School Shootings Again!

School Shootings Again!
What Is Wrong With Our Country?

It is hardly shocking news anymore to hear that there has been another shooting where innocent young lives are snuffed out. Last week, the news in Birmingham was of a young baby, shot in its mother’s apartment while it slept. In the last few days, we have heard of three school shootings with many lives taken. We might like to think that it won’t happen in our community, but if it could happen to a remote, one room school of Amish children in rural Pennsylvania, couldn’t it happen anywhere? And the sad thing is, this is just one example of the horrible things that are happening in our country. The murder rate is increasing, there is concern of sexual predators in every community- nothing shocks us anymore.
The cry goes out, “Why can’t the police do something? Why aren’t the churches doing something? What is wrong with our schools?” We could go on.
While the news media highlights these events, the government promises to study the problem and fix it with more policemen and more prisons, and the masses either ignore the problems or think they can solve them by worrying and complaining, we must realize that not much is truly being done to get to the source of the problem and fix it.
We should ask, “What is the real problem?” Some will answer, “corrupt politics, poverty, or lack of education.” I would beg to differ. These things may contribute, but they are not the cause. You see, the problem is the same one that has plagued mankind from the beginning- lack of respect for God which leads to lack of respect for one’s fellow man.
Long ago man was given some rules to follow which began, "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. [3] You shall have no other gods before Me”(Exodus 20:2-3). Every problem of man begins with a lack of respect for the almighty God. Following these verses are the rest of the Ten Commandments, which all teach respect for God and respect for our fellow man.
One might read the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20 and think that they could not be made more simple, but Jesus, the Master Teacher simplified God’s laws even further when he was asked what was the greatest commandment in the law, replying, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' [38] This is the first and great commandment. [39] And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' [40] On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."(Matthew 22:37-40) Think about it- no matter what laws God might give, they are of no value unless men respect God. The same is true today in regards to the laws of our land. Lawless men don’t care what law you pass. If men had respect for God and his law, they would have respect for the laws of our land(See Romans 13). They have no respect for God, and it follows that they have no respect for law or their fellow men.
Instead of trying to pass more laws, putting more money into school security, hiring more policemen and building more jails, what not go back and try what has worked since the beginning of time- respect for God. Our joy will come back when we remember that, “…He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves…”(Ps. 100:3). Psalm 33:12 says, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord”.
But we have a real problem here. You see, a nation cannot pass a law making God our Lord. This is done on an individual basis. The first part of Psalms 40:4 says, “Blessed is that man who makes the Lord his trust,” Are you that man? Most people are not. If you trust God and follow Him, you will obey his laws- all of them- and follow Him daily. You will not allow you selfish interest to override your love for God and your fellow man.
Yes, the problems of our land can be solved, but not without God. What can I do? Respect and obey God, pray for His blessings, and teach his Gospel to those you meet so that they can become men who trust the Lord.