Guns in Church?

I get and support the right to bear arms and I do not pretend to know what the church members and their families are going through, but when I read, see, hear about churches informing us (in the media or via signs on their doors) that their staff and/or membership is armed and will use force, I wonder where we are placing our faith? Are we making proper use of our "talents" to borrow from today's liturgy. Are we burying it, like the third servant did, out of fear (real or perceived)? Because we see our circumstance through the lens of fear and anger that created it, should we respond from that same place? I wonder.

Should we, instead, engage in real, most likely hard, conversations about how we handle fear within the context of the One in whom we believe? "All are welcome to the Table, but know that there are members of at the table who will visit violence upon you instead of love?" "Love conquers all but here is a weapon, just in case?" If we are not demonstrating grace in the midst of our fears, then what is the point of faith? Maybe the better question is: in Whom or or what is it placed?

For me, here is the question that I come back to-that I always come back to as a person who is called to "be in the the world but not of the world": If might makes right, is there room for love in the world?

What does it say about us (followers of Christ) when we place a sign that says "we have guns and we will use them on you..." at the entrance to a building where we worship the One who both showed us and told us to "love our enemies... bless those who persecute you"? The One who spent His time with criminals... and loved them. It seems to me that the hard part-where it matters most, is trying to see Christ in all, even and especially those who need Him most. Our fellow "good thieves" who we may see again in Paradise. 

Are there conversations about this happening beyond the meme and sound-bite level in our churches and faith communities? Are we struggling to meet this through the lens of Christ?

I truly hope so.