ANOTHER TRAGIC WEEKEND

James 4:1

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you?

                The tragic shootings in El Paso and Dayton have again inflamed our country. Our hearts break for the people of these two cities, as well as for ourselves. The fabric of our nation is not just frayed, it seems to be unraveling at an alarming rate. As a nation, we are constantly asking the question, “Why?” Many are quick to cast blame on others. They point at a lack of gun control, racism, violent video games, and the like. No doubt these things have played a role, but they are not the root of the problem. The root of the problem is to be found in heart of every person.   

                James pulls no punches when he reminds us that the source of all this evil comes from a heart alienated from God and others.

James 4:1-3

    What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

                When these tragedies take place, we are quick to point fingers and cast blame on others. Yet we often fail to look in the mirror and own our part. The real answer to why people act this way is that their heart is ruled by sin. Again, James is clear about the motivation that would lead someone to such a deadly conclusion.

James 1:13-15

    When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

                So what is the solution? New rules and regulations may moderate the violence, but they will never stop it. The only real solution is to transform the hearts of people. This can only be done through the transforming power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am not talking about the watered down, cultural Christianity that is so common today in America. I am talking about the robust faith that Jesus demands of all who will follow Him. Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23)

                The Bible promises us that when we genuinely turn to Christ in faith our lives will be transformed into something new and very different. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! (2 Corinthians 5:17) God wants to change us from the inside out. That is really the only way we can truly be different people. It is the only real solution to the violence in our world today.

                In light of this new tragedy, what can we do to make a difference in our community and in our world? Let me suggest a few steps we can all take.

- The first step is to humbly and daily lay our will at the feet of Jesus. Jesus said that we need to daily die to ourselves and allow Him to direct our path.

- Next we need to ask God to change our attitude toward those around us. We need to cultivate a Christlike attitude that will become our default. This means putting the interests of others above our own. (Philippians 2:3-8) It also means genuinely grieving with those who have been directly and indirectly affected by this tragedy.

- Another thing we can do is actively practice hospitality in all of its forms. The more that we get to know the people who live around us, the less likely we are to wish them harm. (1 Peter 4:9)

- Above all we need to practice genuine love for others. Too much of what we call love today is superficial and hollow. The love that Christ wants us to demonstrate is a robust, sacrificial love, just as He loves us.

                As a nation, we need to take reasonable steps to curtail the growing violence in our country. But any steps we take will only be bandaids not cures. The only genuine cure is found in a transformed heart through the transforming power of Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 4:31-32

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.