We Are Not Called To Hatred
You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.
Earlier this evening, as he was addressing a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, Donald Trump was shot.
Thankfully, he was only slightly injured, with one bullet grazing his ear.
Unfortunately, one rally attendee was killed, and another seriously wounded.
The shooter himself was killed by the Secret Service detail assigned to protect Donald Trump.
Two deaths and two injuries. For what? For a difference of political opinion? Because Donald Trump has a different vision for America than Joe Biden?
We should also mention Joe Biden, whose infirmities and age have been the topic of much media speculation recently, leaving him not just the butt of very cruel political jokes but also the subject of an endless feeding frenzy by the media, making every aspect of his medical history a topic of speculation.
For what? For a difference of political opinion? Because Joe Biden has a different vision for America than Donald Trump?
When Jesus delivered His Sermon on the Mount, and counseled against hatred and anger, he made use of a particular insult: “raca”. In Greek the word means “fool”, and it is believed to have originated in Aramaic as a word for “idiot.” In every language it is a word that means contempt for one’s fellow man. Jesus’ teaching was clear: the impulse to destroy human life, to kill another human being, begins in the heart with feelings of hatred and contempt for one another.
When we hate one another—when we have contempt for one another—when our thoughts darken in such ways, we are perilously close to the sin of murder, and have already sinned by hating our fellow man.
We are not called to hate one another. On the contrary, we are called to have love and compassion for each other. As Jesus would remind the Pharisee, the second of the Two Great Commandments is that we are to love our neighbors as we love ourselves.
Obviously, what happened tonight in Pennsylvania was not love. Obviously, what happened tonight in Pennsylvania was the result of hatred. Someone hated Donald Trump so much that he was willing to kill. He hated Trump so much that he thought nothing of killing an innocent bystander. He hated Trump so much he apparently thought little of his own life, as he was killed for his trouble.
Two deaths and two injuries, all because one man chose to hate another man.
Is this rational? Is this logical? Does this make any sense whatsoever?
No, it makes no sense.
The challenges facing this country will not disappear should Donald Trump get killed.
The challenges facing the world will not disappear should Joe Biden step down and resign the Presidency.
Put a different person in Trump’s place, replace Joe Biden with any other Democrat, and the issues facing this country, the perils we are all in, remain exactly as they are.
Hating either Donald Trump or Joe Biden offers us no solutions for anything.
Killing Donald Trump offers no solutions for anything.
Democrats and Republicans have policy differences. As is the case with all politicians, Donald Trump and Joe Biden have been accused of numerous ethical lapses and even crimes. Neither man agrees with the other, and neither party agrees with the other.
It may be the policy differences are so great that rapprochement and compromise are simply out of reach. Yet at present we can hardly say, because rapprochement between Democrats and Republicans has surely not been tried, at least not in a very long time.
Yes, Donald Trump and Joe Biden have very different visions for the future of the United States. The Presidential election, like all Presidential elections, is ultimately a referendum on that future, and which vision should prevail. As we live in a Republic, we are meant to settle such questions with ballots and not with bullets.
Donald Trump and Joe Biden are two very different men. Yet both men are created in God’s image. Both men have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, just as you and I have. Both men need forgiveness and redemption, just as you and I do.
None of us are soon to be blessed with all the answers to all the problems in this country, let alone the world. But we surely we already know that violence is not one of the correct answers. Political violence especially can never be one of the correct answers.
The prophet Hosea warns that when we sow the wind, we reap the whirlwind. Surely we have seen that this is absolutely true in the world. When we sow a wind of hatred and violence, we reap a whirlwind of endless hatred and violence.
With each new insult for those whom we hate, we give justification for yet another insult in return. That affront becomes the cause for yet another attack, which becomes the cause of yet another killing—an endless whirlwind of violence and hatred.
Where will it end? Where can it end?
Only time will tell, but we already see that the whirlwind will not cease until all want it to cease. The Democrat will put aside hatred for the Republican only when the Republican will put aside hatred for the Democrat.
Democrats need to put aside hatred for Republicans. Republicans need to put aside hatred for Democrats. All of us should put aside hatred for others.
We are not called to hate each other. We are not called to do violence against each other. That has never been the order of things.
We are called to love each other even as we love ourselves. We are called to lift each other up. We are called to care for each other.
When will we at last answer that call? When will we finally say “enough!” to hatred?
Soon, I hope. Very soon.
Good points as usual, linking this one in my in my special Assassination Attempt Edition of the News @https://nothingnewunderthesun2016.com/
True as can be, Peter.
One of the hardest dilemmas for a human being to deal with is the pull of ‘love thy neighbor’ vs ‘evil triumphs when good men do nothing’. Error on the side of loving thy neighbor, yet be aware that at some point you may have to act to protect the innocent. It seems we can usually only discern the kindest path In hindsight.
In Winston Churchill’s volume one of his history of the Second World War he discusses several of the causes of the war. One was that, after the horror of WW1, most of Europe had the mindset of “Never again!” They were determined to have peace at ANY cost. So when Hitler committed repeated violations of the terms agreed upon at the end of WW1, Europeans made excuses for him. Sure, Hitler had done wrong, “but we’re not going to go to WAR over it!”. Until Poland was invaded and there was no longer much choice. Historians have wrestled ever since with the question of WHEN exactly should Europe have acted to stop Hitler?
I know two things that are crucial to dealing with this issue:
1) People must have accurate, true information from the media, so that they can assess the situation, and
2) We must have the rule of LAW.
These form the very foundation of civilization. And in recent years, they have been violated.
Bless you, Peter, for consistently being a champion of accurate FACTS and the rule of law. You are upholding civilization. And bless you also for reminding us that we are called to love one another. That’s what is holding back the dogs of war.