The tragedy in Connecticut is obscene and horrendous. No
parent should ever have to bury a child, especially a young child, especially a
murdered child. This revolting and horrifying event is heartbreaking. Our prayers and condolences go out to the
families and people involved in this terrible situation.
Amidst this tragedy, a political discussion has been pulled
to the surface… again. Should the government ban guns? Should more people be
armed and have guns? These are the two big questions being discussed. To be
honest, I don’t know which of the two options is best (No one really knows
because no one knows the future). But in saying this, I do know gun control is not the answer to prevent murder.
The first murder in history is recorded in Genesis 4. Cain
is angry and jealous of his brother Abel and he murders him. The root issue
with this first murder is the same issue at work in murderers today. They are
sinful people. Sin is the issue here,
not guns, not knives, not fists. Murder happens because people are sinful
and are in desperate need of a Savior.
Gun control is not the answer, Jesus is.
The only way to eliminate sin is through the person and work
of Jesus Christ. Guns, laws, and
governments do not bring victory over sin. Christ alone gives victory over
sin.
I am not convinced the topic of gun control is the best
topic to be discussing right now among our Christian brothers and sisters. I
have seen political debate over non-gospel issues divide people in the church. Emotional
issues like this have the tendency to cause anger against our Christian family
when different views are expressed. The
ironic thing is that when we get angry and insult each other, we are committing
just as serious a sin as murder.
Jesus says in Matthew
5:21-22 “You have heard that it was
said to those of old, 'You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable
to judgment.' But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will
be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the
council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of fire.”
If you have gotten
angry or insulted a brother in Christ over their political view on gun control
(or any political view for that matter), then you are just as liable to death
and hell as the murderer of the children in Connecticut.
Jesus is the answer to sin and death. Maybe we should be
more focused on how to reach more people with the good news of Jesus Christ.
Maybe we should be more focused on pursuing people out of love, and telling
them that they no longer need to be slaves of sin.
Jesus has the power to defeat sin and death. Let’s be
unified and spread the hope we have in Jesus Christ our Lord, Savior, and God.
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