The idea of rifle collecting for its own sake has never been part of my ownership of them. In fact, I don’t buy anything just for the sake of having it – without a purpose or valid reason. Part of that is my background, and part is my temperment. That’s not to say that I didn’t make choices among potential candidates, but some of those choices were limited due to economics and/or availability at the time. Also, lifestyle changes were taking place, after a particular two decade period of missions related activity, in returning to a more stable lifestyle as a pastor again. That meant far less travel with most activity within the same city or township. In other words I was home more, wearing less hats. Also, that greatly enhanced our economic status. Not that pastors are well paid according to their community status or educational background, but there are added bonuses in addition to a decent salary. I actually began to have a savings account!
My first owned centerfire rifle was like this: A Brazilian Military 7 x 57 Mauser, still in its grease. The cost was $75.
That’s what I mean by background being a significant feature in choices. Then I was born in the Great Depression and witnessed the struggles of parents in survival mode. But it taught us to be thankful for little that became enough!
Reflection on that keeps us humble and thankful in the midst of too much focus on materialism in today’s super abundant culture. And that’s fully apparent with the media’s preoccupation, and political preoccupation, on “the economy” as though God ceased to exist or never did! And what if it crashes again?
Personally, I rest in God and His promises: “My God shall supply your ever need according to His riches in glory, by Christ Jesus”: (Philippians 4: 19) – a promise for those who trust Him, as written to a church in Phillipi, Greece, by the apostle Paul from a prison in Rome.
True Christians – (there have been many false ones as Jesus said would happen) – throughout the centuries since, have been among the poorest and most persecuted of peoples. Even today, they are discriminated against in much of the world, and many are still being martyred, including pastors and their families. And what about America? Atheism is coming on stronger and stronger, and true believers are being increasingly maginalized.
With all that as not just a backdrop, but a current reality, what should be my attitude about gun ownership, and any other matter as part of my lifestyle? Good questions!
< This rifle hasn’t been raved about in the media, except by myself. It was purchased new in late March, 2022. My first handloads for it were put together on 22 and 23 March, 2022, but not fired until April 4, 2022. Those were from some .358-cal bullets I still had on hand from previous handloads in a .35 Whelen. The .35 Whelen has become one of my all-time favorites. This particular rifle: a Traditions G3 “Outfitter” is a single-shot with many good features, but was relatively cheap compared to a modern bolt-action repeater. The scope is a Diamondback Vortex, which is near the bottom in cost for a Vortex. In other words, the whole package was inexpensive in comparison to other brands and styles. . . but I love it! It’s light, handy, accurate and very powerful! It sees most action these days. If this were the only hunting rifle I could own, using my handloads, I’d not be deprived of any hunting on this continent or for African Plains Game!
A 225 Accubond at 2840 fps, or the 250 Partition at 2700 fps, or a 180 TTSX at 3050 fps could cover all world-wide hunting except two of Africa’s Dangerous Six!
Is God mean-spirited and against wealth? Apparently not as both Abraham and Job were among the wealthiest of their generations and neighbours. . . but each had their share of misery and unhappiness as a result, too. The point of biblical teaching is: don’t rely on it, live for it or worship it because it’s not God and is temporary at best and we can’t take it with us at death! And “it is appointed to all men (persons) to die, and after death to face judgment”. That’s facing God with no human or material supports, no bank account and empty pockets!
So, what is a rifle in comparison? It’s a “thing” at best. Nothing more! So it’s easy to send one away if we realize it’s no more than a temporary pleasure. . . or “thing”. Because that day is coming for me, you and everyone else. . . . where we will be “sent down the road” away from ALL temporary pleasures, likes and lusts! Then what?
So, what’s my life been worth? How will that be judged by God/Christ? For in the final analysis, that’s the only evaluation that will endure. What family thinks matters now; what you and others may think matters a very little now. . . but what God thinks matters more than what’s temporary and seen, because He knows me, the secrets of my heart, and whether I’ve treasured Him above all earthly good . . . God himself above His gifts – that’s the first and greatest commandment; Jesus said so!
Matthew 22: 34 – 40: Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the Law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: ” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind’. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
That’s the standard, and all nominal Christians agree. But the catch is: Nobody is able to do it! That is apart from what Jesus said to a Jewish Rabbi named Nicodemus: John’s Gospel ch 3: “Nicodemus, unless you are born again you cannot see the kingdom of God”. “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” – Paul declared! And Jesus answered the Pharisee Nicodemus: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. And whoever does not believe will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him” – John 3: 16.
Knowing all that, and believing it, how can we enjoy any earthly pleasures – “stuff”? Recognise them for what they are – not for what they are not! God never intended that our fulfillment and happiness should depend on material possessions – they are temporary at best and though God permits them, and even gives them as gifts, they were never intended to be eternal or ultimate in their purpose. For anyone to do so amounts to the worship of idols, which is abhorrent to the One who created us for His purposes and glory. See: Isaiah chps 53 – 66.
But since I’m still alive in a temporary world, I enjoy legitimate temporary stuff. But if something happens to my brain or other physical apparatis, so that I can no longer enjoy living, then the loss of anything temporary has already taken place. For instance: One of my remaining very close friends is 86, and has had open heart surgery several years ago. His wife passed over a year ago in June/24. He has a bank account worth over a million and a 43 yr-old Down’s syndrome daughter who lives with him. Recently his legs have been badly swollen with water – a very bad symptom for a heart attack that he’s not likely to survive. I meet with him weekly over coffee and his main concern is for his daughter who is still very dependant on him. I had her mother’s funeral a year ago this past June. Soon, she may lose her father. Does millions in the bank and investments adequately compensate for that? My friend is a true believer in Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord, so he has no concerns over that personally, but he does for two of his three sons. To him, relationships have always meant more than money and possessions.
I’ve been thinking lately what I’d say at his funeral: As a biblical character, I’d relate him to Abraham, who was very wealthy, but primarily, apart from his trust in God, he was a family man.
So, priorities for any man should be first a meaningful relationship with God, and secondly, his relationship with family (his closest neighbours). In fact, the latter is very dependant on the former!
< How could my family love a face like that? A couple of years ago I had surgery on my nose. The surgeon took a piece of my forehead to patch the nose. It was about cancer concerns. My family was supportive and affectionate through it all. . . even my adult grandkids!
>Some of our supporters: 1/4 of our family: son Phil in blue, checking his GPS and about to fly that plane in background; his wife behind right elbow; their three daughters with two husbands (the oldest daughter was married sometime later than this pic – she’s the shortest – so now three sons-in-law, plus a grandson not in pic) – anyone of them worth far more than all the gold in the universe – to God and to my wife and me!
Till the next. . . .
Shalom
BOB MITCHELL
Lovin' The Big Bang 