I shared this yesterday with the church I pastor. I thought I would share it with you. 

This past week our country has faced some horrific events. On September 11^th we commemorated the most devastating attack on American soil when two planes hit the Twin Towers, one hit the Pentagon and one was taken down early in a field in PA.  2977 precious souls lost their lives in the attacks. This past Thursday was the 24^th anniversary of that attack. Bookending that remembrance was a brutal attack of Ukrainian refugee, Aryna Zarutska by a man who should never have been on the streets, and the assassination of conservative commentator and Christ-follower, Charlie Kirk. Sadly, the use of video has brought both the stabbing death and the assassination to our eyes and to be forever burned in our memories.

For various reasons very little was said about the stabbing death, possibly due to the assassination of Charlie Kirk. I don’t care what political persuasion you are and how you feel about him. What I do care about is the response to his death. From celebration to extreme sadness and tears, I am glad that except for some rogue people, people across the aisle are appalled at the senseless killing of another human being.

What has me disconcerted is the hatred and vitriol spewed out about his death, both locally and nationally. What is even more appalling to me is that some of this is coming from those who call themselves Christians. You may not have agreed with his views, but no one should rejoice in the death of another, especially one who follows Christ. Two weeks ago in a sermon on pride I said, “Pride rejoices in an evil person’s death.”  I mentioned how some were not sad that Ozzie Osbourne had died. It saddens me (as well as maddens me) that those who call themselves Christians can rejoice over the death of another. The hatred and mean words must stop with each one of us. Ironically, while all this was going on, there was a revival taking place on the campus of Ohio State University, where our grandson attends, with hundreds of students coming to Christ and being publicly baptized. THAT is the solution right there: giving our hearts and lives to Jesus.

Instead of hatred I suggest we pray. We need to pray for a move of God in our country. We need to pray for the family of Iryna Zarutska. We need to pray for Charlie’s widow and 2 young children who will now grow up without a dad. We need to pray for our own hearts, and ask God to help us get rid of any hate we carry toward anyone, to learn to forgive and live as Christ would have us live. If you have spewed out some of that hate, you need to repent because that is not the way of Jesus.

I can remember after 9/11 the politicians who could not see eye to eye on what was the best thing to eat for breakfast, standing on the steps of the Capitol and singing together, “God Bless America.” Was it for show? Possibly. But it told us that we need God’s blessing on our country. I would also add that we need to start saying, “America. Bless God.” We need to turn our hearts to Him and pray for Him to work in the hearts and lives of each of us, especially His people. I still believe in a God who can change this country around and bring peace and healing.