Violence in the Capitol

How do we respond?

Physics tells us that every action has an equal and opposite reaction. 

I believe that, more than ever. 

Just consider our nation over the past 10 months or more.  Rioting, looting, murder in the streets… we’ve gotten so used to hearing about it that we often just tune it out.  It stopped making the front page in the news.  Influential politicians on the left (including our current president elect and vice-president elect) defended it and praised it. 

But now it’s been perpetrated by people on the other side of the political aisle.  It’s been instigated and encouraged by the sitting president.

Whether it’s BLM, QANON, ANTIFA, PROUD BOYS or Zealous Trump supporters, its hard to find a “right side” of the issue anymore. 

So where does that leave us?  Where does the Christian stand in the midst of it? 

I have to admit, personally, I find it very frightening, angering and maddening that, starting January 20, our nation will be in the hands of politicians that advocate for legalized infanticide in the form of abortion, and whose policies, in some cases, try to slap Almighty God in the face by insisting that there is no fundamental distinction between male and female (to the point that recently one politician ludicrously chose to end a prayer to convene the 117^th congress with the words “amen” and “awoman”).   

WHAT. THE. HECK.  

These sorts of shenanigans—when they move from the fringe of society to the very core of government policy—can only serve to anger and enrage God-fearing people.  It makes me fighting mad. 

However,  my Christian ethics and faith insist that I do not add to the mess by perpetrating even more sin upon my neighbor.  And that makes being a Christian really hard.

At my church—St. Paul in Thorndale, Texas—we are starting a new bible study this coming Sunday on the life of King David. As I prepare to lead this study, I find myself thinking of the brave audacity David had—even as a boy—to stand up to the giant Goliath.  We are told that David was so righteously enraged that Goliath was openly mocking the Lord and mocking God’s people, that David had enough and took matters into his own hands.  David couldn’t understand why the armies of Israel weren’t doing something about it.  So David did! 

He took some rocks and his sling and dropped that wicked giant–dead.  

How many David’s are among us today?  I find myself pondering that question. 

And this one… What would a “David” look like in 2021? 

Now granted, David had the permission of his king to slay the giant.  You and I haven’t been so commissioned.  In the New Testament, Jesus sets forth for us how we are to treat our neighbor, respect the governing authorities, and live as godly people.  And I can assure you  that none of Jesus’ teaching involves taking stones, slings or swords to strike people down.  Indeed, when Jesus was being arrested in the garden of Gethsemane, He told Peter to put away his sword for “all who live by the sword will die by the sword.” (Matthew 26:52). 

This means we must show our zealousness like David in other ways.

How many David’s are raising their children to fear and love the Lord? 

How many David’s are willing to speak up for truth?

How many David’s are going to church because they love the Word of the Lord and won’t let anything keep them from it? 

How many David’s are praying that God would send us leaders who are more concerned about the value of life than they are the value of the dollar? 

What I do know is that, more than ever, we need to be asking God to direct our paths, open our mouths, and soften our hearts to His will and Word.  On January 18, I’ll be launching 30 Days of Prayer and Purpose. You can find that at pastoraaronkalbas.com or stpaulthorndale.com.  God help us!