“A mind is a terrible thing to waste” is a slogan coined by Arthur Fletcher, the former head of the United Negro College Fund.
A mind is a terrible thing for anyone waste especially if the mind is focused on murder.
Last Sunday, a man with serious mental health issues walked into a church meeting and opened fire on those gathered there. Sadly, this act of murder was the product of a long journey: arrest for abusive actions, dishonorable discharge from the service, incarceration, mental health treatment. Even though the man had his problems addressed, they were not resolved.
From a Christian point of view this act of murder began in the man’s mind. The sixth commandment tells us, "You shall not murder.” (Exodus 20:13). But keeping the sixth commandment in the letter, literally not committing the act of murder, is only the first line of defense against this sin.
Jesus Christ explained that the sixth commandment is to be kept not only in the letter, but in the spirit. Christ explains the full application of the sixth commandment 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 in danger of the judgment.' But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire.”
Christ is saying that murder begins in the heart with anger and hatred. When anger and hatred reside in a person’s heart they eventually burst forth in derogatory words and eventually into murderous actions.
Jesus described the point of origin of murder and other sins in Mark 7:21-23, “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man."
Evil thoughts, fueled by unresolved anger, fester in a person’s mind until murder seems to be the obvious course of action.
Recently our nation has been plagued by a couple of mass murders. Why? Because something has gone very wrong in the minds of those who have perpetrated the slaughter of their fellow man.
The mind is a terrible thing to waste on hatred and rage that manifests in murder. Imagine the bondage and turmoil of someone with this mindset.
Jesus Christ came to set us at liberty from such life-destroying thinking. Christ’s work is to set us free from unresolved anger and hatred. As Christians we are told, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1). It would seem that the man who murdered the church-goers was entangled in a yoke of bondage.
Following Christ’s example and admonition, we can forgive those who have sinned against us (Matthew 6:14-15). Instead of nursing anger toward another, we can forgive them of their sin and allow God to deal with the sinner in his mercy and wisdom. We don’t have to carry the burden of anger and vengeance.
In harmony with Christ’s teaching Paul tells us, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:1-2). In other words, as we humble ourselves before God, we can reject the worldly way of anger and hatred, and be renewed in godly thinking.
Thankfully, the path that is “good and acceptable” and in perfect harmony with God’s will is available to us as followers of Jesus Christ.
Additionally, we know that there will come a time when the young man with the mind so twisted by hatred will be able to enjoy the liberty we now enjoy. At that time his mind will no longer be wasted by anger and hatred.
It is why we pray, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 5:10).
Have a pleasant Sabbath,
Gary Smith
Showing posts with label Murder. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Murder. Show all posts
Friday, November 10, 2017
Friday, July 22, 2016
Flags At Half-Mast Have Become Commonplace
In traveling around the Houston area the last few weeks, I have noticed both the American and Texas flags have been flying at half-staff. It seems that they have been at half-staff more often than normal.
Flags are flown at half-staff in honor of the death of significant individuals such as a president, those who have fallen in the line of duty or those who have died as a result of some tragedy. I learned today that there is even a “widget” that will give “half-staff” notifications any time there is a determination that flying the American and state flags at half-staff is appropriate.
Recently flags have been flown at half-staff on the following dates:
US - 7/18/2016 US Flags at Half Staff Honoring the Victims of the Attack in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
US - 7/15/2016 US Flags at Half Staff Honoring the Victims of the Attack in Nice, France
US - 7/8/2016US Flags at Half-Staff Honoring the Victims of the Attack in Dallas, Texas
US - 6/12/2016 US Flags at Half-Staff Honoring Victims of Attack in Orlando
It seems that victims of attacks requiring the lowering of the national flag are becoming more commonplace. The four listed about have all taken place within a six-week period.
In light of the regularity of lowering the flag to half-mast it causes me to consider the ultimate outcome of the four tragedies mentioned.
As we consider the shooter who entered a nightclub well-armed, and the ensuing slaughter, “We might ask what positive result has come about through the death of 49 and the wounding of 53 others?” To date, I can think of no positive outcome to what took place in Orlando.
On July 7, 5 police officers were murdered in retaliation for recent police shootings deaths of black men. Five officer and the shooter are dead in Dallas. My question is this, “Did the murder of the Dallas officers bring an end to the inequities that sometimes occur at the hands of police officers? Did the murdering of others in retaliation solve anything?”
Did driving a bus through a crowd of people at a Bastille Day observance in Nice, France better the situation of anyone in France?
Did the murder of three more officers and the shooter in Baton Rouge, Louisiana resolve anything other than add to the death toll and spur more violence?
Sadly, all it seems we can do in the wake of such tragedies is lower our flags in honor of the slain and hold funeral vigils in their honor as well.
We can be sure there will be more lives taken because real, permanent solutions are not even considered! The only resource that offers mankind a way out of the savagery and brutality of these murders is to apply the principles found in the Bible.
Imagine if Paul’s instruction to the Romans were applied all over the world, “Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:17-21).
If the principles emphasized by the Apostle were practiced, there would be no unnecessary deaths at the hands of the police nor attacks upon the police. There would no killings on behalf of an ideology or religion. Instead, everyone would seek to apply the principles of outgoing concern for one another. Wounds and slights would begin to heal and we could at last move toward peace with one another.
If the five verses quoted were applied on a daily basis throughout the world, flags flying at half-mast would be a rarity.
Gary Smith
Flags are flown at half-staff in honor of the death of significant individuals such as a president, those who have fallen in the line of duty or those who have died as a result of some tragedy. I learned today that there is even a “widget” that will give “half-staff” notifications any time there is a determination that flying the American and state flags at half-staff is appropriate.
Recently flags have been flown at half-staff on the following dates:
US - 7/18/2016 US Flags at Half Staff Honoring the Victims of the Attack in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
US - 7/15/2016 US Flags at Half Staff Honoring the Victims of the Attack in Nice, France
US - 7/8/2016US Flags at Half-Staff Honoring the Victims of the Attack in Dallas, Texas
US - 6/12/2016 US Flags at Half-Staff Honoring Victims of Attack in Orlando
It seems that victims of attacks requiring the lowering of the national flag are becoming more commonplace. The four listed about have all taken place within a six-week period.
In light of the regularity of lowering the flag to half-mast it causes me to consider the ultimate outcome of the four tragedies mentioned.
As we consider the shooter who entered a nightclub well-armed, and the ensuing slaughter, “We might ask what positive result has come about through the death of 49 and the wounding of 53 others?” To date, I can think of no positive outcome to what took place in Orlando.
On July 7, 5 police officers were murdered in retaliation for recent police shootings deaths of black men. Five officer and the shooter are dead in Dallas. My question is this, “Did the murder of the Dallas officers bring an end to the inequities that sometimes occur at the hands of police officers? Did the murdering of others in retaliation solve anything?”
Did driving a bus through a crowd of people at a Bastille Day observance in Nice, France better the situation of anyone in France?
Did the murder of three more officers and the shooter in Baton Rouge, Louisiana resolve anything other than add to the death toll and spur more violence?
Sadly, all it seems we can do in the wake of such tragedies is lower our flags in honor of the slain and hold funeral vigils in their honor as well.
We can be sure there will be more lives taken because real, permanent solutions are not even considered! The only resource that offers mankind a way out of the savagery and brutality of these murders is to apply the principles found in the Bible.
Imagine if Paul’s instruction to the Romans were applied all over the world, “Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:17-21).
If the principles emphasized by the Apostle were practiced, there would be no unnecessary deaths at the hands of the police nor attacks upon the police. There would no killings on behalf of an ideology or religion. Instead, everyone would seek to apply the principles of outgoing concern for one another. Wounds and slights would begin to heal and we could at last move toward peace with one another.
If the five verses quoted were applied on a daily basis throughout the world, flags flying at half-mast would be a rarity.
Gary Smith
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