Selective Bible-thumping | The Salt Lake Tribune

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I find it interesting that, in arguing against gay marriage, many conservative Christians assert what they think God wants, while phrases in the Constitution like "equal protection of the law" don't mean a thing to them.

Yet, when it comes to guns, all you hear about is the Second Amendment and nothing about what God says. Could it be that is because the New Testament's teachings of Jesus and his apostles lend no support to our violent gun culture? In fact, for the first few centuries after Jesus, Christians were pacifists.

A nation where order is preserved by armed citizens threatening mutually assured destruction has nothing to do with the kind of peacemaking that Jesus asks of his disciples.

These anti-gay gun advocates focus on sex and vigilantism over love, healing and forgiveness. They certainly are authentic Americans, but they're not very good Christians.

Thomas Decker

Salt Lake City