Shootings at houses of worship and religious schools are happening at an alarming rate. I’m not just talking about Christian churches either; assailants have hit synagogues and Mormon congregations as well. As I write this, news of a stabbing attack at a synagogue in the UK on Yom Kippur is fresh on my mind as well.

What are churches to do? I’ve never been one to call for gun control and never will be — besides, the UK’s gun-grabbing fanaticism has only made stabbings more of a threat, as the Yom Kippur attack demonstrates. //

“Reverend, if you’re going to reprimand me, at least let me indulge my habit of quoting scripture and dead philosphers, after all somebody has to keep Augustine from rolling in his grave. Our Lord said ‘But now, if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.’

Also, Thomas Aquinas wrote in his Summa Theologica: 'one who defends his life is not guilty of murder, even if he is forced to deal a fatal blow, for it is preferable to defend oneself than to submit to the will of evildoers."

And as Edmund Burke—famously reminded us: ‘The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.’

But, Reverend, I want to be clear: I’m not standing guard. I’m just sitting in the pews like everyone else—albeit with a little extra peace of mind in under my jacket in case trouble finds us.” And I patted my hip holster.