Should A Christian Leader Have Bodyguard(s)?

Ezra 8:22 – I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, “The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him. ”(NIV)

Ezra 8:22 – I was embarrassed to ask the king for a cavalry bodyguard to protect us from bandits on the road. We had just told the king, “Our God lovingly looks after all those who seek him, but turns away in disgust from those who leave him.”(Message Bible)

Ezra 8:22 – I was ashamed to ask the king to send soldiers and cavalry to protect us against enemies along the way. After all, we had told the king that our God takes care of everyone who truly worships him, but that he gets very angry and punishes anyone who refuses to obey.(Contemporary English Version)

Ezra in convincing the king that they could rebuild Jerusalem and its temple, had assured the king that God will take care of them and guard them. The king gave Ezra and Israelites permission to go and rebuild Jerusalem and its temple. Ezra and team started preparations for the journey.

Ezra and team collected resources from the king and from many other well wishers. Ezra and team were now ready to travel. They had so many value me things that any thief or enemy would want to steal from them.

Ezra 8:24 – Then I set apart twelve of the leading priests, namely, Sherebiah, Hashabiah and ten of their brothers,

Ezra 8:25 – and I weighed out to them the offering of silver and gold and the articles that the king, his advisers, his officials and all Israel present there had donated for the house of our God.

Ezra 8:26 – I weighed out to them 650 talents of silver, silver articles weighing 100 talents, 100 talents of gold,

Ezra 8:27 – 20 bowls of gold valued at 1,000 darics, and two fine articles of polished bronze, as precious as gold.

Ezra 8:28 – I said to them, “You as well as these articles are consecrated to the LORD. The silver and gold are a freewill offering to the LORD, the God of your ancestors.

Ezra 8:29 – Guard them carefully until you weigh them out in the chambers of the house of the LORD in Jerusalem before the leading priests and the Levites and the family heads of Israel.”

Ezra 8:30 – Then the priests and Levites received the silver and gold and sacred articles that had been weighed out to be taken to the house of our God in Jerusalem.

When Ezra saw the magnitude of the donations and the value of things they were to carry on foot day and night towards  Jerusalem, he got worried. The road to Jerusalem had thieves who would want these valuables. The road to Jerusalem was through enemy territory. Enemies who did not want Israelites back to Jerusalem. Enemies who did not want anyone to rebuild Jerusalem and its temple.

If these enemies knew that Ezra and team will pass by they will attack. If any band of thieves knew what Ezra and team were carrying, they will attack. Should they ask the king for security? Soldiers to escort them? Bodyguards to protect them?

Ezra 8:22 – I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, “The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him. ”

There is no problem if a Christian or a believer in God gets security to ensure safety of property and life. The problem is that they had assured the king at the beginning that this mission will succeed because God will provide security and everything needed. To ask for security would be to suggest that we can’t trust God at this point.

To ask the king for security would be to suggest that God could have taken care of us if we didn’t have all these gold and silver. The king would wonder why the change of mind. Is it the gold and silver that has made you feel that for these valuables God can’t protect you?

Ezra resorted not to ask for security to escort them. Asking for security meant that they had reviewed their trust in God. Asking for security would have been misunderstood by everyone who had heard them declare faith in God. Asking for security would be understood as having a God who can protect at some point and can’t protect under other circumstances. Asking for security would be a lack of faith.

There are circumstances that a Christian leader may get services of security experts. However if the security guards are interpreted as a lack of faith in God, then we should not have such guards. We must be sensitive to what our actions will be interpreted to mean. 

It is wrong to have bodyguards for show off. It is wrong to have bodyguards as a way of matching worldly standards of leaders. It is wrong to have security that serve no purpose and consume sacred financial resources. 

There are times when threats unknown to the public exist. Without telling the public, the Christian may be seen under round the clock guard. We should not be quick to judge when we see a Christian going round with security.

Some Christian leaders who serve outside the church may have security because of the nature of their job. They may have security as a requirement without an option to opt out. That is understandable. The concern would be church leaders spending sacred resources for what may seem as a luxurious show of power. However we should not be quick to condemn, because we do not know all the facts.

A church worker does not get power and respect from show of security force and opulence. Such power would be inferior to the power of our God. It is a sign of spiritual immaturity to seek respect in such worldly ways.

Ezra’s circumstances and level of threat justified the need for armed escort. On another hand, Ezra’s discussion with the king, made it unwise to seek armed escort. Ezra’s testimony of God’s power required that he operates without the much needed security. Circumstances and honor of God’s name take a priority when deciding if to have security or not.

May God save us from being quick to condemn. May God save us from the need for security. May God grant us the wisdom to know when we need security and when we don’t. May God give us faith when we need security but for the sake of His name we must operate without security. In Jesus’s name, Amen!

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