The Word in the Middle of the Madness

There are some scriptures worth remembering while we’re processing these last few horrible days.

“He that answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame unto him.” Proverbs 18:13

It’s hard waiting for all the facts to emerge after something terrible happens. We want swift justice which means swift identification of the wrong and the wrongdoers. But sorting through a nightmare takes time, and there’s lots we still don’t know about these cases. Premature reactions are never smart. If we’re going to be outraged, let’s be outraged about what we know, not what we presume.

“A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight.” Proverbs 11:1

There’s no justice in assuming someone’s guilty because they belong to a group you’re politically or socially at odds with. If some members of a group have committed wrongs in the past, you’re wrong if you conclude that anyone from that group who’s accused of wrongdoing must be guilty. That is, according to scripture, an unjust balance and therefore an abomination.

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28

Racism is a sin which has birthed some of the worst crimes against humanity over the centuries. The fact that the word “racist” gets thrown around too easily – and it does – doesn’t make the sin itself any less serious. If you denigrate a person by stereotyping them or making false assumptions about them because of their race, whether it’s the majority or minority race, then you’re guilty of racism. You’re also guilty of denigrating the God who designed the races with equal value, thereby intending them to be equal in treatment.

“Be not overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:21

Saying you value health, then deliberately breathing in the germs of a sick person, is stupid. Saying you value love, then breathing in the hatred of sick people by hating them back or obsessing over them, is likewise stupid. So while considering what one person can do about evil, consider the value of keeping it from infecting you, and thereby making you part of the problem.

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12

Action is called for at every level to address these problems. But the ultimate source of the problem is spiritual wickedness, which we fight with spiritual weapons. So let’s never forget the power of prayer, nor our mandate to pray.

God bless and provide every need for the families of all of the killed and the wounded.

God calm our hearts and let our anger be righteous anger, not wrath, correcting wrongs without retaliation or hate.

And God have mercy on this wayward and wounded country.