Church Security

My church is about to be increasing church security due to recent church shootings. I volunteered to help out with ideas or being involved with security training.

I thought it would be interesting to know what does your church have in place for security or what do you wish was in place? Armed trained members? Cameras? Doors are locked at certain times? Training to discern suspicious behavior? Studied past shootings or incidents to see what went right and what went wrong? Has a action plan in play much like practicing a fire drill? Paid security?

How should the Shepherd protect their flock?

We have had armed security ever since the shooting at the Synagogue in Pennsylvania. We voted on that overwhelmingly.

Yah I hope that is one response we go for

We also have well trained armed security.

We also lock exterior side doors from the inside during services.

We also greet and escort visitors into the sanctuary during worship services.

“41 And they feared exceedingly (means that their fear of Him, was greater even then their fear had been of the storm), and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him? (The Disciples were right! The wind and sea did obey Him, and so does everything else. So why should we fear?)” Mark 4

Excerpt From
The Expositor's Study Bible
Jimmy Swaggart
https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-expositors-study-bible/id399697870
This material may be protected by copyright.

Cool. We have greeters as well...

We have a 9 year old girl who has been in our church every Sunday since she was born. It is a joy to watch her interact with visitors as she greets and escorts them into the sanctuary.

We have adult male greeters but my daughter used to ring the bell for Sunday mass and she used to get a kick out of that...

Something to meditate on:

When Ezra was journeying from Babylon to Jerusalem with the people (Ezra 8) he did not seek after the king of Babylon for protection with a band of soldiers during the journey (thought it was available to him - Ezra 8:22).

Ezra instead chose to proclaim a fast and afflict their souls to seek of God a right way for them, their little ones, and for all their substance (Ezra 8:21). "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds" (2 Corinthians 10:4).

Then the scripture says that the hand of God was upon them and delivered them from the enemy and of such as lay in wait by the way (Ezra 8:31). It is manifest that the scripture found in Isaiah regarding "no weapon formed against you shall prosper" was in play here (Isaiah 54:17).

Also, when the Moabites, Ammonites, and Others were gathered together against Israel to battle, Jehoshaphat feared and set himself to seek the LORD and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah and said we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee. And God replied by the prophet Jahaziel that they shall not need to fight in this battle. And God caused the Moabites, Ammonites, and those Others to smite one another and saved Israel (2 Chronicles 20:1-24).

The theme in the scripture regarding the disciples of Christ is one of persecution and execution. If God will protect us, well. And if God chooses that we will be taken away, well. The Lord's will cannot be changed by ones provision. Indeed to choose to take up a sword for protection only brings in play that you will also perish by the sword (Matthew 26:52). Paul did not carry a sword and he faced fierce threats of death and was indeed stoned nearly to death in Acts 14:19.

But who has faith in these promises these last days?

"When the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" Luke 18:8.

Did not Peter walk on the water until he doubted? (Matthew 14:29).

Something to meditate on...

How about just selling the building and you won't have to worry about it anymore. Meet in homes as the early church did. It would definitely be a lot safer.

-- Sell the church building and give the money to the poor

--Stop telling people they are "stealing from God" if they don't tithe.

--Start making disciples instead of trying to sell more books.

Those three items are a good start, for now.

I admit it, I’m packing heat when I attend.

Good for you and your church, that's awesome .. Nothing wrong at all with protection and security

Here's another idea, put a sign like this up when service starts lol

This includes protection imo if you are able ..
8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

We do not own the building. We rent it. But I disagree on not having a central location for the sheep to gather. I believe there should be both home gatherings and worship gatherings.

The only reason the early church only met in homes was because they had to be underground or meet secretly. Once the persecution let up then churches began to pop up.

A congregation can do a lot for the poor especially since many are tax exempt. Tithing is a command of God like it or not. But it has always been centered around the heart of giving and not the need to give. Money is a tool that God graciously provides us. It is up to us if we do good with it. Doing good with it involves tithing in which helps the poor. The churches are the largest givers to the poor compared to government and wiser with the way the funds are spent.

Making disciples is the main mission. Many books have made disciples. Again nothing wrong with books or selling books. It is a heart issue.

A light isnt covered by a basket but is set out for all to see. So should the church.

How is any of this going to prevent murder and hatred...

You can't prevent murder and hatred. You can prevent people from throwing their hard-earned money away on Sunday-only country clubs for wealthy people.

how a shepherd protects his flock -going by the Bible...
He leaves the 99 and goes after the one who goes astray (the 99 must be looking after each other?)
He keeps the wolf from the door...so I would think there would be someone at the door greeting people. I dont think He would have them armed necessarily but able to discern if anything suspicious was happening and raise the alarm.

Much prayer.
Young David was a shepherd as we know he kept the lions away from the sheep by throwing stones at them with a sling.
It seems to me some churches actually invite the lions in! and the wolves! (dressed as sheep!)

in nz we have sheep runs right. The farmer uses working dogs to bark at the sheep to go whereever then pens them in. with barbed wire. then he kills them to sell or eat them to make a profit. the wool goes toward making carpets for luxury homes.

are they true shepherds? i dont think so. A true shepherd feeds their sheep and lambs and calls them each by name. he shears them for their wool to use for clothing and the sheep willingly give up their lives for their shepherd...

PS. 118:6.
The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me.
MATT. 10:28.
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him which is able
to destroy both soul and body in hell.

it's the age-old question that we all have to deal with, of just where our 'own-will' comes into the equation,
vs. 'The Will of God'...and as the scriptures have told us in many different situations, -
sometimes you wait and sometimes you take action, which all boils down to ones 'FAITH=OBEDIENCE',
in each and every situation, always hoping and praying that we are in and doing The Will of God...