I have been speaking of the danger and damage of Hate for a long time.  I have said little about the recent senseless acts of violence, but my heart is grieved.  I would be grieved no matter which side of the political aisle the victim was, it is SENSELESS and REPREHENSIBLY EVIL!

Have we reached the place in America and the world where our consciences are so seared that we no longer have any compassion for other human beings if they disagree with us?  I would like to say, “No,” but the evidence before me suggests that we have arrived at that destination.   Has the depravity of the human heart become so calloused that we can celebrate the murder of another human being?

As a believer in Jesus Christ, I cannot celebrate murder!  As I focus on what Jesus did for me on the Cross and the amazing gift of forgiveness and salvation, how can I not think of the eternal destination of every person?   I may profoundly disagree with the political, religious, moral, or ethical views of the victim, but they still possess an eternal soul.

We have attempted to make politics the cure-all for the nation’s ills, and we have failed miserably.  We have divided into sects, schisms, pacts, and groups, and alienated everyone outside our group.  We have convinced ourselves that whatever it takes to advance our ideology is justifiable because the other side is evil and must be defeated.   We did this somewhat slowly, by allowing our moral fiber to be unmoored and set adrift. 

If we want to see America restored to any semblance of the ideal that our Founding Fathers sought to establish, we must return to a nation of moral values.   We must recognize the gift we have been given in Freedom.  We must recognize that every human being has the inalienable right to Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.  We must realize that it is possible to disagree without succumbing to violence.

We will not resolve the issues and divide in America at the ballot box.  We will not resolve the issue of violence by growing more sectarian and isolating ourselves in our ideological bubbles.   It is possible to actually listen to another view, disagree with it, and remain civil in the process.   If I beat you or kill you, I have not solved the problem; I have exacerbated it.

I weep for the condition of our world, and unfortunately, the Bible predicted it and warned of it long ago.  Rather than getting better, our world is getting worse.  Is there no remedy?   Possibly not politically, but there is spiritually.   We will never have a utopia on Earth before the Eternal Reign of Christ.   As long as there is a devil and men’s hearts are unconverted, there will be violence and evil.   However, we can demonstrate love, and love is far more powerful than hate!

God helps us!   God, please bless America again!    What I have said may not resonate with you and may be so generic that it has little impact.   I pray for a return to strong families where children are trained for living, for recognition of the Gift of Life we have been given, and for a return to God.  

God bless you!