The West Freeway Church of Christ Shooting & Self-Defense

Two innocent people are dead. Two men have become heroes. One shooter, evil or crazy or both, has been neutralized.

West Freeway Church of Christ had been training an armed security detail for ten years, and it finally became necessary to use it.

This tragic church shooting raises long debated questions about pacifism and self defense. The Church of Christ was once entirely pacifist before switching to a more combative position between the two world wars. How would our ancestors have felt about our churches becoming armed institutions? They'd likely have been disappointed to learn that West Freeway Baptist Church of Christ had an armed contingent of over ten men (judging by the live-stream footage). However, would they have been right to feel that way?

Can anyone watch the shooting video without feeling deeply convicted that the congregation's men were morally obligated to gun down the attacker? Old folks falling, women crying, babies screaming. Would God approve of a congregation's men allowing for the destruction of innocent life because they embraced a philosophy of non-violence?

The author of Ecclesiastes wrote that there's a "time for war." The West Freeway Church of Christ briefly experienced that time, and their men rose to the occasion and ended the violence six seconds after the first shot was fired. Peace was restored. Mourn the dead, honor the heroes.