Sept. 5, Deanna Hollas, Perkins alum now serving as coordinator of the Gun Violence Prevention ministry of the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship, for an op-ed calling for an end to gun violence. Published in The Hill: https://thehill.com/opinion/civil-rights/460194-what-god-gave-you-the-right-to-guns
On Aug. 31, Texas experienced its second mass shooting in as little as four weeks. Texas House Rep. Matt Schaefer responded to the call to “do something” on Twitter by saying he has no plans to support legislation that limits access to deadly weapons because it is a “God-given right.” I don’t know what god House Rep. Schaefer is referring to, but as a pastor, I can say it is not the god of Jesus.
Some form of Jesus’ command to love God and love thy neighbor appears in each of the four gospels. When something appears in all four gospels, it clues us in to the fact that this is a primary teaching. We think Jesus wasn’t clear about who we are to love, but he also tells us to love our enemies. This means that everyone is included in Jesus’ command to love. It is impossible to love another human when one is preparing to take up arms against them.