A Lesson on Violence in the World

"And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones. When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him. And he cried out with a loud voice and said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me.” - Mark 5:2-6

If you are concerned with the violence in this world, you should be concerned with the spirituality of this world. Take a lesson from this man whom no chains could bind. He was evil unleashed on the world. There was nothing and no one that could stop him. School shootings? He could have done it. Abusive to children? All within his capabilities. Murderous, deceitful, thievery, there was nothing that he would not do that was evil.

He was also suffering within who he was. He would cut himself and abuse himself, cry out in misery and pain. He lived among the tombs, probably wishing his own death would take him from his pain. And yet, no one could, or would, help him.

But...JESUS.

At the first sight of Jesus, the man didn't run away. He ran TO Jesus. He worshipped him. And not understanding the love within Jesus for him, he first thought Jesus was there, as the demons were, to torment him.

Yet, Jesus didn't do that. Jesus freed him! He sent the demons into a herd of pigs and they ran off a cliff to death.

Friends, if we want to do ANYTHING to make a lasting effect on the violence in our world now, we have to start with the hearts of those who are violent. We have to start with the children in preschool who will slap another child, the children in 3rd grade who will steal from another and deny it, the children who live on the streets, the children who find their happiness in drugs. We have to seek out those that are hurting and help them find Jesus and find freedom from the chains within them that bind them to the evil in their hearts.

The hands do not craft evil, so removing weapons doesn't fix it. Another weapon will come along.

The brain does not craft evil. All the gun safety, bullying prevention classes, equal rights messages, and etc. will not fix it.

The heart is where evil begins. A heart that does not love itself can never love another. A heart that does not love itself has never found the joy of Christ, and learned their self-value to the One who made Heaven and Earth. Change the heart - and you've stopped evil.

I'd like you to consider this from now on when confronted with someone who you find even a spec of evil in. Think about what they're missing and get them there. "Love one another even as I have loved you" was the message of Christ. Instead of showing anger, show love. Instead of turning your back in disgust, show love. Instead of condemning them to a life of self-hate, self-harm, bullying, violence, and worse - LOVE THEM. Show them Christ. His Love can change the world.