When Things Suddenly Change

This past Saturday afternoon I had written a blog post that was to publish on Monday. The breaking news on Saturday evening quickly moved that post to a time a week later. There are times when we all must recognize some truths while the events of a moment are fixed in our minds. Of course the moment that I am referencing is the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, the killing of one rally attendee, and the wounding of two other attendees.

From the formation of this website and the blog posting I have written, there have been none focused on politics or a specific political party's view. Instead, I have taken the perspective of staying focused on Biblical truth and principles. This article will continue to hold to those parameters.

Shootings and killings have become all too frequent in our nation. The attempted assassination of a political figure falls into that same category. While I am writing this, a motive has still not been discovered as to why the shooter chose to fire into this political rally with the intent to kill Donald Trump.

There are many who are already drawing lines saying it was totally politically motivated. If so, the division that already exists in our country between the two major parties will increase. We are a nation founded on a basis of equality of all people, the freedom to speak and debate, the privilege to vote, and the right to representation. Violence is not an acceptable voice or means of expressing one's opinions in this nation. And yet, many seem to choose this means in the streets of our cities, in our schools, and in political forums. The Bible gives us a direct warning regarding the result when a nation, a city, or even a house is divided against itself. Jesus spoke these words in Matthew 12:25.

"Every kingdom divided against itself is headed for

destruction, and no city or house divided against

itself will stand."

We are also a nation that values law and order. The question of our day is whether law and order is enough to curtail and eliminate the violence that many choose to embrace in this 21st Century. Beyond curtailing and eliminating violence, can law and order close the breach that currently exists? I personally believe that this type of healng will not come by the efforts of men and women but by the power of God as we allow Him to move in and through our lives.

In the sermon of Jesus that we have labeled as the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus listed several statements that we call the beatitudes. In Matthew 5:9, Jesus spoke these words:

"Blessed are the peacemakers, because they

will be called sons of God."

Do we make peace in our homes, our cities, our nation, and between nations and cultures by having the biggest weapons and arsenal of firepower? Or do we find in the words and teachings of the Bible the directives that can lead to the healing within homes and nations? Here are a few of the words that can offer hope to all people and violence doesn't appear in the list:

• "Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger." James 1:19

• "Love your neighbor as yourself." Matthew 22:39

• "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" Matthew 5:44

• "Love one another even as I have loved you." John 13:34

• "Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10

• "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind." Matthew 22:37

Will doing these things result in an instant healing of all that divides us? Only God can provide the healing in our lives and in the lives of others. But these are steps that He will use in your life and mine that will allow divisions to be healed. Violence can never accomplish the needed healing, but God can.

With whom do you need to begin the process of restoring a relationship? Anger that leads to violence willl not help you in this type of restoration, but the love of God through you can. Consider this - if someone had reached out to a young man in Pennsylvania with God's love, the news reports from last Saturday night might have been totally different. Consider that as you interact with people this week.

It is time to replace anger and violence with prayer for our nation, our leaders, and one another.