Thursday; October 24

It is rare for me to open up my web browser and not see some kind of story about another act of violence that has taken the life of someone – all too often someone who is described as an innocent victim.  Often, associated with these stories, is a call for the end to gun violence which is a natural reaction by people who are grieving the loss of someone they love.  Now, it is important that you read the rest of what I am about to write because this isn’t a treatise on guns … it is an appeal to a deeper level of restraint.  You see, tools of violence are only a part of the story.  If we are going to end the violence, we need to dig deeper into the issues.  I will not advocate one way or the other on firearm ownership, but I will go on record decrying the influence of things like hate, intoxicating substances and anger.  While the Bible is silent on possession of dangerous weapons, it does callout negative emotional triggers.  The Old Testament says, “Do not look on the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly; at the last it bites like a serpent and stings like a viper.  Your eyes will see strange things and your mind will utter perverse things.” (Provers 23:31-33).  Jesus would go on record as saying, “You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not commit murder’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.” (Matthew 5:21-22).  If we are going to deal with issues, we need to realize that just stopping bullets (or knives or cars or blunt objects) isn’t going to solve the problem.  We have to get to the root of the problem. 

Can something be done to quell the violence in our communities?  I believe so, but it starts with getting to the heart of the matter – which after all is what is inside our hearts. 

Think About It!

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