What does a Christian do with an AK-47?
I was checking out the No Greater Joy website and while I was reading an article, and you can imagine my reaction when I read the following:
They have stayed up at night with AK-47s and guarded missionary compounds to the sound of gunfire…
Recovering the Skills of Manhood
Before I comment, here is a site describing the AK-47, http://kalashnikov.guns.ru/models/ka50.html. So, as can be easily seen, this weapon is first and foremost a military weapon that can shoot up to 400 rounds per minute. Definitely not something you would use to hunt dear. Now, I sent an email to No Greater Joy asking if the guns were loaded and what they were planning to do with the weapons, but I got no response.
So my question is this, what is a Christian man doing with a military assault rifle that can fire up to 400 rounds per minute? Is he going to use it to scare away any potential threats or does he plan on annihilating all intruders? I thought we were in a spiritual warfare, where we fight against the spirit of darkness and not a literal warfare, where if an enemy invades, we slaughter them, military style?
December 15th, 2006 at 12:47 pm
*edited to fix hyperlink*
Dear Brandon
I read your comments on the AK47 and went to the website, there I looked some further and I was impressed by all profound wisdom and experience of this christian couple
It takes some time to evaluate the background of a person’s writings, and sometimes we can not imagine or appreciate the circumstances that led to the behaviour we have questions about.
Remember the missionairies in the storie which was put in a film: the end of the spear. They had guns for deterriation or self-defense, they decided not to use them. You know the end. But there have allways been some christians in harms way, that were havin arms and used it. May we have the grace to not resist evil, as the Lord commanded.
People who are in their circumstances knows what is costs to go without. We are now communicting on the internet, no physical harm threatening us. We do not need a gun next to us to shoot in defense, would we if the building is attacked by the natives of our country who do not practice the teachings on self-defense or our Lord Jesus Christ?
Maybe the AK-47 would frighten natives of the said country, like you suggested, like it would deter animals?
But if there would be killing patrols which would avoid the compound when they would hear AK47’s ( not knowing they would not be actually used to kill?)
Meanwhile, there is 40 years of teaching and training which this writer has behind him, you all lose the good which is in it, if you stare on the story of the AK-47.
He wrote an amazing article on how to speak with young christian men wanting to get better aquainted with his daughters
No Greater Joy article
I would no mind if all christian dads would be as protective and shielding the treasures he is responsible for like this man.
Also on this site great solid advice how to discipline from childhood, just read it.
I see a lot of discernment sites , investigation sites , and instead of keeping what is good, they are putting their site so full with what is bad, that we are inundated with the bad, instead of being confronted whith all that is true and worthy, pure and rightous, what is of good report and lovely, all that is virtuous and deserves praise.
I think above writer has a lot of good things on his site, also I pray you will find a virtuous fellowship soon. God bless you
Eric
flooded with the good, and with the good I mean the sound, biblical, pure, teaching and instructions of
God bless you
December 19th, 2006 at 12:17 pm
Brandon, I know this man only all too well. My strong hunch is that these weapons are fully loaded. Michael Pearl often teaches young boys to handle real weapons, which I think is a great thing.
However, as Eric encouraged you not to throw the baby out with the bath water, I would also encourage you and your readers to be VERY cautious when reading Michael Pearl’s teachings. You will find that he has some harsh teachings if you do not believe exactly like he does, especially if you happen to be Reformed. He has a “ministry” to runaway kids from Reformed families to un-”brainwash” them from the theology their parents taught them. He seriously undermines the authority of the parents on one hand, while simultaneously teaching on the importance of the authority of the parents on the other. Be careful.
That is only one example. There are many more. However, I do think his overall message of child training is excellent, and he has helped our family in many areas. (Likewise, he has hurt our family with some of his teachings as well.)
December 19th, 2006 at 1:32 pm
Thanks Eric and Jen for your comments. I need to clarify my position. I happen to like several things that No Greater Joy teaching like courting instead of dating, child discipline, but disagree with his advice on raising boys. I do also have concerns with what he teaches about sinless perfection(which is a topic Jen you have some experience with). The following article from David Cloud explains my concern.
http://www.wayoflife.org/fbns/awarning-nogreaterjoy.html
I think there is a drastic difference between allowing little Timmy to handle a real weapon, to having sons guarding a missionary camp with fully loaded AK-47’s that are designed to kill lots of people. Christians are not mercenaries. If all that is needed to fend of islamists terrorists of Christians in foreign countries is real weapons, then why should the Pearls stop with an AK-47? What about grenades, land mines, and rocket launchers and even tanks? It was just an odd thing to find in a article of a Christian ministry, that is all.
December 20th, 2006 at 6:32 pm
Thanks for clarifying, Brandon. I do think self protection for a missionary should be a little different from national defense in a time of war!
As far as sinless perfection goes, that is not something I ever advocated. Rather that was twisted and manipulated way out of context. I think Michael Pearl is completely arrogant when he wears his t-shirt that says, “I am the righteousness of God.” Yes, I heard that series, but he is way off Scripturally. I will definitely look at the website as some of my good friends are Michael Pearl worshipers and I’ve been trying to get them to see the light.
I use some of his methods, but his teachings the last couple years have been way off.
December 23rd, 2006 at 4:11 pm
Jen, I didn’t mean to infer that you advocated it, but only to state you have some experience dealing with the issue because you were accused of believing in sinless perfection.