Methodist pastor says 'prayerful action' may

Brent Ross, the head pastor at Normal Heights United Methodist Church in San Diego, suggested that engaging in "prayerful action" can be a useful means of promoting justice against gun violence. (Photo by Chip Vincent from Unsplash)

Gun control debates have entered the church, with some far-right Christian nationalists blaming sin instead of guns for the issue.

Some churches avoid discussing gun control, separating politics from religion.

However, other Christian churches collaborate with groups like Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund to advocate for gun reform and reduce gun violence.

In a report by Lomabeat, Brent Ross, the head pastor at Normal Heights United Methodist Church in San Diego, believes that prayer can be a valuable aid in promoting justice.

According to Ross, the Bible suggests that many of our actions should involve prayer. The instruction to "pray without ceasing" implies that prayer should be an active and ongoing practice.

Prayerful Action

Ross stated that while personal and private prayer is significant, it is not the sole form of prayer.

He believes that supporting gun control through means like advocacy, peaceful protesting, and lobbying can be thought of as "prayerful action" or prayer in action, even if the result is uncertain.

Ross described prayerful action as recognizing that the situation is beyond our control and is in God's hands.

He highlighted that prayerful action is distinct from internal contemplation and involves actively engaging in actions that align with one's beliefs.

Operating from Place of Love

Aside from Ross, Jon Middendorf, Oklahoma City First Church of the Nazarene’s senior pastor, also expressed his opinion.

Middendorf expressed that he commonly experiences feelings of anger and grief when it comes to gun violence.

As he was a guest speaker during the Spring 2023 Renewal Week at PLNU, Middendorf focused on the importance of prioritizing love for one's neighbor over getting one's faith right.

He, then, urged the audience to consider how they can work towards healing and wholeness in the world as part of God's plan.

Middendorf also highlighted that the Bible acknowledges the place of anger in human emotion.

He pointed out that there are instances where God and Jesus are described as being angry in the scriptures.

However, he clarified that this anger should not be confused with a desire for revenge or violence.

With this, when it comes to responding to mass shootings, Middendorf believes that anger is an appropriate response, but it should not lead to seeking retaliation with a firearm.

As for Ross, he stated as a pastor, it is his responsibility to understand and acknowledge the emotions of his congregation, including anger toward gun violence.

He believes that by creating a space in his sermons to address issues that evoke strong emotions, such as anger, he can encourage congregants to take action and work towards change.

Gun Violence in San Diego

According to Fox 5 San Diego, since 2018, the San Diego City Attorney's office has obtained 1,000 gun violence restraining orders, and as of October 2022, 85 cases were awaiting permanent hearings.

Through collaboration with the San Diego Police Department, 437 of these orders have become permanent.

This indicated that the person in question poses a danger to themselves or others and may face a suspension of gun access for a period of one to five years.

The severity of the threat is taken into account, and 50 of the cases identified a threat of violence that could potentially result in mass casualties in public areas, schools, or workplaces.