Murder, Violence, Destruction...

How far will we fall? We have killings on our campuses, we have shootings in our high schools, and we even have kids killing kids on our play grounds. The debate is raging on how to provide more security, gun control, and even arming other kids to protect them. I want to ask one question…What has changed? In our society, in our communities, and in our homes what has changed? These violent acts did not happen in a vacuum. What was the catalyst? It isn’t that guns are more readily available, we have always had guns. It isn’t that we now have violent movies, we have always had violent movies. It isn’t that our kids no longer have great homes, there have always been cruddy families, and awful homes. So what is the difference? Journey with me to another time and another place and lets see what the real issues are…

Mankind without God will always follow a predictable path. Every society since the beginning has had the same plight and flight plan. God gives us the account in the book of Genesis where the first flight from God took off…

5 The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. 6 The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain. NIV Genesis 6:5-6


It all begins with the heart issue. It always does. Our hearts are deceptive, wicked, and desire to do exactly what they want which is usually the opposite of what God wants. “every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil.” Our thoughts reveal our heart. Our heart dictates our world view. Our world view dictates our behavior. Early man had a heart disease that is known in the Bible as sin. Sin if allowed will weave its tentacles around our lives until a firm grip is had then it will squeeze and press all hopes of life from its victim.


11 Now the earth was corrupt in God's sight and was full of violence. Genesis 6:11 NIV

The story has progressed. Man has now devolved from thoughts to actions. His heart has dictated his life. What he thought of in verse 5 now he is living in verse 11. Violence is always the result of a corrupt heart. Wayward thoughts if left unchecked will result in wayword actions.

So what does that have to do with us? In Genesis it begins with corrupt thoughts, corrupt hearts, minds far from God. Later those corrupt thoughts lead to corrupt deeds, volence against humanity. Then what you ask?

Genesis 7:23
23 Every living thing on the face of the earth was wiped out; men and animals and the creatures that move along the ground and the birds of the air were wiped from the earth. Only Noah was left, and those with him in the ark. NIV

The results of the path of sin was destruction. Everything was lost. Today if you were to track the demise of every empire, every kingdom, and every nation of our past you will find the same pattern. The gauntlet begins with God being left out of our economy, and our thoughts shifting from the things above to the things below, then our corrupt thoughts give birth to corrupt behavior, and in due course destruction comes. This is exactly what God said:

14 Temptation comes from the lure of our own evil desires. 15 These evil desires lead to evil actions, and evil actions lead to death. James 1:14-16 NLT

So what does this have to do with the killings recently? Everything.

We are in the very throws of the demise of our community as we know it. Evil desires and thoughts have given way to evil actions and violence in our community. These are the death rattles of a society. Don’t kid yourself apart from the God our end is in sight.


What can we do?
Pray…Prayer evokes the attention and focus of the only One who can do anything about the hearts of man, Jesus.

Take Responsibility…The issue isn’t going to be fixed because of gun control, security, or even metal detectors. The problem is that we as God’s representatives have not done a good job of selling the world on Jesus. This problem is squarely on the door step of the Church. Don’t just stand there, do something! Tell them about HIM! LIVE IT! GET INVOLVED!

Commit…Commit to the life changing work of Jesus through His favorite tool the Church. Changed lives, is the answer. Lives change here at MCC. Bring them in!

Take a second and read what Jesus had to say about the end…

Luke 17:26-27
26 "When the Son of Man returns, the world will be like the people were in Noah's day. 27 In those days before the flood, the people enjoyed banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat and the flood came to destroy them all. NLT