The one problem with Chuck Baldwin saying AR-15s are needed to defend neighbors and communities

[ck4829]

huck Baldwin, a right-wing pastor and radio host who was the 2008 Presidential nominee of the Christian Reconstructionist Constitution Party, appeared on Sheila Zilinsky’s podcast over the weekend, where he declared that any Christian who does not own the equivalent of an AR-15 assault rifle “has denied the Christian faith” and is “worse than a heathen.”

Citing a passage from 1 Timothy, Baldwin asserted that every adult has “a duty to provide for your family, but you cannot provide protection for your family without being equipped to do so.”

“Therefore, you must have the means of self-defense,” Baldwin said. “And in our society today, that means a firearm in the similitude of an AR-15. Without that, you are not in a position, you are not even able to protect not just your family and your house, but your neighbors, your community around you; that we, as a community of people—that’s the militia—are given the God-given responsibility to protect our communities. That is a biblical requirement.”

Baldwin called on pastors to preach sermons telling their congregations that “if you are not prepared to defend your family and your neighborhood and your community with the force of arms, you have denied that Christian faith and you are worse than a heathen.”

http://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/chuck-baldwin-says-its-a-biblical-requirement-for-everyone-to-own-an-assault-rifle/

I'm trying to picture the forces of MAGA running to the defense of the black, poor, liberal, Muslim people in their neighborhoods... I'm also picturing them gladly selling out those neighbors without a second thought if a foreign force landed on our shores. I'm pretty sure the latter would happen.

[Iggo]

1. Ooooooh, there's more than one problem with that.

Another problem: The bible is in no way no how the law of the land.

Another problem: Mr Baldwin? I'm pretty sure I'd be defending myself and my neighbors from you and your followers.

And more...

[erpowers]

6. Bigger Problem

Maybe this is just too obvious, but I do not think that passage is even talking about providing protection for one's family and community. I take that passage to mean that if a man or a woman does not provide food and clothing for his family he/she is worse than an infidel. If one looks at the larger chapter of 1 Timothy 5, it seems to be talking about how older people especially widows should be treated. It seems to me the whole passage is saying is that you should be nice to people outside your home and your community, but do not forget to take care of the people in your own home. So, what is seems to be saying to me, is that a person is making a mistake if he takes care of people outside of his own home, but fails to take care of the people inside of his own home.

[Xipe Totec]

2. The righteous need more than measly AR-15s; they need GSH-6-30s

With them, not only can they defend the world; they can rise to heaven on the recoil of these heavenly avengers.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gryazev-Shipunov_GSh-6-30

Don't believe me? Ask XKCD.

https://what-if.xkcd.com/21/

[dameatball]

3. They think the black, poor, liberal, Muslim people ARE the foreign forces on our shores

[erpowers]

4. Check His Bank Account

His talking points make me wonder if he is getting money from the gun manufactures. Even if you oppose gun control, it is a bill bowl of BS to claim that one needs an AR-15 to defend one's home and community. It is completely okay to claim that you want an AR-15 just because you like the look of the gun, or because you like the ammunition and output that come with the gun. However, it is just completely foolish to claim that the only way to protect home and community is with an AR-15. A simple handgun, or a simple shotgun can adequately protect a home and a community.

I wonder if this guy is taking money from gun manufactures. How much more money do gun manufactures make when people buy AR-15s as opposed to regular handguns, or shotguns? How many people are a part of Joel Osteen's church? I think I heard that one mega church pastor (not Osteen) has a congregation of about 16,000 people. How much does an AR-15 cost? Imagine 8,000(if half the church is male and only the men go out and buy guns)-16,000 people going out and buying an gun that cost about $1,000-$2,000. According to my calculations that adds up to about $8,000,000-$32,000,000 from one church. How many Evangelical churches are there in America? That would mean a major windfall for gun manufactures if every man and/or every woman in every Evangelical church went out and bought an AR-15.

[Revanchist]

5. Did he mention this passage from 1 Timothy?

17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

I doubt it, it goes against everything else they "preach"