(Gal 5:13)  “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.”

By now, it should be apparent that the position of “The Church” on gun control should be determined as the response of the heart to sound doctrine. Rather than be restrictive or politically prescriptive, gun control for the Christian is really about freedom of choice. You and I have the liberty to choose whatever position we have on this issue as long as our conscience towards God remains pure.

As with any issue, if we are given freedoms under the laws of our land that are not prohibitive in Scripture, we must understand the proper use of that freedom in Christ. If we stand behind a legal requirement to perform a background check for a gun purchase, then let us not use that process to falsely accuse or bear false witness against our neighbor. Let us not use the information we gain to hurt others. If we stand behind the freedom to purchase weapons without many restrictions, let us see the viewpoint of those who have been victimized and vow to protect the innocent – even those who may want to fight against our position and right to bear arms.

We must keep in mind two things. First, we must remember our reactions to other Christians who oppose our position is a testimony to the world – good or bad. Are we willing to sacrifice the possibility of eternal impact for the temporary satisfaction of casting our brothers and sisters down? Second, we must keep in mind that our ultimate goal is to think like Christ so we can live like Christ. The Word of God and the Holy Spirit must be our source.

Who said “The Church” must all agree on this issue? Do we feel we must choose because that is how the media and politics dictate? The bottomline line – is our position on gun control dictated by the flesh or the Spirit? Be honest.