Bartholomew Orr, senior pastor at Brown Baptist Missionary Church in northern Mississippi, believes that churches should invest in security and has the scriptures to back him up.
The church, which has three services a week, is watched on the internet by thousands. But its leaders, while reaching out to thousands, are cautious about security. Guards watch the doors of their church.
Orr quoted scripture to back up his security measures, pointing out that 2nd Kings reads: “Form a bodyguard around the king or leader and keep your weapons in hand. Kill anyone who tries to break through.”
He went on to say that people have tried to take on the White House and police headquarters along with various other well-guarded targets. He believes that the violence pervading the nation will not stop just because a church’s doors are open and its members believe in God, and so he takes steps to keep members of his very large congregation safe from tragedies like the one that occurred on Wednesday in Charleston, South Carolina.
If Pastor Orr is on the right track, then might we start seeing armed guards at the doors of our churches soon? Will we have to get patted down when we go to Bible study?