Am I the only one that is sick and tired of hearing another story of terror, murder and evil? I don’t think so! The attack on Republicans practicing for a baseball game? A UPS employee shooting and a catastrophic fire in London – all on the same day!
Growing up in the 60’s, I recall watching the riots on television, but I also remember watching Neil Armstrong land on the moon. I recall the assassination of Bobby Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Both horrific, evil crimes…but we are living in a day that has these evil crimes are happening every single day! That’s Enough! That’s what my Pop would say when things weren’t going well. Pop was a good man. He did however have a fuse, that when lit could short circuit a block or two. When Pop got frustrated, he’d say (loudly) “By God – That’s Enough!” You know what, we are way past That’s Enough!
The civil discourse of American politics, and faith has reached all time lows. So, what can we do about it? Are we to continue to point boney fingers of blame across party aisles? Maybe we should shout more hate-filled words at people that disagree with us. Or my favorite – How about destroying somebody’s property because we can protest anything and everything…even if we don’t really know what the issue is. Yes…I am angry about this mess!
If we are to right the ship, it must start in the hearts of men and women that have the courage to speak truth in love. If we are to make America great again, it must start with the churches, schools and businesses that seek peace and wisdom from on high. If we are to see an end to the evil of terrorism, we must start with our own heart. King David gave us a lesson that we must put in place NOW. “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! – Psalm 139:23-24 IT ALL STARTS IN OUR HEARTS!
- If we cannot speak truth in love in our homes, how will we ever speak it on Capital Hill?
- If churches cannot learn to love people that do not agree with us, how will we ever convey the love of Jesus?
- If schools and municipalities cannot work along side each other, how will we leave this world to our grandchildren?
Pop was right then and he is still right today – “By God, That’s Enough!”
Jesus was abundantly clear – “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Matthew 5:43
If we want our grandchildren to inherit a hate-filled world, keep blowing off the words of the Savior. If we want our children to have a chance at peace, let them hear, see and feel our lives being led by the words of Jesus in Matthew 5. You cannot change a world by pointing fingers at every single person that disagrees with you. We cannot leave a better world to our kids if we are hellbent on blaming every single thing on a political party that is on the other side of the aisle. I actually heard, in one news segment tonight that the cowardly shooting this morning, on a baseball field would not have happened if Donald Trump was not our president. Within 15 minutes, on the same news program, the shootings were attributed to Bernie Sanders. Wait, What?
I know it seems beyond our control, but how we act and react to these terror filled days will determine how the next generation of Americans will act and react. It sounds so simplistic, but I truly believe that we do not need someone else to blame. We need to look deep into the mirror and use King David’s approach – Search ME! Then take a hard look and compare our life – NOT TO ANOTHER MAN – but to the very red lettered words of the Savior of the World as He says Love your enemies and pray for those that persecute you!
I get it! This stuff will leave you angry beyond comprehension and sour your heart with equally evil responses. BUT! At some point, men and women that claim to be Followers of Jesus must STOP and realize That’s Enough! And it starts in our own hate-filled hearts. If we are to extinguish the vile, repetitive evil that occurs almost hourly, it must start in our hearts and it must start now!
My plan is simple: Choose the way of the Divine. Allow Him to direct my steps. When hate creeps up behind me and grabs me by the throat, I will call on the name of the Lord. He has promised to guard me, protect me and bless me. But I must first trust Him to do that. He is the way to peace in the midst of a corrupt and evil society. Not more government, or less government. Not more education or less education. Not more hipster churches with cool buildings and skinny jeans. Not homes that speak hatred at the dinner table. It is this one thing – CHOOSE THE WAY OF THE DIVINE.
Won’t you join me? The only thing we have to lose is everything!
—AChuck
