Morning Thoughts
I recently saw a post that stated the US is the leader among nations in mass shootings. Just reading this didn’t ring true and I’m sure the person who posted this saw this data somewhere. But I could only think how easy it is on social media to post anything to promote a viewpoint or personal agenda and then have that wrong information spread rapidly as the truth.
For example, here is another report on the same issue: “There is a common misconception that the United States is one of the top few countries, if not the top country, that have the highest mass shooting rates. But the truth of the matter is that the United States is actually number sixty-six on the list of countries in terms of mass shooting rates.” From World Population Review
The point is not specifically about guns but truth. Jesus said it is the truth that sets people free. As long as we perpetuate untruth to promote our agendas, we are perpetuating the evil that is the seedbed of the behavior. Can we pray to see things through the lens of “God’s truth” and not through the lens of our personal biases? This can be difficult at times. Why is this important?
Untruth from our personal biases causes us to come to wrong conclusions, such as guns cause mass shootings. But, we would never say cars cause drunk drivers to hurt or kill others because no one wants to relinquish their car. Isn’t the real problem the evil in the hearts of people? In my thoughts, the greatest evil In our land is abortion. But, the real problem is not the doctors or nurses that perform these acts. The real problem is rampant sexual immorality coupled with incredible greed and self-gratification and lack of personal responsibility and accountability. These are heart and moral issues that result in millions of lives being snuffed out every year.
The solution? 2 Chronicles 7:14. “IF MY PEOPLE…”. That’s the church! If the church repents from spreading untruths and from living immorally and hating others, and turns back to God, He says He will heal our land. Many in the church have made excuses for sin to appease others and themselves. Others have been deceived as Romans 1 reveals and have given themselves over to all forms of evil and ungodliness and we begin to embrace sinful behaviors as acceptable and as “truth”.
So, the real problem is that we love SELF more than we love God, therefore we are blinded to the truth and believe a lie that promotes our own personal agendas. Can we be honest with ourselves and ask God to reveal our own hearts in light of His Word?
James 4:1-4 (TPT): What is the cause of your conflicts and quarrels with each other? Doesn’t the battle begin inside of you as you fight to have your own way and fulfill your own desires? 2 You jealously want what others have so you begin to see yourself as better than others. You scheme with envy and harm others to selfishly obtain what you crave—that’s why you quarrel and fight. And all the time you don’t obtain what you want because you won’t ask God for it! 3 And if you ask, you won’t receive it for you’re asking with corrupt motives, seeking only to fulfill your own selfish desires. 4 You have become spiritual adulterers who are having an affair, an unholy relationship with the world. Don’t you know that flirting with the world’s values places you at odds with God? Whoever chooses to be the world’s friend makes himself God’s enemy!
