I was saddened to hear about another shooting near Roanoke Virginia. Two journalists, cameraman Adam Ward, and reporter Alison Parker, were gunned down by a fellow employee of the local TV station there. I am not going to comment on this terrible event, only to say that our thoughts and prayers go out to their families. The debate goes on over what should be the main focus on how to fix this problem of horrific violence in our nation. Is it the focus on gun control, or on mental illness? I have a question: How about we focus on Jesus Christ, who has the answer to this problem? What did He say about violence? In Matthew 26:52-54 Jesus said this:
"Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” After Peter struck the servant and cut off his ear, Jesus admonishes him for this act of violence. Violence, according to Jesus, does not have a positive end. It leads to destruction, and death. If the Lord wanted to, He could have called twelve legions of angels to rescue Him. But this was not His plan. His plan was to fulfill the Word of God. He knew that God's plan for Him was to die for the world, and to suffer death on the cross, for a world that had been disobedient towards God. He would show unconditional love instead of revenge. If we show the same attitude that Jesus showed, than our minds and hearts will be right, and these horrific acts of violence will not be a reality. GP
Photo by Stuart Miles. Published on 09 March 2015 Stock photo - Image ID: 100314437
