Never Give Up

Here we are again. A mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas resulting in 19 children and 2 teachers dead. Where is the church in addressing gun control in America?  Are these lives not just as important as the life of the unborn fetus?  Where is the uproar?  Where is the protests in the streets?  Where is the outrage? I am angry. You should be angry. If God could hear Abel’s blood crying from the ground, how loudly can He hear the cries right now.  We have seen in the last few weeks the gun violence in Buffalo, New York; Laguna Woods, CA, and New York, NY. How many Christians own guns? Do Christians love their guns more than they love people?  The church can not just simply offer their thoughts and prayers and sit idle on the sidelines.

We have a serious problem with gun violence in America. Guns have become an idol. 1 Corinthians 10:14 says, “Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.” People are worshipping guns and abusing the second amendment.  When do we, the church, finally say enough is enough?  What happened to “love your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus implored us to keep this commandment. (Luke 10:27)

God gave His only Begotten Son for us and how do we honor Him? We fall into idolatry. Idolatry of guns, idolatry of power, idolatry of greed, idolatry of pride. Instead of serving others we serve ourselves. Galatians 5:13 says, “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.” We have been given the free gift of salvation and instead of serving others with love, we serve our own flesh.  How would Jesus react?

Jesus was angry when he went to the temple courts and drove out the money changers.  He turned over the tables in anger and said, “My house will be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.” (Matthew 21:12-13) Can you imagine how angry Jesus is right now?

Jesus taught the parable of the Good Samaritan. A man was beaten and robbed on his travel from Jerusalem to Jericho. He was left for dead on the side of the road. A priest and Levite saw the man and passed him but the Samaritan man took pity on him and tended to his wounds.  The priest and Levite were supposed to know the Word of God yet they did nothing to help the man.  It was the Samaritan man who helped the man. Why is this parable so vitally important? Although the priest and Levite knew the Word, they weren’t a doer of the Word.  They were legalistic. The Samaritan man was considered low class at that time of history yet he demonstrated the love of Christ towards the man.  (Luke 10:25-37)  Jesus was telling us to follow the example of the Samaritan man. “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Yet, here we are again church. Are we going to follow the example of the priest and Levite or we going to follow the example of the Good Samaritan?  What’s it going to be church?