HUNTSVILLE, Texas -- Terry Holcomb Sr. is a pastor in San Jacinto County, but he is also a staunch advocate of the 2nd Amendment who is now taking his rifle on walks through Huntsville to get people talking about gun laws in Texas.
In videos he posted on YouTube, Holcomb is shown walking into Double Dave’s Pizza, Starbucks, Jack in the Box and Walmart in Huntsville. He carries his AR-15 Bushmaster .223 slung over his shoulder, behind his back with the barrel pointed down. He said the magazine was loaded, the chamber was empty and the safety was on.I understand that this man is strong advocate for guns. It is the pastor part that confuses me.
The words of Jesus recorded in the four gospels makes it clear that we are to pursue the things of God rather than the things of this world. We are to hold onto our mortal coil loosely. Very loosely. Being willing to sacrifice your life for a stranger or even a sworn enemy. He sacrificed his life for all of us. If you know the gospels, you know what I am saying is true. So what is the example being set by this pastor?
Guns are used to protect your life, often at the expense of another life. Guns are also used to harm others in the commission of sin. In other words, gun lovers value their mortal existence to the point of risking their very soul for killing an innocent person. Taking a life is even encouraged in places like Florida. The need for guns is just another manifestation of materialism.
It seems rather immature in Christ for a pastor to make a spectacle of his love for another form of materialism. The thing that drove him to the streets was a need to show off his assault rifle. Never mind the love of God. Never mind the people crying out from want, disease, or oppression. His aggressive performance art is to evangelize for guns, not God.
Holcomb said the reason he took the walk through Huntsville and through several private businesses was to educate people about Texas open carry laws and how he, and thousands of other gun rights activists, would like to see Texas law changed.
Texas is not an “open carry” state. You cannot legally in Texas, like you can in the state of Virginia for example, carry a handgun openly on your hip. Texas law states the handgun must be concealed under your clothing.
It also makes me wonder what he is teaching his flock if this is his public example. Jesus allowed his own life to be taken. The Lord said we, His followers, are to set the bar as high as possible for loving others. Publicity stunts for Mammon seems questionable in the context of Christ.
This outrageous behavior has become all too common. We see Christian leaders everywhere you look singing the praises of "free market" materialism, politicians, guns, and war. Christian media routinely host guests that recommend policies straight from the pages of avowed atheist Ayn Rand. Richard Land blessed the Iraq war as "just" in the name of Southern Baptists. That Holcomb fellow down in Texas is just another in a long line of highly visible Christians doing their best to betray the teachings of Christ. We should be outdoing one another in acts of brotherly and sisterly love.
This outrageous behavior has become all too common. We see Christian leaders everywhere you look singing the praises of "free market" materialism, politicians, guns, and war. Christian media routinely host guests that recommend policies straight from the pages of avowed atheist Ayn Rand. Richard Land blessed the Iraq war as "just" in the name of Southern Baptists. That Holcomb fellow down in Texas is just another in a long line of highly visible Christians doing their best to betray the teachings of Christ. We should be outdoing one another in acts of brotherly and sisterly love.
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