Condemning The Evil on October 7th

"When a sovereign nation is attacked, does it have the right to defend itself and pursue their attackers, in order to protect their nation and bring their enemies to justice?"

On December 7, 1941 the United States was attacked by the Japanese military, when they struck an American naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. In response, America launched its own strike on Japan. On September 11, 2001 the United States was attacked by Islamic terrorists, when they destroyed the Twin Towers in New York City, hit the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. and downed a plane filled with people in a rural area of Pennsylvania. In response, the American military began an effort to hunt down and bring to justice those responsible for training and sending the suicide hijackers. On October 7, 2023 the nation of Israel was attacked by Hamas, a Palestinian Islamic terrorist group. In response, Israel began an effort to defend its country and hunt down those responsible for the massacre of its civilians. (Image by Securityweek.com)

When a sovereign nation is attacked, does it have the right to defend itself and pursue their attackers, in order to protect their nation and bring their enemies to justice?

This addresses the role of government. The Scripture says, “…if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.” (Romans 13:4) The government bears the sword of justice, and has a responsibility to wield it against enemies who seek to attack it from within or without. And when an enemy does such a thing, they violate God’s great commandment, “‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love does no wrong to a neighbor…”  (Rom. 13:9-10)

Israel is recognized by the United Nations as a sovereign country, just as the United States, Canada, Mexico and all 193 members are, which make up the international body. However, it is also understood that there is a long and complex history between Israel and the Palestinians. For the struggle between the two is deeply rooted in ancient beliefs going back thousands of years. Though we see the physical battles in the news, at its root, it is a spiritual battle.

In the midst of this ongoing struggle, our world is often divided between their support of Israel and the Palestinians. For many, they paint Israel as the oppressor and Palestinians as the oppressed, and therefore, whatever aggressive actions the Islamic terrorists take, it is justified, because their white oppressors have brought it upon themselves.

Unfortunately, there are Christian denominational leaders who take this position, and their ideology has led them to publish weak statements in directly condemning the deadly attacks by Hamas on October 7^th. How can this be? For God Himself says, “You shall not murder.” (Exodus 20:13) He also states specific things He hates, which are an abomination to Him “…hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil…” (Proverbs 6:16-18) Based on the Scriptures, there was no justification for the direct and intentional murder of the Israeli civilians. To murder unarmed men and women pleading for their lives to be spared is detestable. To burn them alive, while they are attempting to find safety is unconscionable. To decapitate the heads of infants is abominable. The God of heaven and earth hates such despicable acts.

What kind of evil ideology could lead someone to believe Hamas is justified for these atrocities? Only a dark and twisted mind could. May God have mercy, not only on those who refuse to bluntly condemn such evil, but those who praise it.    

Additionally, may God have mercy on those who planned and engaged in these Satanic acts. And yes, mercy is possible. God hates and is angry with such evil, but for those who repent and turn to His beloved Son by faith, there is forgiveness. Even for the gravest of sins, the possibility of forgiveness is real.          

A prayer for you – Lord God, I pray for peace in the war between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic terrorists. May those who planned and carried out these barbaric acts be stopped. And in the midst of the darkness, may the light of Jesus shine. Bring His saving power both to the Jews and Arabs in Israel and Palestine. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Unthinkable Acts of Evil

"Have you ever witnessed such an unthinkable act of evil, where it caused you to wonder, “What kind of person would do an utterly detestable thing like that?” or “What would cause someone to even consider doing something so horrendous?"

If that crosses your mind when unconscionable events happen, that is a good thing. It means you actually have some sense of a moral conscience, versus those who excuse or praise the perpetrators of extreme lawlessness. (Image by CBS Studios)

A long time ago in the ancient land of Israel, while a man and his wife were traveling, they turned off to spend the night in an unfamiliar town. A man who lived there took them in. While they were having dinner word spread across town of the visitors.

The Bible recounts, “the men of the city, worthless fellows, surrounded the house [and began] beating on the door…” (Judges 19:22) The mob of men were demanding the visiting man be given to them, for they wanted to have relations with him. As the mob became louder and more threatening, the owner of the house tried negotiating to no avail. Finally, as tensions grew the visitor grabbed his wife, pulled her toward the door, then opened it and pushed her out.    

All night long, the mob violated the visitor’s wife. It was a vicious gang rape, where the woman had no one to defend her. And during all this, her heartless husband was able to sleep. When he rose in the morning to continue their travels home, he found his wife’s lifeless body lying in front of the door.

When news of this event spread across the nation of Israel, how did the people respond? They said, “Such a thing has never happened or been seen from the day that the people of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt until this day…” (Judges 19:30)

What they were saying in plain language is, “We have never seen such evil.”

In the story we see a husband not only failing to protect his wife, but pushing her into a mob of sexually charged men, knowing they were going to violently abuse, and possibly kill her.

The men who perpetrated the horrific act against this defenseless woman, were pure evil. In the end, there was no conscience with her callous husband, and no conscience with the animal-like men.

Where does such evil come from?

It all goes back to the origin of mankind. In the beginning, the God of heaven and earth created man and woman, and the world was perfect. There was no violence or lawlessness, but only peace and perfect love with God and one another. But then in a tragic turn of events, mankind rejected his Creator. This rejection threw wide open the door of the human heart and society, to invite abject evil into our world.

Yet, although humankind turned its back on God, He pursued man to restore him to what he once was. This is why God sent His only Son to die and rise again on a cross, that those who trust in Him would be redeemed. And what is observed throughout human history, is whenever man has restored that broken covenant relationship with God, there is peace and perfect love, but when God is rejected violence and evil increase.

For never do those who love God and love others engage in horrific acts of evil. Never! But those who forcefully try and stomp out anything of Almighty God, His glorious Son, and refuse to obey His voice, they are prone to the unthinkable.   

A prayer for you – Lord God, I pray for those who have engaged in detestable acts. May they, and those who support them, not excuse their evil. May their eyes be opened before you to the things they have done. Then Lord, have mercy on them. Bring them to cry out to you with a humble spirit, that they might be transformed into a new person by your holy power. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

How to Support Someone Who Is Suicidal

“In the last 20 years, suicides have grown by 40% in America. Over 100 people every day are choosing to end their life this way.”

Ed was carrying a load on his shoulders, the heaviest of his life. He did not know how to face it, so he turned to a reliable friend, Mr. Alcohol. One night he was so overwhelmed he prepared himself to end it all. He went to the store and purchased the biggest case of beer he could buy then walked to the railroad tracks, sat down and began drinking. Fortunately, his life was spared and when I met him as a young pastor in my mid-20s and heard his story, I invited him to live with me. During that time, I came to know Ed as a friend and was privileged to be Jesus to Him during one of the lowest points of his life. 

In the last 20 years, suicides have grown by 40% in America. Over 100 people every day are choosing to end their life this way, from teenagers to middle-aged men. As a follower of Jesus, I firmly believe this is a spiritual battle at its core. The raging battle in the mind of someone considering suicide; trying to decided whether to live or die, is a battle between good and evil. Jesus once said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10) And who is the thief? The devil. He is the enemy which seeks to ruin lives, where Christ seeks to bring newness of life. When suicidal thoughts come, it is evidence of a desperate spiritual battle. 

Knowing that, how can we help fight the lies of suicide, by bringing the goodness of God to someone who is struggling? 

1.    Pray. Call out to Almighty God seeking His divine involvement. There is power in simple, but desperate prayer. “In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears.” (Psalm 18:6)  

2.    Share God’s Word. Like prayer, there is supernatural power in God’s Word. Read it to someone walking through great struggles. Text it to them. Use the Word like a skilled weapon to fight back any suicidal thoughts that may cross their mind. 

3.    Engage. It is vital to engage with those going through times of distress, for these times may precipitate suicidal thoughts in some. God says to “Be kind to one another…” (Ephesians 4:32) We show kindness to people by spending time with them. Invite someone in crisis into your home, or go to their home. We also can engage people through phone calls or video chats saying, “How are you holding up? I care about you and I am always here for you.”   

4.    Invite to church. Offer to someone under tremendous stress, to come to church and into the presence of God. Let them hear His Word taught, listen to the singing of God’s praises, and be around others that can join you in praying for them.  

5.    Offer professional help. Observe when it is time for the person you are concerned about, to meet with a wise and godly pastor or Christian counselor. But if that cannot come soon enough, do not wait! Immediately call 9-8-8, which is a suicide hotline that provides 24/7 free and confidential help. 

Each of these steps demonstrate what it means to “love your neighbor as yourself,” which Jesus taught. Through loving one another and the power of God, we can try to prevent suicide. Because Jesus has died and risen again conquering all evil, our hope is in Him. We cannot control everything that a suicidal person is determined to do, but we can control what we do, by reaching out to those under heavy burdens.  

A prayer for you – Lord God, open our eyes to family members and friends who are struggling today. Help us to show kindness and walk with them through their dark valley. Deliver them from any evil thoughts of suicide, and let them see the light of life in Christ. In Jesus name. Amen. 

America’s Suicide Epidemic

“It is a lie that one believes suicide is the only answer, when in truth, it only makes a tragic situation permanently tragic.”

Sandra was in her mid-20s when we attended the same church and were part of the singles group. She had a beautiful smile and a bright personality, but one day life came crashing down on her when she received word that her dad had killed himself. The news impacted our group as we grieved for her devastating loss. (Image by Freepix)

White middle-aged men, like Sandra’s dad, are the number one age group for suicides in America. And when it comes to our youth, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, “Suicide is the leading cause of death among young people in the United States.” And suicides are not just affecting our youth or our empty-nester dads, but all of us. In 2021 and 2022 suicide numbers have risen across nearly every age group, resulting in suicide being the 11th overall cause of death for Americans.

What is causing this epidemic that is snatching away our children, parents and grandparents? As a Christian minister I view this important subject through the lens of the Bible.

One of the ten commandments God gave us is “You shall not murder.” (Exodus 20:13) Suicide is the act of self-murder, however, God is the author of life, “God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female…” (Genesis 1:27) Because every person was fashioned together by Almighty God, and has the highest intrinsic value among all His creation, He would never then lead a person to destroy what He originally created and called “good.”
But why would someone take their life? It might be a soldier dealing with the trauma from military service. A teenager battling online bullying. A dad who lost his job and cannot provide for his family, or the stress of someone gambling away their life savings.

Nothing escapes God’s sight, “You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar.” (Psalm 139:2) God sees and knows all. Therefore, He knows of the soldier’s struggle, the teenager’s wrestling and understands the dad’s crisis. And though God is filled with mercy and compassion, under no circumstances would He condone suicide.

So where does this idea come from? God provides insight saying, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? (Jeremiah 17:9) The thoughts of suicide come from a heart that is broken. It is a lie from out of this brokenness, that one believes suicide is the only answer, when in truth, it only makes a tragic situation permanently tragic.

Is there hope for those battling these demonic lies? The Bible says, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” (Romans 15:13) Yes! Suicide is preventable. It does not have to be the answer. For God Himself is the hope their hearts so desperately need.

God defeated these lies of suicide when He sent His glorious Son to us, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him, should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) Jesus came to die and rise again to fix the broken hearts of every man and woman, and destroy the lies they are believing, with the truth. He once said, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32) This freedom is available to anyone who is willing to turn from these lies and by faith to Christ with all their heart.

If you or someone you know is battling suicidal thoughts, have hope today. Seek out a local pastor, Christian counselor or immediately call 9-8-8 which is a suicide hotline that provides 24/7 free and confidential help.

A prayer for you – Lord God, rescue our nation from the plague of suicide. Overcome these lies with the truth, that in Christ every person can be set free. Bring troubled souls this hour to call upon you for help and deliver them O God I pray. In Jesus name. Amen.