I once saw a young man walking into a public street gathering carrying a black bible low at his side like a low hung pistol. I reckon he could draw John 3:16 in a fluid motion and take out an unbelieve with one shot. Don’t take your KJV to town, son… A quiet word is more likely to hit folks in the heart.
Years ago, an American that we met in LA took us to the Gene Autry Western Museum, where we saw authentic six-guns worth millions of dollars. Among them was Sam Colt’s Peacemaker (which didn’t bring people together but blew them apart). We saw dresses worn by Debbie Reynolds in the making of the movie “How the West was Won” and lots of other Wild West memorabilia.
When I was a boy, I never much liked Gene Autry’s style, which was to stop the action, strum his guitar, and sing happy cowboy songs. What I wanted were punch-ups in which those wearing black hats got what was coming to them.
What has this to do with the Bible? Just that being ‘quick on the draw’ with proof texts doesn’t give us the right to shoot bible verses at people just because we wear white hats — especially when they haven’t heard
Having said that, when it comes to a face-off between a Christian who quotes the words of Jesus and one who can only quote texts from religious writings that deny the teaching of the Lord Jesus — and when that person has in mind to take over my town — well, when he “reaches for it” I’ll do the same in the power of the Holy Spirit.
It won’t be time to pause for a few strums followed by a song on the old guitar, but instead, by God’s grace, it will be High Noon for me but Midnight for the guy wearing the black hat.
Jesus Saves! We only have to ask.