A wise man once said, “You cannot serve two masters” (Matthew 6.24). The man who said this: Jesus Christ. Ultimately the downfall of the nation of Israel in the Old Testament was rooted in this reality. They desired God and ________.
When God becomes not enough for His children they do what the nation of Israel did. They make an idol (Exodus 32). They desire a new king (1 Samuel 8). Some days they even say, “God you aren’t enough”, but not always with their words but often with their actions. They replace pursuit of holiness with pursuit of influence. After all, why wouldn’t they. “Did God really say” (Genesis 3.1) becomes a question used to justify this. Yet no-one seems to pause long enough to recognize that this statement was authored by the father of lies (John 8.44).
When power becomes the pursuit of those who call themselves followers of the All Powerful One, it declares to those who watch, God is not enough. One simply cannot live by faith and pursuit of power. “A house divided against itself will not stand” (Mark 3.25).
Satan once said to Jesus, “bow down to me and I will give you all the kingdoms of the earth” (Matthew 4.9). Jesus replied with, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only’” (Mathew 4.10) Today Satan is saying to the followers of Jesus, “I have something for you but you too must compromise your allegiance. Don’t worry, the end justifies the means.” My prayer is that believers will give the same response that Jesus did, “Get behind me Satan! I only worship the one true God! I only serve the one true God!”
In conclusion, “what good is it, if a man gains the whole world, yet loses his own soul?” (Matthew 16.26)
Yesterday afternoon as I waiting for children to get off a bus at my church, I received a text from a friend who informed me that Charlie Kirk had been shot while he was speaking at one of his events. Shortly thereafter, two more friends began texting as well. Two of them even sent videos which I watched. I nearly threw up after watching the first video and concluded on my own that the shot had been fatal.
As I sat there at my desk, I could hear children in our church. They made squeals of joy, and I could hear the pitter patter of little footprints as they played games and enjoyed their friends. As they innocently enjoyed life, I sat alone in my office wondering what in the world this world was coming to. At the same time, I was thankful for their innocence and even a bit envious.
Once I processed things for a moment, I was struck with the thought, this doesn’t surprise me. The violent and angry rhetoric that has invaded both sides of the aisle had led us to this point. Some would argue that we have left our roots as a Christian nation. Charlie Kirk was one of those who would argue this. My concern is that many of my brothers and sisters are living in the pursuit of returning to a Christian nation and in turn have set aside their marching orders in order to get there. The call is not to create a theocracy but an expanse of a kingdom that is already here: the kingdom of God. Not a pursuit of power but a pursuit of holiness. For the believer, our marching orders are not the Constitution and the Bill of Rights (although we are blessed to have these documents). Our marching orders are found in the Sermon on the Mount. They are found also in Matthew 22 which speaks of loving God and loving people.
Why do I bring that up? Well, the response to this shooting is to be expected. The outcry is loud as it should be. Kirk was an influential voice and most of the country witnessed his murder as they scrolled their phone through their social media feeds. Also on our social media feeds are ugly responses. We don’t really know what happened yet, but the blame game is already going full force. As to who did it and what is their reason, we don’t know. I have my suspicions as many do but I just really don’t know.
Tragedy always reveals the heart of a nation and always reveals the heart of God’s people. I am deeply saddened at what it has revealed. Again, I am not shocked. I am disappointed. I am sad. I am saddened that a 31 year man was senselessly murdered (probably because of ideology). I am saddened that a young wife spent last night awake wrecked with grief. I imagine she ventured into her sleeping children’s rooms and cried over them and wondered how she is going to raise them on her own. Her little one’s woke up this morning and momma looked at them, she knew, life would never be the same. I am saddened that there are Utah Valley University students whose lives will never be the same. They witnessed a disgusting act of a violence that most of them cannot even process, but their minds have put the whole thing on repeat. I am saddened that my social media feed is full of conspiracy, finger pointers, and even celebrators. What the heck is wrong with you people? I don’t want to sound all high and mighty here but come on. The body is still warm.
Now is not the time to point fingers. Now is the time to weep with those who weep. Now is the time to ask ourselves, have we contributed to the hate. We must ask ourselves, have I led my sphere of influence closer to the one whose kingdom I represent, or am I a divisive voice in divisive times. Now is the time to offer hope to the hopeless. We must ask ourselves if our priorities are in order. Are we living a life in pursuit of the expanse of the kingdom: His kingdom or are we living in pursuit of power?
As a man who is deeply pro-life, I too am angry. I am angry at the Kirk murder. I am angry at the school shooting that also took place yesterday at Evergreen High School. I am angry that a Ukrainian immigrant woman was senselessly murdered this past week. I am angry at the school shooting that happened at Annunciation Catholic Church. I am angry that woman who were sexually abused feel they must hold a press conference to get justice. I am angry that a friend of mine’s son in-law was rounded up by ICE. I am angry that a number of men I once looked up to have turned out to monsters. I am angry. This is a tiny list by the way. Anger is valid. Anger is justified.
Yep, I am angry but, I am commanded by Scripture to “be angry and not sin”. I am told in Scripture that I am to be “salt and light”. I am told that I am an “ambassador for Christ.” In spite of my anger, I choose to be a hope dealer. I know who wins. I will serve relentlessly. I will speak up for the marginalized. I will provide services to those who cannot afford it. I will love my God, and I will love my neighbor. I will volunteer. I will be thankful. I will choose joy. This world doesn’t need more darkness it needs more shining lights, and I will try my darndest to be that. I pray that if you read this and are also a follower of Christ that you will do the same.
My point is this, we do get to make a choice. Today, I choose love.
“Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”-MLK
Compassionate Engagement 