Overcome the World's Evil with God's Good

There's been a lot of publicized tragedy in the last week. A nearby community lost two police officers to ambush on a 911 call. A distant state lost kids and adults to a teen school shooter. So much sadness and confusion, even among fellow Christians, and questions about why God allows such evil.

Here's the important part: God doesn't allow evil. He allows FREE WILL. That means He allows each of us to choose. Both killers chose violence. The police officers and at least one adult coach at the high school chose to protect and to serve their communities.   These are hard events to discuss with kids. My family was not directly affected by either tragedy, but most of my kids are aware of them, and they had questions. My 6yo was especially bewildered by someone knowingly killing police officers.   

  So, HOW can we change to prevent this violence? Violence isn't the start. Some time in the past, this week's killers were children. A healthy, well-adjusted, loved child doesn't one day decide, "hey, I'm going to murder people when I'm older." What does happen, then? I think that often there are the odd kids, the weird kids, the ones who act out or smell, who just don't "fit in". Not surprisingly, once a kid is shoved to the side, that status sticks. Those kids are outcasts, and both other kids and their teachers shun them, usually not out of deliberate cruelty, but casual avoidance of the awkward situation. How often have you stepped over that "outcast line" to pick up something that they dropped, smiled at them just to be friendly, chose them for your team, asked them to have a cup of coffee with you, posted a message online just to cheer them? You prevent violence with love and connection.    Part of the public response has been a loud outcry of "F--- thoughts and prayers! We need gun control!" I don't dispute that gun control is beneficial, and I do support legislation changes. However... no one can tell me that my Christian prayers are useless. You see, I pray with my mind, soul, AND body. Being the body of Christ insists on action. Reaching out to the least of these, the outcasts, the sick, the hurting, is EXACTLY what welcoming in Jesus' name looks like. Friends, here is my challenge to you: reach out. Realize where you are comfortable and take a couple steps beyond that. Part of this for me is this blog post. I frequently have strong opinions about current events, but don't voice them because I'd rather not stir the pot. Well, reading that others don't value my prayers, and in fact, see them as useless, motivated me to step out in faith. Find someone who needs love and give it. Then find two. Then more! One person CAN make a difference, and not simply for evil. Join me in living as the body of Christ, and each one of our efforts can ripple. I may not be able to change the world, but I will work on my part of it, and I hope AND PRAY that you will too.

We, as flawed sinners, will not be perfect, but with God's help, we CAN do better.