That’s the headline question above David Waters’ pre-Easter polemic. The Commercial Appeal columnist has no doubt that Jesus would want nothing to with a church gun raffle: “My feeling is that Jesus would have overturned that table and turned the shotgun into a plowshare or something life-giving, not potentially life-taking.” Memphis’ Hope Church is holding the raffle that caught Mr. Water’s eye. The man in charge — not The Man in Charge — is sensitive to such sensitivities . . .
“Given our world today, we would obviously never include a firearm that is known in our culture for violent acts,” Senior Pastor Rev. Eli Morris proclaimed in a press release, “a handgun or an assault weapon. This shotgun is a hunting rifle and the winner of the raffle will need to go to the merchant’s place of business, fill out the proper paperwork, and go through the mandated background check to secure the shotgun.”
So that’s alright then. I guess. Anyway, what would Jesus do at a church gun raffle?