US Gun Control: Evangelicals’ Deafening Silence

By Nigel Tomes, Dec. 20, 2012

Much has been written and spoken by evangelical Christian commentators since the “slaughter of innocents”—20 first-grade children and 6 school staff— in Newtown, CT. However, most of these contributions exhibit one striking characteristic—their failure to directly address the US gun control issue. Evangelicals have discussed whether the underlying problem is mental illness, humanity’s inherent sinfulness or the “exclusion of God and moral instruction” from US schools and society. Much ink has been spilled and much airtime allocated to these questions. In contrast, US evangelical leaders’ silence on gun controls has been deafening. With few exceptions, representatives of evangelical churches, seminaries and Bible colleges in the US have studiously avoided the issue of stricter gun controls. Their silence contrasts sharply with the vocal evangelical voices on abortion and homosexuality. This imbalance adds to the perception that US evangelicals have only two “hot button” social issues –they are anti-abortion and anti-gay, but “anti” nothing else.

In what follows we first document the failure of US evangelical leaders to address the gun control issue in the aftermath of the Newtown, CT massacre. Second we highlight the contributions of a few evangelical leaders and scholars who address this issue.

Before proceeding, let me emphasize that I consider myself a bone fide evangelical Christian. I’m involved in full-time Christian ministry and help lead an evangelical church in Toronto, Canada. If my fellow- evangelicals ask: ‘Why did you write this piece?” I would reply with the proverb: “Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy” (Prov. 27:6 New Living Translation)

Christian Right Gets it Wrong

Evangelical leaders were quick to respond to last week’s tragedy with words of support and consolation. Certainly there were some outrageous responses from the Religious Right. Mike Huckabee told Fox News “since we've ordered God out of our schools…we really shouldn't act so surprised...when all hell breaks loose,” (or words to that effect). Bishop Joseph Mattera of the Resurrection Church in NYC wrote an opinion piece in Charisma News explaining “Why Guns Are Not to Blame for the Newtown School Massacre.” The Bishop appealed to the tired adage “Guns don’t kill people; people kill people.” He argued that “blaming guns for this and other tragedies like Columbine and Virginia Tech massacres would be like blaming automobiles for the thousands of deaths that occur every year due to accidents on highways.” However, such responses are not representative of US evangelicals in general.

Evangelicals’ Deafening Silence

Ed Stetzer, President of Lifeway Research & affiliate Prof. at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, is more representative of US evangelicals. Stetzer’s response is entitled “3 Ways Christians Should Respond to the Horror of a Broken World.” His suggestions are:

• "First, pray. Pray for hurting families and broken communities that have had their children ripped from them. Pray for churches to minister to the hurting…”

• “Second, don't be afraid to say that the world is horribly broken…”

• “Third, do something. Yes, hug your kids, but find a way to serve the others and be an agent of the Kingdom of God… Respond to this evil by doing good…”

In summary, Ed Stetzer counsels: “Let's [1] grieve with and pray for the hurting. [2] Let's call the world what it is-- broken. Then, [3] let's recommit ourselves to living for Jesus and others in a broken world.” We agree; yet we note the lack of any policy recommendations—either relating to mental health or changes to firearms regulations.

Was Sandy Hook Shooter Sinful or Sick?

Wider society has pointed to the mental health of the Newtown shooter. The viral response, “I am Adam Lanza’s Mother,” is a cry for help from the parent of a mentally-ill son. Many view this is a major contributing factor to this tragedy. Evangelicals, however, tend to reject this view. Amy Julia Becker, writing in Christianity Today’s Hermeneutics Blog asks: “Was the Sandy Hook Shooter Sinful or Just Sick?” Her answer?—“it’s both.” But, she observes that “For many Christians, however, this response [“I am Adam Lanza’s Mother,” the emphasizing mental health issue] …only bolsters a society wed to therapeutic solutions to all human woes.” For them the problem is “evil.”

Albert Mohler’s Theological Response

Evangelical responses to this massacre talk more about the reality of evil, emphasizing this over the shooter’s mental health. Representative of this approach is Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr., president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. In a piece entitled “Rachel Weeping for Her Children—the Massacre in Connecticut,” Mohler writes: “we cannot accept the inevitable claims that this young murderer is to be understood as merely sick . . . The sinfulness of sin is never more clearly revealed than when we look into the heart of a crime like this and see the hatred toward God that precedes the murderous hatred he poured out on his little victims.” Dr. Mohler’s asks: “How should Christians think and pray in the aftermath of such a colossal crime?” His answer is conveyed in his headings:

• “We Affirm the Sinfulness of Sin, and the Full Reality of Human Evil”

• “We Affirm the Cross of Christ as the Only Adequate Remedy for Evil”

• “We Acknowledge the Necessity of Justice, Knowing that Perfect Justice Awaits the Day of the Lord”

• “We Grieve with Those Who Grieve”

None of these points is controversial among Christians; they are basic evangelical tenets.  What is noticeable, however, is the total lack of pro-active policy proposals. On other issues Albert Mohler seems to back certain policy measures. For example, Mohler asserts “Abortion implies infanticide.” [“After-Birth Abortion,” Tues., March 6, 2012] so presumably he supports greater legal restrictions on such procedures. He should support pro-life lobbying, since he says, “much work remains to be done in the great effort to protect the dignity of every single human life.” [Albert Mohler “Abortion is as American as Apple Pie,” Friday, Jan. 20, 2012] We don’t wish to divert attention to the abortion issue here; our point is simply that Dr. Mohler has not shied away from statements with policy implications in other contexts. Yet, in responding to the Newtown, CT tragedy, Dr. Mohler offers a strictly “theological” response; he has lots of company within the evangelical ranks. An obvious question is—why the reluctance?

Evangelicals supporting Gun Control—not “preaching to the Choir”

One explanation for the reluctance to promote stricter gun controls is that “it’s not preaching to the choir.” When evangelical ministers promote “pro-life” views on abortion or “pro-traditional family” views on homosexuality, they’re “preaching to the choir.” Most church members have already “bought into” these perspectives. So ministers are trying to move the minds and hearts of the minority who’ve not yet bought in. In contrast, the views of US white evangelicals differ markedly from the general US population on gun control. They’re more “pro-gun,” more “anti-gun controls.” On this issue evangelical leaders face a tough fight. They’re trying to move the minds of the majority of their listeners. It’s not a battle for the faint of heart.

White Evangelicals Diverge from US Mainstream

US White evangelicals hold views which diverge from the US mainstream on gun-related issues. Surveys report the following:

• White US evangelicals are more likely to have a gun in their home than white Americans in general (58% versus 51%) [US Public Religion Research Inst., 2011]

• People living in the “Evangelical Epicenters” of the US (e.g. Dallas, TX, Atlanta, GA) gave a higher priority to protecting the right of Americans to own guns (66%) over  controlling gun ownership (29%) compared to the US population as a whole (which is evenly split 46% vs. 46%). [Pew Research/Patchwork Nation]

• In 2011 a clear majority of US evangelicals—60%— opposed tighter gun controls (versus a slim majority—51%—of all Americans). [US PRRI, 2011]

An Aug., 2012 a PRRI/RNS survey found marked differences in attitudes towards gun control. One question was: “What do you think is the most important thing that could be done to prevent mass shootings…in the US?”

• Only 8% of white evangelical Protestants picked “stricter gun control laws & enforcement” as the most important solution, whereas 19% said “better mental health screening & support.” A plurality (36%) chose the option: “Put more emphasis on God & morality in school & society.” Hence, over one-third (36%) of US White evangelicals picked “God & morality” as the top measure to combat mass shootings. Less than one-in-ten (8%) picked “stricter gun controls.”

• By comparison, over one-in-four (27%) of all Americans favoured stricter gun control as most vital, 22% picked mental health support, and 20% chose focusing on God & morality as the top preventative measure to combat mass shootings. Evangelicals look for measures other than gun control to combat gun massacres.

Abortion & Gays vs. Gun Control

The bottom line of all this—the US evangelical constituency is more supportive of gun ownership rights and less supportive of stricter gun control measures than the US population as a whole. Consequently evangelical leaders who promote greater gun controls are likely to face opposition and “push back” from their constituency and financial supporters. In contrast, on issues like abortion or homosexuality, evangelical leaders’ “pro-life” and “pro-family” views are likely to resonate with their church members. Does this explain evangelical leaders’ silence on the gun control issue?  Put differently these data indicate it’s going to take the courage of a prophet to promote tighter gun controls among white evangelicals; but aren’t God’s ministers called to be courageous prophets? God’s spokesmen (& women) didn’t flinch because of peoples’ evident disapproval. They speak God’s message in order to change peoples’ attitudes and actions, to align them with God’s view. On this issue, where are the evangelical prophets?

Evangelical Voices in the Wilderness

Not all US evangelicals were silent on the gun control issue after this latest tragedy. There were a few voices crying in the wilderness. Christian author and blogger Matthew Paul Turner from Nashville, TN., wrote a piece entitled “4 Questions Every Evangelical Church Should Be Asking (in light of the shooting in Newtown)” [Monday, Dec. 17, 2012]. One of Turner’s questions was, “Are we pro gun to a fault?”

Turner responds, ”Far too many evangelical churches promote the freedom to bear arms like it’s mentioned in the Beatitudes. And in case you’re wondering, it isn’t mentioned in the Beatitudes. Supporting the 2nd Amendment [US constitutional “right to bear arms”] is one thing, rallying for the freedom to purchase and own assault rifles is quite another. Over the last few days, some of the loudest, and most obnoxious ‘guns don’t kill people, people kill people’ rants have come from the mouths of conservative evangelicals.”

US 2nd Amendment Not in the 10 Commandments

Turner continues, “Many of us in the evangelical communities treat the 2nd Amendment like it’s one of the Ten Commandments. And there’s simply no theological rhyme or reason for our love affair for guns. No, gun control is not the complete answer. Very few believe it is. But putting limitations on gun ownership is a part of the answer. And we in the evangelical church…should rally behind this (or at the very least, not rally against it). America is far too fascinated with guns. And sadly, most evangelical churches have aided ...our gun-loving culture. And if we truly put our trust in God as opposed to things like chariots, horses, or automatic assault rifles, then why are so many of us a part of churches that promote ‘God & Guns’ as if the two entities are equals?” Penetrating, if unpopular questions, for evangelicals.

Drastic Measures Needed

Ben Witherington, Professor of New Testament at Asbury Theological Seminary in Kentuky, had the fortitude to address the gun control issue directly and practically. In answer to the question ‘What could we do to prevent this from happening again?’ Prof. Witherington quotes (approvingly) an FBI operative— “absolutely nothing unless we are prepared to significantly change our gun laws and also change what we do with the mentally ill.” He also wrote: “Here are some of the things that could be done to help inhibit if not prevent such tragedies in the future: 1) we do indeed need stricter gun laws, especially in regard to the availability of clips that fire multiple rounds of bullets and the guns that are used to do the deed. There is a bill now stalled in Congress that needs to be enacted. It deals with the availability of such bullet clips to almost anyone; 2) parents who have mentally ill children should never ever have guns in their homes. Never… 3) We need to install full time police officers in our schools, complete with flack jackets and weapons...[and also] in places like malls, movie theaters etc. places where large numbers of unarmed persons congregate” [Ben Witherington “The Slaughtering of the Innocents— Again” Dec. 16, 2012] 

No doubt Prof. Witherington is recommending drastic measures, but clearly he views US gun violence as a serious problem. It’s encouraging to hear a few voices break the deafening silence of US evangelicals on the gun control issue.

[The views expressed are the author’s personal opinion. They are not the official position of the church]