Another shooting takes the lives of ________ innocent people. Just days after the deadly shooting at a __________ in ____________ took the lives of __________ innocent people.
And repeat. And repeat. Again. And again.
Some thoughts for the next violent tragedy that occurs somewhere in America…
Politicians of every stripe rush to use tragedies like these (and cultural battles like the ones raging around abortion and gender identity, etc.) to appeal to their base and forward personal agendas, “Never waste a crisis” is a philosophy that reaches across the centuries.
After such incidents, especially after mass shootings, presidents and politicians and community leaders declare that America needs to do some “soul searching” on the issues at hand (often gun violence).
I agree, but not in the way these leaders intend their words to be understood.
Instinct compels people to point fingers at a time like this. Let others point and pick and preen. Our fingers should only point back to ourselves. That’s how it should be for all. Once in Jesus’ time, a tower under construction fell on top of several people, killing 18. People wanted to know what the deceased had done in order to deserve such a sudden, shocking death. Surely they had done something terrible…
Jesus declared, “Do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” (Luke 13:4b,5)
Through the ups and downs of life, in the midst of challenges and blessings, the Lord requires soul-searching on our part. We are to daily assess ourselves with complete honesty and cultivate a repentant heart. God’s Spirit is certainly at work during this. And his work has eternal impact.
Soul searching, indeed. Not for political gain. Not to come to an agreement with political parties or fellow conversationalists at a backyard barbeque. But to repent, to come before the Lord with an exceedingly humble and repentant spirit, and thereby be ready when the time comes for the Lord to take us home.
God keep you,
Pastor Stephen Luchterhand
And repeat. And repeat. Again. And again.
Some thoughts for the next violent tragedy that occurs somewhere in America…
Politicians of every stripe rush to use tragedies like these (and cultural battles like the ones raging around abortion and gender identity, etc.) to appeal to their base and forward personal agendas, “Never waste a crisis” is a philosophy that reaches across the centuries.
After such incidents, especially after mass shootings, presidents and politicians and community leaders declare that America needs to do some “soul searching” on the issues at hand (often gun violence).
I agree, but not in the way these leaders intend their words to be understood.
Instinct compels people to point fingers at a time like this. Let others point and pick and preen. Our fingers should only point back to ourselves. That’s how it should be for all. Once in Jesus’ time, a tower under construction fell on top of several people, killing 18. People wanted to know what the deceased had done in order to deserve such a sudden, shocking death. Surely they had done something terrible…
Jesus declared, “Do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” (Luke 13:4b,5)
Through the ups and downs of life, in the midst of challenges and blessings, the Lord requires soul-searching on our part. We are to daily assess ourselves with complete honesty and cultivate a repentant heart. God’s Spirit is certainly at work during this. And his work has eternal impact.
Soul searching, indeed. Not for political gain. Not to come to an agreement with political parties or fellow conversationalists at a backyard barbeque. But to repent, to come before the Lord with an exceedingly humble and repentant spirit, and thereby be ready when the time comes for the Lord to take us home.
God keep you,
Pastor Stephen Luchterhand
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