(There are two articles on this page)
The Violence In Our Land
by Dan Richardson
“And even as they refused to have God in their knowledge, God gave them up unto a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not fitting: being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malignity, whisperers, backbiters, hateful of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, unmerciful …” (Romans 1:28-31).
Our nation reels in shock over yet another school shooting in Texas. I can scarcely comprehend how traumatized all of those families who lost love ones must be. I pray for them God’s comfort and strength. And I pray for that community. And I pray for our country. The same question is asked now that has been asked regarding every such tragedy – Why?
Varied answers have been proposed, from violence on TV, movies and video/computer games, to a lack of regulation in gun control. I am convinced the problem lies much deeper than these social issues. In fact, these are mere symptoms of a much larger issue in the world – no faith in God.
There was a time, not that many years ago, when God was revered by many. People believed in their Creator. They read their Bibles, believing it is God’s word. Parents taught their children God-given values, such as to respect human life and put others before themselves. However, just as Paul describes in the first century, so it is today; a vast amount of humanity, “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools” (Romans 1:22). God has been ridiculed so long in our country that many have either dismissed Him altogether as non-existent, or else they merely give lip service to Him. Religion has become more about entertainment than pleasing God. In short, God is generally not desired nor served. The masses have refused God in their knowledge, replacing Him with theories of humanism which suggests man is nothing more than an animal a little higher on the evolutionary scale. The consequences of these ungodly theories, which should not be surprising, are people with no moral fiber nor spiritual values and restraints. Scripture refers to this category of people as they who, “… despise dominion … creatures without reason, born mere animals to be taken and destroyed, railing in matters whereof they are ignorant, shall in their destroying surely be destroyed” (II Peter 2:10, 12).
Humanistic thinking seeks to make man his own god, with the world revolving around him, satisfying his every desire with no regard for his fellow man. Such blatant selfishness is described in the Bible. Paul, warning of man’s wickedness in the grievous times ahead, speaks of, “lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, railers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, no lovers of good, traitors, head-strong, puffed up, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God” (II Timothy 3:2-4).
When we contemplate why there is so much violence in today’s world, we would do well to remember God’s warnings concerning those who do not give Him reverence, neither retain Him in their knowledge, nor teach their children to do so. Until we learn this, we are merely treating the symptoms.
Sons Of Peace In A Violent World
by Joe R. Price
Our hearts ache for the family and friends who have lost loved ones in the mass murders taking place far too often in America, including the school shooting in Uvalde, TX, and the medical facility in Tulsa, OK.
Some say the answer to this problem is to outlaw certain guns and firearm equipment. Others say we must harden schools and facilities with more security protocols. Some say we need red flag laws to identify and restrain people who show signs of threatening, violent behavior.
We hear politicians talk about the root causes of immigration, inflation, crime, and other social troubles. Well, the root cause of criminal violence is the heart. That is where evil begins and from which evil is inflicted on others. “For from within, out of the heart of men, evil thoughts proceed, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, covetings, wickednesses, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, railing, pride, foolishness: all these evil things proceed from within, and defile the man” (Mark 7:21-23). Until the heart is converted, “evil men and impostors shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived” (II Timothy 3:13).
Loving God and others as ourselves prevents one from harming others (Romans 13:8-10). Therefore, we must live by God’s moral code, not merely give it lip service.
Intact families bring stability and accountability to society. Conversely, the destruction of the God-arranged family lies at the root of violent crime and self-centered disregard for life (Matthew 19:3-6; Ephesians 6:1-4).
The gospel of Jesus continues to shine the light of truth and peace in a violent world (John 8:12). Christians do not repay evil with evil and we do not avenge ourselves. Instead, we act honorably, having regard for “good things in the sight of all men,” and make every effort to “live peaceably with all men” (Romans 12:17-19). The evil heart is the root cause of criminal violence, not the law-abiding, God and neighbor-loving citizen.