I come to you as I have had to come to a number of congregations over the years. The recent events in Uvalde, Texas calls us to respond. Allow me to share two thoughts.
First of all we need to respond with prayer. On the Presbyterian Mission Agency website, the pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Uvalde, led a worship service on Wednesday night with people from around the nation. Prayers for comfort, peace, justice and so many other things were raised. As with all of us, heartbreak was felt. Tears expressed. Seeking God’s presence spoken. We need to be in prayer as well.
Oh Lord. Our words can never fully express the hurt and anger we feel because of the tragedy that took place in Uvalde. We lift the wounded children into your loving care. For those who died we ask your peace and healing. They died too young.
For those who did not die we ask your presence and compassion. Heal their memories. Anchor their souls. Strengthen their fortitude to bring peace in a world of violence. Help them not allow the action of an angry young man rob them of lives yet to be fulfilled.
And for those who are parents, grandparents, family and community members, be present with them. Comfort them in their loss. Strengthen them in their resolve to never allow this evil to take place again.
And Lord, as we walk forward from this point, help us as a nation to address our underlying fascination with violence. You want us to be people of peace, the peace Jesus brought into a violent world. Yet our movies are filled with violence. Our music is filled with violence. Our public discourse is filled with violence. Help us to realize the sin within ourselves so we can address the sin within our culture.
And Lord, let us remember that you, our Lord and savior experienced the worst violence humans could do so that you might demonstrate the type of love that only God can give. Help us to be followers of you.
In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Second, in our times of worship we pray, “Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” How do we see God’s Kingdom come ‘on earth as it is in heaven?’ There are a growing number of Christian folks around the nation who feel that prayer is not enough. The growing mantra is “Policy not Prayer.” For most of human history, people have attempted to make God’s Kingdom come from the outside in. If we can make enough rules, if we can sharpen the laws of society, then maybe evil will end. And if won’t end? Well, maybe through law it will at least be controlled.
Social law is important. However, it doesn’t change the human heart. In Jeremiah 17:9 we read
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?
Jesus said in Mark 7:21
For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, etc.
Take away guns and people will use rocks or poison or something else to do acts of violence. It is only when the human heart has been changed by the love and grace of God through Jesus that true change can begin. It is as the Apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:17,
If anyone is in Christ they are a new creation. The old has passed away the new has come.
As God’s people, we should be praying and working for the transformation of people’s lives by establishing a relationship with God through Jesus. If this young man in Uvalde had come to know HIM, a different story would have been written.
May the peace of the Lord be with you and us. Pastor Paul
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