Be A True Christian: Carry Your Gun To Worship
BY Herschel Smith
3 years, 6 months ago
Via WiscoDave, this wonderful account serves as an example for us all. It mirrors what I’ve observed elsewhere.
In 1640 it was ordered in Massachusetts that in every township the attendants at church should carry a “competent number of peeces, fixed and compleat with powder and shot and swords every Lords-day to the meeting-house;” one armed man from each household was then thought advisable and necessary for public safety. In 1642 six men with muskets and powder and shot were thought sufficient for protection for each church. In Connecticut similar mandates were issued, and as the orders were neglected “by divers persones,” a law was passed in 1643 that each offender should forfeit twelve pence for each offence. In 1644 a fourth part of the “trayned hand” was obliged to come armed each Sabbath, and the sentinels were ordered to keep their matches constantly lighted for use in their match-locks. They were also commanded to wear armor, which consisted of “coats basted with cotton-wool, and thus made defensive against Indian arrows.” In 1650 so much dread and fear were felt of Sunday attacks from the red men that the Sabbath-Day guard was doubled in number. In 1692, the Connecticut Legislature ordered one fifth of the soldiers in each town to come armed to each meeting, and that nowhere should be present as a guard at time of public worship fewer than eight soldiers and a sergeant. In Hadley the guard was allowed annually from the public treasury a pound of lead and a pound of powder to each soldier.
No details that could add to safety on the Sabbath were forgotten or overlooked by the New Haven church; bullets were made common currency at the value of a farthing, in order that they might be plentiful and in every one’s possession; the colonists were enjoined to determine in advance what to do with the women and children in case of attack, “that they do not hang about them and hinder them;” the men were ordered to bring at least six charges of powder and shot to meeting; the farmers were forbidden to “leave more arms at home than men to use them;” the half-pikes were to be headed and the whole ones mended, and the swords “and all piercing weapons furbished up and dressed;” wood was to be placed in the watch-house; it was ordered that the “door of the meeting-house next the soldiers’ seat be kept clear from women and children sitting there, that if there be occasion for the soldiers to go suddenly forth, they may have free passage.” The soldiers sat on either side of the main door, a sentinel was stationed in the meeting-house turret, and armed watchers paced the streets; three cannon were mounted by the side of this “church militant,” which must strongly have resembled a garrison.
[ … ]
… a community that always began and ended the military exercises on “training day” with solemn prayer and psalm-singing; and that used the army and encouraged a true soldier-like spirit not chiefly as aids in war, but to help to conquer and destroy the adversaries of truth, and to “achieve greater matters by this little handful of men than the world is aware of.”
The Salem sentinels wore doubtless some of the good English armor owned by the town,–corselets to cover the body; gorgets to guard the throat; tasses to protect the thighs; all varnished black, and costing each suit “twenty-four shillings a peece.” The sentry also wore a bandileer, a large “neat’s leather” belt thrown over the right shoulder, and hanging down under the left arm. This bandileer sustained twelve boxes of cartridges, and a well-filled bullet-bag. Each man bore either a “bastard musket with a snaphance,” a “long fowling-piece with musket bore,” a “full musket,” a “barrell with a match-cock,” or perhaps (for they were purchased by the town) a leather gun (though these leather guns may have been cannon). Other weapons there were to choose from, mysterious in name, “sakers, minions, ffaulcons, rabinets, murthers (or murderers, as they were sometimes appropriately called) chambers, harque-busses, carbins,”–all these and many other death-dealing machines did our forefathers bring and import from their war-loving fatherland to assist them in establishing God’s Word, and exterminating the Indians, but not always, alas! to aid them in converting those poor heathen.
The armed Salem watcher, besides his firearms and ammunition, had attached to his wrist by a cord a gun-rest, or gun-fork, which he placed upon the ground when he wished to fire his musket, and upon which that constitutional kicker rested when touched off. He also carried a sword and sometimes a pike, and thus heavily burdened with multitudinous arms and cumbersome armor, could never have run after or from an Indian with much agility or celerity; though he could stand at the church-door with his leather gun,–an awe-inspiring figure,–and he could shoot with his “harquebuss,” or “carbin,” as we well know.
No picture here of Jesus as a Bohemian, peacenik flower child. No, this is a picture of a church militant.
Men ready to protect themselves, their centers of worship, and the families.
Take note that not only did men go about armed (I’ve always claimed that true gentlemen don’t hide their weapons, that’s for criminals), but they took them to the place their families are most vulnerable.
That’s where they are sitting in one place with their attention focused on something other than threats, ingress and egress, and inside a confined space. When vulnerable, men didn’t cower and call someone else to protect them, or “run, hide and fight.”** They met this God-given duty themselves.
Because liberty and responsibility. That’s why.
** The most recent video I’ve seen of run, hide and fight has men throwing potted plants at armed assailants after cowering behind doors and in dark rooms, a picture of effeminate cowardice.
On May 5, 2021 at 4:07 am, Georgiaboy61 said:
“The unarmed man is not just defenseless – he is also contemptible.”
“A government which does not trust its citizens to be armed is not itself to be trusted.”
Niccolò Machiavelli, “The Prince” (1532)
On May 5, 2021 at 10:45 am, Chris Mallory said:
“(I’ve always claimed that true gentlemen don’t hide their weapons, that’s for criminals)”
In the 1820’s , the Kentucky state supreme court, in a case on concealed carry, stated that “Honest men bear their arms openly, only highwaymen and bandits have cause to conceal their weapons.” or words to that effect. We have always had state constitutionally protected open carry, the only authority the state constitution gave the legislature was to regulate concealed carry.
On May 5, 2021 at 12:04 pm, Bob in NC said:
We have armed sheriffs deputies who attend our church.
On May 5, 2021 at 12:21 pm, Herschel Smith said:
@Bob,
And yet you still have other men who carry, yes?
On May 5, 2021 at 4:48 pm, Ohio Guy said:
Always, and especially at church.
On May 5, 2021 at 7:53 pm, GWB said:
On May 5, 2021 at 10:45 am, Chris Mallory said:
That is one of the prime reasons anti-concealed carry laws were passed in the first place. Also the prime reason for most anti-knife laws – those knives* are carried by thugs and ruffians and murderers, so we’ll ban them and thugs and ruffians and murderers will no longer have access to them.
(* Switchblades, ballisongs, punch daggers, shuriken, brass knuckles, ‘chuks, etc.)
On May 6, 2021 at 2:07 am, Show Me said:
We may soon see our men not only armed but armored in church, as my ancestors are shown to have been. There’s a lot more we could learn from these brave and righteous people too.
On May 6, 2021 at 9:02 am, sound awake said:
read Nehemiah 4
its too long to quote here
church is the last place i dont carry
On May 6, 2021 at 1:30 pm, Bob in NC said:
@ Herschel,
I don’t know anyone that does personally, but my guess would be yes.
We haven’t attended in person since before the mask madness because they insist on masks for the early service which is traditional hymns (presumably because it used to be only older people attending). When we did go, I used to carry concealed .. very concealed.
I cannot stomach the contemporary worship in the other services, So we live stream.. my wife just calls me when it’s done.
On May 6, 2021 at 3:48 pm, Paul in SC said:
Here in SC we have a law that one cannot carry in church without pre-approval from the pastor or his designated representative, such as a chief of security. Insurance companies that insure churches have piggy-backed on that law to tell pastors that they won’t insure them unless they impose some stringent restrictions on those who want to carry in church.
Of course, those who would terrorize churches don’t care about the law or the insurance company’s restrictions.
On May 6, 2021 at 5:50 pm, X said:
“No picture here of Jesus as a Bohemian, peacenik flower child.”
That’s because Jesus WASN’T a Bohemian flower child — he was a badass who went after the corrupt Pharisees and called them a bunch of “vipers” to their faces and told them in no uncertain terms that they were hypocrites and posers who would burn in Hell. He went into the Temple than personally threw out the money-changing criminals who were ripping off the Jewish peasantry with their “temple coin” scam.
That’s how he became a marked man, and why they took him out.
On May 7, 2021 at 12:56 am, Rick said:
Jesus was sent as propitiation of our sins. Men contempted and rejected Him because they chose to remain in their wickedness. THAT is why Jesus was crucified. All of this was prophesied by many since the beginning.
On May 7, 2021 at 12:59 am, Rick said:
The meeting house mentioned by Capt. Parker on April 19, 1775 was the church their next to the Green. It would be dear if all churches became again the meeting house.
On May 7, 2021 at 3:57 am, Hudson H Luce said:
A saker is a cannon, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saker_(cannon). It’s a field piece, not something you’d carry. A minion is another sort of cannon, also a field piece, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minion_(cannon). As to the “ffaulcon”, that’s a cannon of similar calibre to the saker and minion, above. Initial consonants were doubled to make the equivalent of a capital letter. The “harque-busse” is the same as an arquebus – a long gun, a matchlock, supported on a stick – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arquebus, probably .75 calibre, and the “rabinet” – actually “robinet” – was a somewhat lighter cannon with 1.5 inch bore.
On July 21, 2021 at 3:33 pm, DW said:
Apologies in advance, Herschel & blog readers, as I know this post is several months old, but seemed the most indirectly related to my question.
A good friend of mine, who like me is disgusted with organized religion in this country, but is more motivated to provide an alternative has, with his wife, started a new independent church that has grown & become very popular. To the extent that he now has to consider whether to more formally organize it. Even though they do not accept financial support or donations, he is considering filing with the IRS for 501c3 status and he asked me what I thought?
I told him that while I understand the basic tax issues that come into play, I have also seen numerous articles that claim that 501c3 status puts a church subject to some government controls/oversight by FEMA, DHS & related government agencies? I try to avoid internet tin-foil hat conspiracies, but the tax code is by design a black-hole of non-transparency, so I am torn as to how to advise him.
Do you or any of your blog readers have any legit internet links or guidance as to the pitfalls of filing for 501c3 status by a church? To be clear, I am not asking for tax advice, but simply whether there is any truth to the FEMA/DHS control/oversight issue?
On July 21, 2021 at 6:55 pm, Fred said:
DW,
Contact Liberty Fellowship in Montana. Libertyfellowshipmt.com or ChuchBaldwinLive.com
Also, if I’m not mistaken, St. Paul Presbyterian is also not a 501c3 http://stpaulpres.com/index.php/about-us/
Also, read this whole thing: https://libertychurchproject.com/Mission.aspx
And this whole thing: http://www.ecclesia.org/truth/501-church.html
I will tell you flat out that the church is immune to taxation under the 1st amendment. When you seek exemption, you submit to a master that already has no authority over you.
a local body of believers has one Master, the headship of Christ. When you incorporate, you take on a second master and not just any master but the IRS. Is there a worse master? Also, most local bodies incorporate so as to get a tax ID in order to take on debt. This adds now a third master, the global banking cartel.
The bible is clear about 1. who is the head of the church, Colossians 1:8, Ephesians 5:3, others. and 2. no man can serve two masters (let alone 3), Matthew 6:24. Matthew 6 is (in part) a list of commands from our Lord delivered in the manner of proverbs. There is no higher wisdom, even if He would forgive your disobedience, you also would witness against your own better judgement. But you know that.
Incorporation does NOT improve your group or individual relationship with Christ!!! Why would you do ANYTHING that would harm that relationship?
The group of believers needs to answer honestly; how does this benefit Christ? How does this advance His kingdom? The answers of course are, that it doesn’t. Jesus doesn’t need help from the IRS!!! Of all the things!?! And at this point I’ll stop before I become impolite about that.
Some prior thoughts of mine on the subject:
“Yes. The brief history is that Constantine (3rd century) nationalized the churches by giving them property in exchange for guarantees of no more persecution (real persecution like fed to wild animals, crucified, beheaded, etc.). Immediately Pagan and other influences enter into this false [C]hurch. Fast forward to 1954 American; the church was nationalized by Johnson under the Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)3 making the government corporations answerable to, can you even imagine, the IRS. From that point, as you know, the accelerated decay of the US began. Although the 19a and suffrage were already law everything else started to change. hundreds of “translations” of the bible came into being. Zionism took off as an infiltrating ideology within churches and within 20 [years] the outright legalized wholesale slaughter of children in the name of Moloch started. Christians under the 501c3 are subject to SPEECH restrictions and the church has been an impotent country club ever since. Add debt for property as a problem and now you have both the IRS and Banksters as masters of what was supposed by the body of Christ, with Him as King. The acts church is the way. This is the bible way.”
On July 21, 2021 at 7:15 pm, Fred said:
Also, I should add, that if the group of believers has become too large to manage, then split. Ordain faithful men to teach other faithful men (2 Timothy 2:2) and set in motion to become two like fellowships.
On July 21, 2021 at 7:19 pm, Fred said:
[reposted with links broken. The first attempt went to spam jail or a great interwebz void.]
DW,
Contact Liberty Fellowship in Montana. Libertyfellowshipmt .com or ChuchBaldwinLive .com
Also, if I’m not mistaken, St. Paul Presbyterian is also not a 501c3 http://stpaulpres .com/index.php/about-us/
Also, read this whole thing: https://libertychurchproject .com/Mission.aspx
And this whole thing: http://www.ecclesia .org/truth/501-church.html
I will tell you flat out that the church is immune to taxation under the 1st amendment. When you seek exemption, you submit to a master that already has no authority over you.
a local body of believers has one Master, the headship of Christ. When you incorporate, you take on a second master and not just any master but the IRS. Is there a worse master? Also, most local bodies incorporate so as to get a tax ID in order to take on debt. This adds now a third master, the global banking cartel.
The bible is clear about 1. who is the head of the church, Colossians 1:8, Ephesians 5:3, others. and 2. no man can serve two masters (let alone 3), Matthew 6:24. Matthew 6 is (in part) a list of commands from our Lord delivered in the manner of proverbs. There is no higher wisdom, even if He would forgive your disobedience, you also would witness against your own better judgement. But you know that.
Incorporation does NOT improve your group or individual relationship with Christ!!! Why would you do ANYTHING that would harm that relationship?
The group of believers needs to answer honestly; how does this benefit Christ? How does this advance His kingdom? The answers of course are, that it doesn’t. Jesus doesn’t need help from the IRS!!! Of all the things!?! And at this point I’ll stop before I become impolite about that.
Some prior thoughts of mine on the subject:
“Yes. The brief history is that Constantine (3rd century) nationalized the churches by giving them property in exchange for guarantees of no more persecution (real persecution like fed to wild animals, crucified, beheaded, etc.). Immediately Pagan and other influences enter into this false [C]hurch. Fast forward to 1954 American; the church was nationalized by Johnson under the Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)3 making the government corporations answerable to, can you even imagine, the IRS. From that point, as you know, the accelerated decay of the US began. Although the 19a and suffrage were already law everything else started to change. hundreds of “translations” of the bible came into being. Zionism took off as an infiltrating ideology within churches and within 20 [years] the outright legalized wholesale slaughter of children in the name of Moloch started. Christians under the 501c3 are subject to SPEECH restrictions and the church has been an impotent country club ever since. Add debt for property as a problem and now you have both the IRS and Banksters as masters of what was supposed by the body of Christ, with Him as King. The acts church is the way. This is the bible way.”
On July 21, 2021 at 7:22 pm, Fred said:
[third try with this info]
DW,
Contact Liberty Fellowship in Montana. Libertyfellowshipmt .com or ChuchBaldwinLive .com
Also, if I’m not mistaken, St. Paul Presbyterian is also not a 501c3 stpaulpres .com/index.php/about-us/
Also, read this whole thing: libertychurchproject .com/Mission.aspx
And this whole thing: ecclesia .org/truth/501-church.html
(you might have to put www in front of these links, and maybe https:// as well)
I will tell you flat out that the church is immune to taxation under the 1st amendment. When you seek exemption, you submit to a master that already has no authority over you.
a local body of believers has one Master, the headship of Christ. When you incorporate, you take on a second master and not just any master but the IRS. Is there a worse master? Also, most local bodies incorporate so as to get a tax ID in order to take on debt. This adds now a third master, the global banking cartel.
The bible is clear about 1. who is the head of the church, Colossians 1:8, Ephesians 5:3, others. and 2. no man can serve two masters (let alone 3), Matthew 6:24. Matthew 6 is (in part) a list of commands from our Lord delivered in the manner of proverbs. There is no higher wisdom, even if He would forgive your disobedience, you also would witness against your own better judgement. But you know that.
Incorporation does NOT improve your group or individual relationship with Christ!!! Why would you do ANYTHING that would harm that relationship?
The group of believers needs to answer honestly; how does this benefit Christ? How does this advance His kingdom? The answers of course are, that it doesn’t. Jesus doesn’t need help from the IRS!!! Of all the things!?! And at this point I’ll stop before I become impolite about that.
Some prior thoughts of mine on the subject:
“Yes. The brief history is that Constantine (3rd century) nationalized the churches by giving them property in exchange for guarantees of no more persecution (real persecution like fed to wild animals, crucified, beheaded, etc.). Immediately Pagan and other influences enter into this false [C]hurch. Fast forward to 1954 American; the church was nationalized by Johnson under the Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)3 making the government corporations answerable to, can you even imagine, the IRS. From that point, as you know, the accelerated decay of the US began. Although the 19a and suffrage were already law everything else started to change. hundreds of “translations” of the bible came into being. Zionism took off as an infiltrating ideology within churches and within 20 [years] the outright legalized wholesale slaughter of children in the name of Moloch started. Christians under the 501c3 are subject to SPEECH restrictions and the church has been an impotent country club ever since. Add debt for property as a problem and now you have both the IRS and Banksters as masters of what was supposed by the body of Christ, with Him as King. The acts church is the way. This is the bible way.”
On July 21, 2021 at 8:28 pm, Herschel Smith said:
@Fred,
Any comment that has two or more URLs in it requires moderation. This was my choice based on prior misuse of the comments.
That’s why your comments were delayed.
On July 21, 2021 at 8:51 pm, DW said:
Fred/Herschel:
I cannot thank you enough for the help on this. There’s a lot to consider & process here! The split suggestion definitely needs some serious thought as that is a new possible option not raised in our discussions.
Again thanks very much, God bless you guys.
David