Are you fighting spiritual battles with carnal weapons?

​I sometimes feel like I’m repeating myself. Why does so much church security focus center on spotting “the man in the trench coat on a hot day” instead of obeying the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16–20)?

For over fifteen years, I’ve worked in this field, continually urging that we act as ambassadors of Christ, protecting the flock while advancing God’s kingdom. Yet the louder voices push teams to become bouncers, security guards, or wannabe SWAT officers. Many ministries, it seems to me, are chasing the wind, pursuing goals that miss the true heart of church safety: evangelism combined with the faithful duty of a watchman.

This is not about fear of criticism or concern over feelings. I have been doing this long enough to have buried friends and read too many after action reports to remain silent. This is a heartfelt warning. What I see across the country is fear being instilled where faith should lead, paranoia replacing wisdom, and posture replacing heart. I believe in protecting life, even at the cost of my own, but I also believe I will one day stand before God and answer for how I did it. Training that is disconnected from God’s guidance, right heart posture, and proactive wisdom has already gotten people killed. We were never called to operate in fear, suspicion, or ego, but to walk in obedience, discernment, and trust in the Lord who ultimately protects His people.

Brothers and sisters, across the country, “church security companies” teach fighting a spiritual battle with carnal weapons. One prominent expert declared, “If you can do violence against another person to save your fellow man and love Jesus, you are at the right place.” He also said, in essence, “If you love guns and you love Jesus, you’ve come to the right place.” I find neither statement in Scripture. This man has a large following mainly because he insists safety teams should operate like police departments, something most states would strongly discourage.

I teach nationwide and always invite local law enforcement to my sessions so nothing I present violates their laws or professional standards. Not once has an agency called my approach wrong. More often they say, “Listen to what Jim is saying, this will keep you out of trouble.”

Yet the popular industry largely pushes the opposite: reactive, fear driven tactics.

On a recent visit to a small church, I parked in the first time visitor spot and immediately saw three men in black, tight fitting T-shirts with “SECURITY” in large yellow letters across the back. My wife warned me to “be good,” but I thought, Here is the perfect example.

Tactically, because of the small size of the church, those three likely formed most of the team. To a bad actor, the strategy is obvious: neutralize them first, then anyone else in black, even a grandmother who simply wore the wrong color that day. No team should resemble bar bouncers or the Secret Service. Blend in as ordinary congregants. If you’re doing the job right, everyone who needs to know already does, no advertising required.

After the service, I thanked the pastor. As we spoke, one security member positioned himself directly behind the pastor. I understood the intent but couldn’t help wondering how it might appear to a hurting visitor seeking private counsel: “Be careful what you share, we’re watching.”

Heavy handed visibility can unintentionally signal suspicion and control rather than openness and grace. We must ask whether our methods align with a mission to welcome all who seek Christ.

This fear driven mindset dominates much commercial training today. A recent social media ad from a gun carrier insurance salesman solemnly asked, “Do you have a church security team? If not, why?” then directed viewers to a company focused almost exclusively on reactive active-shooter response.

These approaches to church security don’t just fall short, they actively endanger lives, create liability issues, and introduces the potential guilt one would face if someone they cared about were killed because of their actions. Sending civilians with eight hours of training to hunt an active shooter is reckless and dangerous. Once again, we are training church protectors with carnal weapons to fight spiritual battles. It breaks my heart to know that individuals are paying $125 to learn direct-to-threat response tactics, room clearing fundamentals, hallway and corridor movement, and team communication, then walking away believing they are prepared to track down an active shooter without being killed or seriously injured. One day of training does not make someone a SWAT commander, and no certificate is bulletproof.

It is important to clarify that we do offer training on responding to an active assailant, but our approach is fundamentally different from military or SWAT doctrine. We teach a proper civilian response, modeled after programs such as the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office’s Alert, Barricade, and Confront, not the law enforcement or military mindset of “move, shoot, communicate, kill.” These are two entirely different missions with vastly different risk profiles. Our training is informed by active and retired law enforcement officers from agencies across the United States, each with decades of real world experience. When they encounter programs that promise to turn civilians into tactical operators in a single day, they are stunned that such companies exist at all because they know firsthand how dangerous and unrealistic those promises are.

David faced Goliath with no military or security company training. A shepherd who had protected his flock from lion and bear, he always gave glory to God. Armed with five smooth stones and a sling against the best armor of the day, David’s heart was right with God. In 1 Samuel 17:47, he declared the truth we must never forget: “All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”

So who do you serve, yourself or the Lord?

We must understand that church safety training is important. But we should be proactive by being ambassadors of the church, not reactive once the danger occurs. When you arrive to protect the flock, is your heart right with God? Is your primary aim making disciples, or are you feeding your ego with carnal weapons in a spiritual war?

One day we will answer to Christ. I’m banking on 1 Peter 5:2–4: “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them, not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.”

Using this spiritual armor will never lead you astray.

---

Interest in hosting a sponsored training event.

Contact us to learn more