Help Us Jesus! They're Killing Our Children!

        Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world.  Some of the harshest words Jesus ever uttered were in response to someone who would hurt a child: “It would be better for a millstone to be tied around his neck and be hurled into the sea.”  Help us Jesus!   Our children are being killed and wounded in their schools, a place that used to be a safe sanctuary. 

        Yes, we do need divine help—but we need more.  We need human action!   We need elected leaders, community leaders, educators, clergy, parents, and everyday citizens to be bold and courageous by taking a stand.  And please!  For once, please!  Can we leave politics out of this?  Can we make decisions based on common sense and reason, rather than political posturing?  My God people!   They’re killing our children!  Don’t you have the guts to take off your political lenses for once and see this clearly for what it really is---cold bloodied massacres by disturbed people who have no business possessing guns.

        No parent needs to hear the news that their precious child has been shot and killed in a classroom.  No teacher needs to be forced to barricade the door and hide their class in a closet.  No coach needs to become a hero by standing in the line of fire to protect the children. 

        We live in a world full of evil and dark forces—we know this is true.  There are times that regardless of what we do, the powers of evil and darkness will result in destruction and despair.  But the light is always greater than the darkness and while we cannot eliminate the darkness we can expose it.  The greatest tragedy is that many of these senseless killings could have been prevented if the darkness had been exposed when the opportunity was there.   A depressed, confused, and dysfunctional young man should never have been able to purchase a weapon.  The fact the shooter in Florida was able to do so tells us our system is not just broken, it is in shambles. 

        Do we have a problem with guns?  Well . . . yes!  And our lawmakers need to finally have the courage to make some common sense changes to our gun laws.  Listen to the young people from Parkland High School.  Listen to the parents from Newtown.  Only responsible, stable, and mature citizens need to possess guns.

        Do we have a problem with mental health?  Well . . .yes!  We have a mental health crisis in our country that combined with the opioid crisis results in people who are walking time bombs.  This is a critical need that will require significant action.

        But the problem that we face is much greater than guns and mental health.  We have a spiritual crisis in our nation.  We have evolved into a society of winners and losers.  We speak despairingly of those who are different.  We espouse language of hatred and intolerance toward those of different faiths.  We proudly display symbols of hatred and racism.  We claim divine authority in condemning the LGBT community.   We judge the poor and needy.  We bully the weak and lonely.  We claim absolute truth while lacking compassion and mercy.   We bask in spiritual arrogance without a hint of justice or righteousness. 

        Look at the profile of these shooters.  What do you see?   Loners who have been bullied, ostracized, and rejected.   Wounded and broken people who have felt unloved and misunderstood.  Maybe if just one person had reached out . . . if one person had shown compassion, then maybe . .    .

        Help us Jesus!   They’re killing our children.  But we all must share in the blame and we all must come together and work together to find a solution.

        “If my people who are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”  2 Chronicles 7: 14.