Religious Leaders Quote Bible to Justify Armed Guards Outside Houses of Worship
By Sarahbeth Caplin, October 30, 2018

It’s one thing for Donald Trump to suggest houses of worship should have armed security guards outside (since that’s what religious freedom apparently looks like to him), but who knew the Bible said the same thing?

That’s the argument made by several religious leaders who spoke with CNN’s John Blake:

“If we’re the shepherds, the first job of the shepherd is to protect the flock from the wolf,” says [Rabbi Hillel] Norry, a visiting rabbi at Congregation Beth Israel in Gulfport, Mississippi. “Why does a shepherd carry a stick? So he can whack the wolf.”

Bronze Age shepherds didn’t use automatic weapons… but I digress.

Using Rabbi Norry as an example, Blake points out what many see as hypocrisy: the people inside the sanctuary won’t carry their own guns, but they have no problem with armed guards protecting them outside.

In other words, violence committed for the sake of protecting one’s community is considered holy. No “Thou shalt not kill.” No praying for protection. Just break out the semi-automatic weapons.

It makes sense that Norry, a rabbi, wouldn’t look to the New Testament to justify non-violence, but the Christians who share his views seem to miss (or choose to ignore) another key verse, from Matthew 5:38-40:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well.

It’s a verse that has convicted many over the centuries. But, as we all know, it’s pretty easy to make the Bible say and justify whatever you want.