Was the volunteer security guard ‘inspired by the Holy Spirit’ when she fired a dozen shots and killed the gunman at Colorado Springs’ New Life Church?:
a female guard with a drawn handgun turned a corner and walked toward the gunman and yelled "Surrender!" Bourbonnais said.
The gunman pointed a handgun at the woman and fired three shots, Bourbonnais said. She returned fire and just kept walking toward the gunman pressing off round after round.
The female guard fired off about a dozen shots.
After the gunman went down, Bourbonnais asked the woman, who has only been identified as a volunteer security guard with the church, how she remained so calm and focused.
Bourbonnais said she replied:
"I was asking the Holy Spirit to guide me the entire time."
Response: It might be controversial to some, but I do believe that she was strengthened and inspired by the Holy Spirit.
Hundreds of Christians could have been killed in this incident except for the heroic and ‘inspired’ actions of this woman. What an incredible story!
(Kudos to Hugh Hewitt @townhall.com where I found it)
*Update: The Security guard shot the gunman multiple times, however, the coroner has ruled the death a suicide. Apparently the shooter finished himself off after the security guard put him down. *Top
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I immediately thought of the title of this post when I heard the interview.
Clearly pacifism is outdated but I have a hard time reconciling turn the other cheek (if you take that as the literal instructions of Jesus) with shooting people.
Hopefully I will never be in that position because I am pretty sure what I would do if someone crawled through my bedroom window. Yet I still have a hard time fully swallowing that Holy Spirit is empowering a person to murder someone.
Thanks Carl,
That is why I posted on this story.
On one hand there is the teaching of Jesus to turn the other cheek as you mentioned.
Also I believe that pacifism should never be outdated for those who believe that they are called and convicted of the Holy Spirit to live out their faith in that way.
Personally I don’t have a gun nor can I see myself taking the action that she did.
However, the moment I heard the interview, I believed what she said was entirely true, that she was indeed empowered by the Holy Spirit to end this ordeal and limit the casualites to 5 dead.
Even now thinking about it I feel the conformation of the Spirit.
Carl, when one kills in self defence or in the defence of others is it murder?
It is clearly murder, the question is it justifiable murder. Legally yes. Logically yes. Is it in line with the literal teachings of Jesus? Clearly not. I do own a gun. I am not quite sure why I have not sold it years ago but I still own it. And at this point, if you bust in my home I am going to shoot you.
But whether or not the Holy Ghost empowered her to kill someone is the really interesting question. I don’t think we could find a single line of scripture in the NT that would support that.
But I find it interesting that I come from a somewhat violent preconversion life and have a hard time seeing God in this and you (I am guessing) do not have a violent history and can see the redeeming value of such actions.
Just so nobody thinks I am trying to flame or cause an argument I am not. I wish that the conviction of the Holy Ghost would have prevented this man from acting but I am glad that he was unable to murder more people then he did.
Interesting post, Michael, and comment, Carl. Do either of you, or any other readers, have any thoughts about Joshua’s or David’s inspiration to wreak havoc and kill in connection with this. This is a difficult area to weigh in the balance!
Deep water theologically here, boys. It has been argued since the beginning, literally.
The two sides seem to be: peace at any price and the just war.
As I see it, the Jewish people were the ones to get the command of “Thou shalt not murder” but they understood that it did not apply when the context was violent crime against you or protection of property or the defense of an innocent 3rd party.
This falls into the latter.
Like the argument goes, what would the good samaritan have done had he seen the robbery taking place?
The woman saved many lives that day and many people are thanking God for her and her actions.
The really good news for me though is that now when people in the church get on me about MMA, I can just point them to Michael’s blog and show them how much worse he is than me…lol.
JC: Thanks brother, LOL in a major way.
Carl: still thinking about what you are saying, do appreciate your perspective. Probably will respond over the weekend.
Carl,
We now know that the gunman finished himself off as he was dying so they have labeled the killing as suicide. Nevertheless, I would like to continue the conversation from the perspective that guard did kill the guy as we originally thought.
There are really two parts to the question you raise from my perspective.
1. Does the event square with the literal teaching of Christ to turn the cheek? You say no. If that is your view and you are prepared to live according to it, I would never try to persuade you or anyone from it. It is a higher ethical view and may the Lord bless anyone who tries to live by it.
I do respect it and believe there is Biblical backing for it. The Quakers have consistently taken that view and their members will not serve in combat positions in the military or as police.
I also believe their is considerable Biblical support for self defense and justifiable war.
2. You say that the actions of the security guard was murder -justifiable murder at best. In this view I couldn’t disagree with you more.
Carl, words have meaning. In the English language, murder is premeditated unjustifiable killing.
The guard did not go to church that day with the intent or the expectation of having to kill someone. The gunman was ordered to put down his weapons and responded by firing. The gunman could have ended the event at any time.
If the response of the guard ended with the death of the gunman than that was a justifiable killing. A justifiable killing can never be called murder. It would violate the meaning of the word itself.
In the languages of the Bible there are separate words for murder and killing both in the Old and New Testaments. When the 10 Commandments says “do not kill” – the Hebrew word used is the word for Murder.
The Old testament clearly differentiate from premeditated murder and killing in self defense or in times of war.
When David kills Goliath it is not murder and David was inspired and strengthened to kill in this case.
In another set of circumstances, David refused to kill King Saul when he had the opportunity. That might of been murder if he had, though many would have considered it justifiable since King Saul was after David to kill him at the time.
In the New testament there are also two different Greek words used for murder and killing.
I have heard the testimony of a police officer who believed that God inspired him and preserved his life when he was ambushed by a street gang. He did kill several gang members in the process. I accept his testimony.
I have heard and read the testimonies of several Christian in our military fighting in Iraq who believed that they were strengthened and inspired in the midst of a battle. I accept their testimonies also.
Like it or not, one day you will be part of an army that kills millions and it will not be considered murder.
When Jesus comes back, he is coming with a sword this time and with all the hosts of Heaven. He will be aggressively defending the Kingdom against all the forces of evil.
Christians who have died will be coming back with him and those who remain will be caught up to meet him in the air. You and I will be there Carl. First comes the battle and than the banquet afterwards.
Personally, I try to live live my life according to the teaching of our lord to ‘turn the cheek’. I believe that is the imperative for Christians in their personal relationships.
However, I also hold that self defense can be justified and that real Christians can be in the military and also serve as police.
Michael