By Pastor Barron Greenwalt, En-Joy Ministries

We must protect religious liberty in this country! As threats to our faith and freedom grow, Christian men have a God-given responsibility to stand as protectors—rooted not in fear, but in the active, protective love that Scripture commands.

Love Protects.

Love is not passive; it actively shields those we care about. As 1 Corinthians 13:7 (ESV) declares: “[Love] bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” This includes defending the vulnerable from harm. Love “does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth” (1 Corinthians 13:6). It opposes evil—not with hate, but with courage and resolve.

Jesus Himself modeled this protective love: He drove out the money-changers from the temple with a whip of cords (John 2:15) and stood up for the woman caught in adultery against her accusers (John 8:7-11). In today’s world, biblical love means standing against injustice and threats to our places of worship.

We see this principle vividly in the book of Nehemiah. As the people rebuilt Jerusalem’s wall amid opposition and danger, Nehemiah refused to let fear paralyze them. Instead, he organized the defense:

• He stationed armed guards behind the lowest parts of the wall (Nehemiah 4:13).
• Half the men worked while the other half stood equipped with spears, shields, bows, and armor (Nehemiah 4:16).
• Those carrying materials worked with one hand and held a weapon in the other, and every builder wore his sword at his side (Nehemiah 4:17-18).

They prayed to God for protection, but they also prepared practically—arming themselves to defend their families, their community, and the work God had called them to. This is the biblical model: faith in God’s sovereignty combined with responsible readiness.

Sadly, we live in a time when violence can invade even our sanctuaries. We are not in Minnesota, where thugs have disrupted church services and endangered worshippers in chaotic scenes that cannot be tolerated. Such intrusions remind us that evil does not respect sacred spaces. We must be prepared for the possibility that violence may enter our places of worship.

As a pastor, I want to be clear: I am armed when I go to work. I am armed when I come to church. And yes—even when I stand in the pulpit preaching the Word of God—I am armed. I am ready, and I will not hesitate to act if necessary to protect the flock entrusted to me/ around me – wherever I am.

This is not about paranoia or bravado. It is about courageous, biblical manhood. Christian men should be willing protectors—kind, gentle, and loving, but never mistaken for weak. Our kindness flows from strength, not softness. We say to our families: “I will protect you.” We say to our neighbors and brothers in Christ: “I will stand with you against threats.”

Men, if you’re not already a concealed carry permit holder, I strongly encourage you to consider getting one. It’s a practical, responsible step toward defending your family and community.

If you’re willing to learn, I’m here to help. I can provide training and practice sessions ––just buy some ammo. Feel free to reach out—we can work safely at my home or head to the State Game Lands range in Cranberry Township (you’ll need a current Pennsylvania hunting/furtaker license or an annual Shooting Range Permit).

Let’s be men who love well—by protecting well. Let’s rebuild the walls of our faith communities with one hand on the work and the other ready to defend.

If you’re interested in training, discussion, or just want to talk about stepping up, contact me anytime. Together, by God’s grace, we will guard what is precious.

In His service and protection, Pastor Barron Greenwalt. En-Joy Ministries