4 Things Christians Need to Remember About Gun Control by: Brian Kammerzelt

January 19 is the controversial “first national gun appreciation day.”

As a lifelong gun owner from northern Wisconsin, I appreciate my guns. They hold a lot of personal value to me as a part of our family traditions of hunting and marksmanship. I’m proud of the legacy of responsible gun ownership that has been passed down to me.

For the past five years, I have also lived in downtown Chicago, working alongside others who are combating the epidemic of gun violence in this city—men and women with stray bullet holes in their homes and car doors who regularly lose children in their ministry care to violence. I have stood in candlelight vigils with mothers who have lost children and have listened to their pain.

I know something has to be done.

Despite gun-related violence and deaths being down overall, in a city with some of the toughest gun laws in the country, gun violence is up 25 percent, with over 450 school-aged children having been shot (63 fatally) last year.

This is not some rare catastrophe. Senseless gun related violence is a present reality here in my city and others.

This past Wednesday, President Obama unveiled a comprehensive gun-safety plan aimed at reducing gun violence. The rhetoric is heated, and sides are being chosen.

I do not want to debate. I want to stop the murder of innocents from ever happening. Regardless of your view on guns, I know you do too. Where do we begin?
1. Love God.

Clearly, God in His holiness abhors killing. This means engaging the issue with an extreme bias toward the preservation of all life and the reduction of violence by any means.

Are we being “careful that the exercise of [our] rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak"?
Do we love God more than our legal rights? More than our possessions? More than our patriotism? More than our own safety? Are we being “careful that the exercise of [our] rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak (1 Cor 8:9)"?

Now, I have made no mention of the implications of those questions to the issue of guns, but if you feel a twinge of defensiveness or pride already, I would challenge you to pray about that.
2. Seek first the Kingdom.

Christians are to be about the work of announcing, building and representing an entirely new kind of reality here and now, on earth as it is in heaven. Our view is to be extraordinarily invested in the immediate concerns of this present reality.

Matthew 6:33-34: "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Concern about the future of America must not prevent us from addressing the brokenness of today.
This means engaging the issue of gun control must be directed toward stopping violence today—not primarily toward defending against a potential future where certain freedoms might be more restricted. Concern about the future of America must not prevent us from addressing the brokenness of today.

3. Love others.

The Church should be so invested in the lives of others, especially the “least of these” in society, that when someone exhibits unstable behavior or are threatened by violence, they are surrounded with biblical love and ensured the help they need.

Do we love our “rights” more than we love our neighbor? Are we willing to become neighbors to those surrounded by violence?

Do not doubt for a second that if more of us left our bubbles, abandoned culture wars, locked up our guns safe behind our legal right to own them and brought the physical presence of Christ into the communities stricken by violence, we would see dramatically less devastation—by gun or otherwise. Not a single new law would need to be passed, and the 2nd Amendment would be safer than ever.
4. Love your enemy.

Loving others also means seeing your neighbor the way Jesus instructs—including those you might vehemently disagree with or even despise.

It means patience with that friend in your social media feed who has strong opinions but seemingly little understanding, or hearing out organizational leaders calling for dramatic solutions that ignite your ire, or praying for the perpetrators of mass shootings. This even includes the “enemy” of gangs doing much of the killing and literally persecuting communities.

So, where does all this leave us?

I can get behind controlling a certain level of lethal technology, extensive background checks and waiting periods—including private sales. I am for all federal efforts to remove as many illegal weapons from circulation as possible. I will not oppose laws to restrict with fierce prejudice the sale of firearms or ammunition to criminals or the mentally ill. I’ll advocate to reduce the glorification of gun violence in video games and movies if criminals or the mentally ill are using those images to validate violence. I welcome the day when media outlets stop turning killers into “celebrities” for the deranged through sensational coverage.

Honestly, whether these laws change or not does not trouble me. Would I be willing to give up my guns in northern Wisconsin if it would save a life in downtown Chicago? Yes. If it came to it. A thousand times over.

It would be a shame to give up rights for measures that don’t ultimately make a difference. What would be an even greater shame is if we allowed legal ends to satisfy our regained consciousness that something must be done. We mustn't allow legal debates to defer our personal responsibility to combat the issue of violence.

I’m not kept up at night by whether or not I’ll be able to own any rifle I want. “Love God, seek first the Kingdom, love your neighbor ...”

That keeps me up at night.

Why We Wish to Adopt

God has blessed both Aaron and I with a heart for children. We have always wanted to adopt and to be able to share what we have been blessed with. We have so much love to give and it is our greatest wish to share that with a child. We firmly believe that children are a gift and a blessing from the Lord and we will cherish every moment with our little girl. Having 2 adopted sisters has shown me how much a life is blessed when you adopt a child. I couldn’t imagine a world without my sisters and the joy that they have brought to my family is indescribable.

We look forward to having that same feeling compounded when we adopt our little girl. We cannot wait to bring our future daughter home, to hold her in our arms, and always provide a hand for her to hold as she grows. No words can capture the true joy and excitement we feel as we anticipate the blessing of her presence in our home.

God has brought Addie into our lives and when God offers us blessings we should never refuse them just because the road might be difficult. We know that many people have looked at the cost of our adoption and have said “it’s excessive” or that “there are children here" or “you can get one cheaper” as if we’re talking about buying a car. However, for those that have children…did you love your child before you knew him or her? Did you pray for them fervently? Did pray for their health and safety even before you saw them? Would you pay any price to have your child?

Even though I didn’t give birth to Addie this is how we feel about her. Each new picture, each new medical report is like meeting her all over again. I’m learning about my child in pieces and it’s heartbreaking and beautiful at the same time. We know this adoption is incredibly expensive. We know the huge sacrifices that will be made and have been made to get Addie home. But with each sacrifice the end result becomes even sweeter for us. Since we recently discovered that Addie not only has health issues, but also special needs we are desperate to get her here even sooner and love her even more each day.

If you still need convincing as to why it’s so important for us to bring her home; think of it like this…A little girl is sitting in a room that’s cold, empty and so very lonely. She has no toys, no warm clothes, not even enough food.. Her one wish.. her only wish is to have a family. At night when she sleeps God whispers softly, “I love you. One day you’ll have a family that will love you and hold you and tell you about Me.” And He holds her in the palm of His hands and says. “I love you and I will never forget you.”

Then He says, “Who will love this little girl and who will teach her about Me and to walk in My footsteps?” And He turns to Aaron and I and says,

“I choose you…”

God has chosen us for this great blessing that we are not worthy of nor do we deserve. We accept is humbly and gratefully and know that through Addie God is showing us His mercy, grace and unending love. God is so good. Won’t you please share in His goodness with us?

“Thornton Wilder’s one act play “The Angel That Troubled the Waters,” based on John 5:1-4, dramatizes the power of the pool of Bethesda to heal whenever an angel stirred its waters. A physician comes periodically to the pool hoping to be the first in line and longing to be healed of his melancholy. The angel finally appeared but blocks the physician just as he is ready to step into the water. The angel tells the physician to draw back, for this moment is not for him. The physician pleads for help in a broken voice, but the angel insists that healing is not intended for him.

The dialogue continues-and then comes the prophetic word from the angel: ‘Without your wounds where would your power be? It is your melancholy that makes your low voice tremble into the hearts of men and women. The very angels themselves cannot persuade the wretched and blundering children on earth as can one human being broken on the wheels of living. In Love’s service, only wounded soldiers can serve. Physician, draw back.’

Christians who remain in hiding continue to live the lie. We deny the reality of our sin. In a futile attempt to erase our past, we deprive the community of our healing gift. If we conceal our wounds out of fear or shame our inner darkness can neither be illuminated nor become light for others. We cling to our bad feelings and beat ourselves with the past when what we should do is let go. When we dare to live as forgiven men and women we join the wounded healers and draw closer to Jesus.”


My favorite wounded healers:

my counselor, my best, my heart rebuilder
the voice of wisdom
lives in grace
the other me
shows love
the one who changed everything