Jesus says, "Put your sword back in its place! Everyone who uses a sword will be killed by a sword" (Matthew 26:52, International Version).
Jesus spoke these words when armed men came to take Him to a false trial where men trumped up charges against Him. Jesus, the Son of God who had all power in His hands, did not allow a friend to use a weapon to protect or defend Him. He relied on the justice of God that would vindicate Him after He died "at the hands of sinful man and would be raised from dead on the third day". Jesus' has given us an example to live by; and to remember what He says: he who uses violence will die by violence. This is exactly what is occuring in our world today.
We are experiencing in our world, nation, communities and families more violence. Even non-believers are astounded by the grip of violence on this nation. No matter what side of the debate you are on regarding the right to bear arms or the need for gun control, you would have to be blind not to see how violence permeated in the media, Internet and "all over" iy is seaping into the fabric of our lives.
More and more, we are exposed by violence or the acts of violence perpetuated on others. Our children are getting it through games, movies and novels, dark with violence and wickedness. Our television programs of “law, order, crime, death” are aired from sun-up to sundown on cable stations all over the country. How many “cop” shows or “detective shows” do we need? How many murder crime shows do we need to watch to not see that violence has become a national addiction. Are you wondering why there is so much violence in our land?
Even after the terrible horror of Newtown, CT, days and weeks later, more shootings have occurred over the country. Nobody is talking about it. No one is talking about the kidnapping of that little child in Alabama weeks after Newtown; the shootings in CA and on and on – we are becoming immune unless it is a massacre. “My God, help us to see You with clear eyes”. Christians, on both fronts are voiceless – I have not heard one Christian leader stand up and say we need to support President Obama in his fight to initiate more gun controls. I am afraid that some persons calling themselves Christians may have been in the gun store buying weaponry to protect themselves from …I don’t know what – I don’t own a gun and I don’t want a gun in my house!
As believers in Jesus Christ we should be attuned to His Word and Spirit. As believers we should feel so troubled when our world is roaring to a hellish existence. We have the answr: jesus Christ. We know the answer for the world’s (our nation’s problems): Jesus Christ. Why should we speak up against gun violence in every community and against any peoples: because we are told in Holy Scripture to stand up for righteousness and to speak out andintecede when we see our fellow neighbors in trouble. Our nation is in trouble; this nation of violence is sowing and reaping violence.
May we learn how to serve Jesus by serving and praying for others: our community, our nation and our world. We must stop the violence. We have an opportunity to do that: my sending our support to the President; wring lettesto and praying that God will destroy the spirit of violence and murder in our land, in our time. No one cares about all of the regulatory wars; the wars of both camps about the constitution amendment. We should care about every life that has slipped away from this world due to our lust for violence. “God deliver us from all evil.”
We need deliverance and we need Christians who will stop bickering about the color fo the skin of the President and the laws he supported that goes against our Christian faith. God knows that. Jesus is fully aware. God sets up kings and set them down. Trust God. Do the duty. Speak out for justice. Besides the 20 dear babies of Newtown, we have many more children of ethnicity dying in our streets.
Who will pray for them? Who wil bear the arm of the Lord to speak for justice and to stop gun violence.
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