With todays current concealed carry laws, you would be surprised how many people in your church already are armed.

Mk8:34 - Blessed Easter my friend. Actually it's Sister not Brother.

I'm not making a judgment on owning or using guns. I'm simply saying that I personally would not attend a church where armed guards were used to protect the congregation. Unfortunately this decision has come out of practical experience. We had a mentally disturbed ex-member come into our church on several occasions and disrupt service. His actions became more and more erratic until finally one Sunday it escalated to a large number of police and violence. The church leaders needed to make a decision as to what kind of security to get and where to allow them to be (as in within the sanctuary etc) The members had to make personal decisions on how they felt concerning the security as well. After much consideration I knew that for myself I would and could trust only God, and could not worship in a church that did not do the same. This is obviously a decision that each of us need to make for ourselves, but as for myself I will trust myself to the Lord.

Bro. RBB., "Thier guns which stood by their sides".(in the church) <ditgital.library.upean.edu.
Part III Chapter 32 King Phillips War. I am not pushing for guns anywhere. But you cannot say
that it is unChristian to own and use them for defensive necessity .I could not go to a church
that would let deranged animals come in an ravage the flock. What is a shephard for.Even Jesus said "let these others go",Protecting the flock.

Mk8:34 - If you can see no difference between locking your doors and having someone bring weapons into the house of God there is nothing I can do about it. Guns have no place in God's sanctuary.

As for the Pilgrim fathers, I'd be interested in some kind of proof for what you're saying (and if they actually had them with them in the sanctuary or just brought them for protection on the road) Although even if it's true, it changes my mind not one bit. I trust that if it's God's will He will protect both me and my family, and if it's His will, then we may be killed. We are in God's hands and that is the only place I want to be.

Ok you of great faith take the locks off your doors, turn off your alarms and smoke detectors,and take an extra offering for your increased insurance rates.The pilgrim
fathers carried their guns to church.Cool!

I would never attend a church that had armed guards. The moment the church leadership made the decision to trust in firearms instead of God, I would hand in my resignation and not return.

Remember that the Body of Christ is the church, not the brick and mortar.

God lives in the inward Temple, not the building.

My honest first thought here?...
Romans comes to mind:
Rom 8:35-39 " Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? [shall] tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

So everyone is saying that we sit around and wait for the baddies to show up and gun us down. Like a bunch of sheep for slaughter. I guess we should also sit down and shut up and let the terrorist just bomb us. Hmm... If armed guards show a lack of trust in God then you better clear out your medicine cabinet since you must not be trusting Him there as well. While we are at it let's not run background checks on our children's workers. Let's allow only one person in church to handlle the offering receipts. Yes, trust God but use some common sense. I do think that it is God who gives us common sense.

Christians should feel safe when the worship but I think armed guards are a little much. In some churches, security may be needed (such as Mars Hill in Seattle) but that should not become the standard nor should they carry leathal force. Ushers should watch over the children and the other members of the congregation to keep them safe. We don't need guns in church. Trust God.

God bless,
Anthony
www.anthonymendoza.org

Remember that story about a couple of masked gunmen coming into a church and announcing that they are going to shoot all the Christians… people start running out the door, the choir, the associate minister, most of the congregation… 20 people are left in the room. The gunmen then take off their masks, and announce, Now we can begin service with the real Christians.

Armed guards at churches would kinda put a whole new twist on that story now wouldn’t it?

Imagine the story with the armed guards… Christians all over the place yelling, SHOOT THEM!!! Martyrdom just isn’t as glamorous as it used to be.

I don't know if this is the right thing to do or not, but armed guards seems to be a lack of trust in God.

The only weapon we are to carry is the Sword of the Spirit!