When I was pastor of Highland Baptist Church in Shreveport, Louisiana, one Sunday I used a life jacket for an illustration during my children’s sermon. The jacket was olive green and had a military look to it.
As I carried the life jacket into the auditorium before the worship service, our church custodian asked me, “What’s that you’ve got? A bulletproof vest?”
That may not be a bad idea in these times. Preachers can’t be too careful, you know.
Several years ago the governor of Texas signed into law a bill making the carrying of a concealed weapon legal in that state. The story about the signing of the bill noted, however, that there are some restrictions. It is still illegal in that state to carry a concealed weapon into a bar or into a church.
Now there is a jolting juxtaposition for you. Concealed weapons are forbidden in bars and in churches. Why those two places? What do they have in common?
The only Scripture that I can think of that puts the two together is Ephesians 5:18: “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” In both places one comes under the influence of an outside power. The difference, however, is that when one is filled with ‘spirits,” it leads to “debauchery,” or excessive indulgence of the appetites. On the other hand, when one is filled with the “Spirit,” it leads to expressions of gratitude such as psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (vv. 19-20).
John Wesley Hardin was a famous gunfighter in the Old West. Later in life, however, he was saved and became a preacher (I suppose that the name “John Wesley” finally wore off on him). Although Hardin had forgiven all of his enemies, he was not sure that all of his enemies had forgiven him. As a result of that, whenever he came to a church to preach he always had a standing rule. Everyone had to check his gun at the door.
That is still a good rule for today; otherwise, preachers are going to have to wear bulletproof vests, and it’s hard to get a suit to fit over one of those things.
It seems to me that worship would also be aided if we had to check some other things at the door. I think it would be a good thing if we had to check our anger at the door. And while we’re at it, we ought to check our worries, our distractions, our pride, and our self-defenses.
As you arrive for worship this Sunday, please search yourself for any concealed motives and agendas. If any are found, for the safety of the preacher and for your own good, please check them at the door.
