ready to be swayed. I will continue to study this issue.
I found the closing line of this analysis of the question to be most compelling:
ReplyDeleteTheologians J. P. Moreland and Norman Geisler say that "to permit murder when one could have prevented it is morally wrong. To allow a rape when one could have hindered it is an evil. To watch an act of cruelty to children without trying to intervene is morally inexcusable. In brief, not resisting evil is an evil of omission, and an evil of omission can be just as evil as an evil of commission. Any man who refuses to protect his wife and children against a violent intruder fails them morally."
God's will was for us to have free will, and he made it pretty clear the importance and value of that gift to us... But, if folks want to throw it away, I suppose that is their choice. I feel kind of bad for her husband and any kids she might have, though...
A kindred spirit I see.
ReplyDeleteShe has a young daughter as I do. I can't imagine letting anything happen to my child or wife. I will defend them to the best of my ability, but, before it comes to that, I will make every effort to get away from any bad situations. I am not high speed, low drag. I would lose more fights than I would win, but a gun gives me options and options increase my chances.
I am also 100% with you on the free will. It drives me crazy when people let themselves be victims. I've scored high on internal locas of control when taking various psychological instruments as part of leadership training. Even if I don't have direct control, I firmly believe that I can, at least, influence the outcome.
Thanks for the comment and link.