About Last Week
Last Wednesday was horrible. I received a text and immediately opened a social platform to be greeted by a video showing the assassination of Charlie Kirk. I was in shock, wishing this was some sort of AI trick, but knowing it wasn't. It's difficult for me to process that in America this could happen, yet, while all of this was unfolding, I learned of yet another school shooting, this time in Colorado. I honestly couldn't believe what was going on. A prominent figure gunned down in broad daylight on a college campus, another school full of young students terrorized by an act of violence and a 16 year old taking his own life. I was sick to my stomach, and began to tear up.
Whether you loved Charlie, or not, violence like this must be condemned. Many people have condemned it, but some have celebrated it. These two shootings are different, but share the same evil. We never celebrate evil.
When an active shooter, like this 16 year old, takes their life or gets taken out, many people are glad. But God says "I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked."
No one should ever celebrate the death of another. In some cases that death is a soul damned because they would not repent. In other cases they may be with the Lord but taken from us too soon. Either way, it's tragic, and there are loved ones left behind trying to pick up the pieces. As believers we must mourn with those who mourn, and we should grieve the loss of any life taken too soon.
This isn't the world I grew up in.
Our schools, colleges, and universities must be a place of safety for our students and teachers. Every day I send my wife and son to school and pray that I won't get one of those alerts. My wife gathers with 25 second graders and regularly does active shooter trainings as these 7 and 8 year olds hide in a corner, shaking, trying to remember it's just a drill. My son has done these since he was in pre-k. I never had to. I never had to suffer this kind of fear as a child.
I was hoping to shield the events of this past Wednesday from my son, but he's getting too old for that. Without prompting, he asked me in the car why someone shot Charlie Kirk in the neck and killed Him. I can only protect him from the real world for so long. In my case, luckily, my son only heard about it and then talked to me. But for some kids, just like I did, they heard about it opened up their phones and witnessed something they're too young to witness.
We have to do something.
As the people of God, as the church, we have a responsibility to share the love of Christ with others, and to lead our world to Jesus. We have a command to change this world by making disciples.
We have a responsibility to boldly proclaim our faith with the character and humility of Christ. Christ's sharpest, strongest, and fiercest words were always to the religious leaders. We must keep this in mind when we are dealing with people who are outside of the faith. We are called to storm the heights, to shout from the rooftops, and to proclaim the truth of God. How we do that matters. Where we do that matters. Why we do that matters. When we do it matters. And to whom we do that with matters.
The "How" "Where" "Why" "When" and "Whom" are difficult to address in an email. These take wisdom and discernment from the Holy Spirit, and a life of humility and surrender.
So here is my advice for those of you who desire to do something about the state of our world to make an impact for Christ.
Let all that you do be done in love -- Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Mourn with those who mourn -- Compassion is one of the attributes God uses to describe His character, and it is one of the greatest gifts that He gives to us. His compassion moves Him to action. It also allows Him to sit and weep with those to whom He was about to bring to rejoicing. We are empowered to do the same with and for others, to weep with them and to move them to rejoicing.
Continue to do good anyways -- We're told in the last days our world will get more chaotic. Jesus warned us about this ahead of time so we would be comforted in the chaos and know He is still in control even when our world isn't. Remember the worlds of Peter suffering under Nero from 1 Peter 4:12-19. As believers, when our world breaks out in chaos, we continue to make disciples and love well. When our world comes for us as believers, we continue to make disciples and love well.
Make Disciples -- many of us want to do big things for God, few of us are faithful to do what he asked. Let these hard times serve as a reminder that your responsibility as a believer is to make disciples. Make it your personal goal to share Christ with 1 person, and to keep pouring into them until the love of Christ is so shed abroad in their heart that they would lead someone else to love Christ as well.
Never Stop Praying -- We serve a God who says "ask". "Ask for wisdom" "Ask for what you need." "Ask for healing." We should be men and women of prayer, who realize the most powerful thing we can do is petition the most powerful force in existence, our God, Savior, and Lord. Spend more time praying than complaining. Spend more time praying than arguing. Spend more time praying than scrolling. The more time you spend praying, the less you'll stress, worry, fear, grumble, gripe, and stir up dissension.
Desire all to come to repentance -- The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. Be patient with others, consider their soul more than your emotion.
Stop before you post -- Before you post, share or comment, spend time in prayer. Seek wisdom. Ask yourself if you are representing Christ. Ask yourself will this help me: 1) act in love, 2) mourn with the hurting, 3) continue to do good, 4) make disciples, 5) pray with those who will see it, and 6) consider their soul with the same patience of Christ?
A move of God is needed—in good times and bad. A move of God is needed in me. A move of God is needed in us. A move of God is needed on our schools and campuses. A move of God is needed in our community, county, state, and country. If the spirit of God is within you, that move of God starts with you. Don't wait for a move of God, be the move of God by being obedient to Him and loving like Him, by His power and with His strength.
Whether you loved Charlie, or not, violence like this must be condemned. Many people have condemned it, but some have celebrated it. These two shootings are different, but share the same evil. We never celebrate evil.
When an active shooter, like this 16 year old, takes their life or gets taken out, many people are glad. But God says "I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked."
No one should ever celebrate the death of another. In some cases that death is a soul damned because they would not repent. In other cases they may be with the Lord but taken from us too soon. Either way, it's tragic, and there are loved ones left behind trying to pick up the pieces. As believers we must mourn with those who mourn, and we should grieve the loss of any life taken too soon.
This isn't the world I grew up in.
Our schools, colleges, and universities must be a place of safety for our students and teachers. Every day I send my wife and son to school and pray that I won't get one of those alerts. My wife gathers with 25 second graders and regularly does active shooter trainings as these 7 and 8 year olds hide in a corner, shaking, trying to remember it's just a drill. My son has done these since he was in pre-k. I never had to. I never had to suffer this kind of fear as a child.
I was hoping to shield the events of this past Wednesday from my son, but he's getting too old for that. Without prompting, he asked me in the car why someone shot Charlie Kirk in the neck and killed Him. I can only protect him from the real world for so long. In my case, luckily, my son only heard about it and then talked to me. But for some kids, just like I did, they heard about it opened up their phones and witnessed something they're too young to witness.
We have to do something.
As the people of God, as the church, we have a responsibility to share the love of Christ with others, and to lead our world to Jesus. We have a command to change this world by making disciples.
We have a responsibility to boldly proclaim our faith with the character and humility of Christ. Christ's sharpest, strongest, and fiercest words were always to the religious leaders. We must keep this in mind when we are dealing with people who are outside of the faith. We are called to storm the heights, to shout from the rooftops, and to proclaim the truth of God. How we do that matters. Where we do that matters. Why we do that matters. When we do it matters. And to whom we do that with matters.
The "How" "Where" "Why" "When" and "Whom" are difficult to address in an email. These take wisdom and discernment from the Holy Spirit, and a life of humility and surrender.
So here is my advice for those of you who desire to do something about the state of our world to make an impact for Christ.
Let all that you do be done in love -- Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Mourn with those who mourn -- Compassion is one of the attributes God uses to describe His character, and it is one of the greatest gifts that He gives to us. His compassion moves Him to action. It also allows Him to sit and weep with those to whom He was about to bring to rejoicing. We are empowered to do the same with and for others, to weep with them and to move them to rejoicing.
Continue to do good anyways -- We're told in the last days our world will get more chaotic. Jesus warned us about this ahead of time so we would be comforted in the chaos and know He is still in control even when our world isn't. Remember the worlds of Peter suffering under Nero from 1 Peter 4:12-19. As believers, when our world breaks out in chaos, we continue to make disciples and love well. When our world comes for us as believers, we continue to make disciples and love well.
Make Disciples -- many of us want to do big things for God, few of us are faithful to do what he asked. Let these hard times serve as a reminder that your responsibility as a believer is to make disciples. Make it your personal goal to share Christ with 1 person, and to keep pouring into them until the love of Christ is so shed abroad in their heart that they would lead someone else to love Christ as well.
Never Stop Praying -- We serve a God who says "ask". "Ask for wisdom" "Ask for what you need." "Ask for healing." We should be men and women of prayer, who realize the most powerful thing we can do is petition the most powerful force in existence, our God, Savior, and Lord. Spend more time praying than complaining. Spend more time praying than arguing. Spend more time praying than scrolling. The more time you spend praying, the less you'll stress, worry, fear, grumble, gripe, and stir up dissension.
Desire all to come to repentance -- The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. Be patient with others, consider their soul more than your emotion.
Stop before you post -- Before you post, share or comment, spend time in prayer. Seek wisdom. Ask yourself if you are representing Christ. Ask yourself will this help me: 1) act in love, 2) mourn with the hurting, 3) continue to do good, 4) make disciples, 5) pray with those who will see it, and 6) consider their soul with the same patience of Christ?
A move of God is needed—in good times and bad. A move of God is needed in me. A move of God is needed in us. A move of God is needed on our schools and campuses. A move of God is needed in our community, county, state, and country. If the spirit of God is within you, that move of God starts with you. Don't wait for a move of God, be the move of God by being obedient to Him and loving like Him, by His power and with His strength.
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