A Kentucky-based religious group, Kentucky Baptist Convention (KBC), has been hosting “Second Amendment Celebrations,” giving away firearms as door prizes. The self-described “outreach to rednecks” intends to lure in new church members.
Win a gun, go with Jesus, because apparently He supports the second amendment.
Ex-pastor and former host of the Outdoor Channel’s religious-themed hunting show “Adventure Bound Outdoors,” said the event that gives away handguns, rifles, and shotguns is meant to “point people to Christ.” Over 500 people showed to the “outreach for rednecks” event that took place this past January.
“The day of hanging a banner in front of your church and saying you’re having a revival and expecting the community to show up is over,” said McAlister. “You have to know the hook that will attract people . . . So we get in there and burp and scratch and talk about the right to bear arms and that stuff.”
More and more churches are resorting to business-style marketing and sales pitch-like tactics in an attempt to gain more church members. Some have pointed out the irony that an organization that’s supposed to teach peace, love, and turning the other cheek is promoting defense by way of deadly means. Firearms have nothing to do with spreading the message of Jesus Christ, and clergy have spoken out against the McAlister and the gun raffles.
“How ironic to use guns to lure men in to hear a message about Jesus, who said, ‘Put away the sword,’” said Rev. Joe Phelps of Louisville. “Can you picture Jesus giving away guns, or toasters or raffle tickets? . . . He gave away bread once, but that was as a sign, not a sales pitch.”
Kentucky churches, at one time, used these types of events as a little more than a sales pitch.. Now, KBC is flexing political ideology mixed with religion. Georgia churches have been hosting similar events to appeal to the masculinity of rednecks who think it’s not “manly” to go to church.
Josh is a writer and researcher with Ring of Fire. Follow him on Twitter @dnJdeli.
